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[McCarthy] | [Puritan] |
A narration of an experience
undergone by one of the victims of the Un-American Activities Committee
"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist
Party?" No. "Do you know anyone who is or was a Communist?" No. McCarthy
holds up some cards. "We have the names of people who have already confessed.
Your name came up in connection with their testimony. Why do you suppose
that is?" You say you don't know, but you can tell that no one believes
you. Maybe you're not so innocent after all, you think. Maybe you've been
sucked into the conspiracy without realizing it. Have you signed anything,
donated any money, said anything to anybody that might sound suspicious?
Once you start thinking like this, it's almost impossible to stop. You
begin to feel guilty either way: even if you don't have any Communist connections,
you've done nothing to stop the spread of this evil; You may have even
helped the enemy by being stupid or naive. You did it, it's your fault,
their questions seem to say. And they won't let you go until you make up
for it in some way. So you tell them about your friend who's never home
on Tuesday nights, or your mother's uncle who used to quote Communist slogans
all the time, or anyone you know who's been acting a little odd the last
few weeks. You name names, and they let you go.
[Top]
Questions asked by prosecutors in “The Crucible”
1. In the book of record that Mr. Parris keeps, I note that you
are rarely in church on Sabbath day, twenty six time in seventeen month,
will you tell me why you are so absent?
-Hale (Chapter 2 Page 53)
2.Tell me, you have three children? How is it that only two are
baptized?
-Hale (Chapter 2 Page 54)
3. Do you know your commandments, Elizabeth?
-Hale (Chapter 2 Page 55)
4. It’s said that you hold no belief that there may even be witches
in the world, is that true, sir?
-Hale (Chapter 2 Page 57)
5. The court bid me search your house, but I like not to search
a house. So will you hand me any poppets that your wife may keep here?
-Cheever (Chapter 2 Page 60)
6. Now, Martha Corey, there is abundant evidence in our hands to
show that you have given yourself to the reading of fortunes. Do you deny
it?
-Hathorne (Chapter 3 Page 67)
7.How do you know, then that you are not a witch?
-Hathorne (Chapter 3 Page 67)
8. Why do you hurt these children?
-Hathorne (Chapter 3 Page 67)
9. And you, Mary Warren, how came you to cry out people for sending
their spirits against you?
-Danforth (Chapter 3 Page 71)
10.Have you ever seen the devil?
-Danforth (Chapter 3 Page 72)
11. You are in all respects a Gospel Christian?
12. You plough on Sunday and not come to Church?
13. Do you read the Gospel, Mr Proctor?
-Parris (Chapter 3 Page 73)
14. How were you instructed in your life? Do you not know that God
damns all liars? Or is it now that you lie?
-Danforth (Chapter 3 Page 82)
15. You say you never saw no spirits, Mary, were never threatened
of afflicted by any manifest of the Devil or the Devil’s agents
-Hathorne (Chapter 3 85)
16. Why did you turn about this past two weeks? You have seen the
Devil have you not?
-Danforth (Chapter 3 Page 94)
17. You have seen the Devil, you have made compact with Lucifer,
have you not?
18. Do you confess this power! Speak!
19. What are you? You are combined with anti-Christ, are you not?
I have seen your power; you will not deny it! What say you, Mister?
-Danforth (Chapter 3 Page 96)
20. Mr. Proctor, have you seen the Devil in your life? Did you see
the Devil?
-Danforth (Chapter 4 Page 111)
21.When he came to you, what were his demand?
22.And you bound to his service? Did you bind yourself to the Devil’s
service?
23. Did you ever see anyone with the Devil?