The Crucible [Table Read]
The Locust for John Proctor
A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall. When the hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries that his secret will be revealed and his good name ruined.
"Abby I never give you hope to wait for me."
"Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby."
"You'll speak nothin' of Elizabeth!"
"I think you're sad again. Are you?"
"If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking Salem--vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant's vengeance I'll not give my wife to vengeance!"
"Good. Then her saintliness is done with. We will slide together in our pit; you will tell the court what you know.
"I will prove you for the fraud you are!"
"You mad, you murderous bitch!"
"She only pretended to faint, Your Excellency. They're all marvelous pretenders."
