Abigail's+Shadow

Act II starts off as John and Elizabeth Proctor beging to have dinner. It was brought up that Mary Warren has gone into Salem when John told her not too. Elizabeth told him that Mary told her that she had to go to court today. She tells John that he must go and tell the court that Abigail is arranging the whole affair. They continue to argue again about his past involving Abigail and Elizabeth's continuing suspicion. Mary arrives home at that moment, Proctor turns his anger onto her. Right away she hangs claims she's ill. Proctor reminds her of her duty to his family and she responds by giving Elizabeth a poppet she made for her and then updating the Proctors on the current state of affairs in Salem. She tells them that Goody Osburn has been the first sentenced to hang.

Sarah Good escaped this fate by confessing to witchcraft. Mary claims that Sarah sent her spirit to choke her in the courtroom and reveals that she had a key role in the evidence against Goody Good. Proctor forbids her from returning to the court but Mary insists she goes because she's doing god's work and when threatened further, reveals that Elizabeth herself has been accused. Mary says that she defended Elizabeth but will not reveal who accused her to court. Elizabeth realizes that it was Abigail and that she means to take her place as Proctor's new wife. She tells John that he must now go to Abigail to stop her from doing this. They argue once again about the girl but John agrees to confront her. At that moment, Reverend Hale arrives. He discusses Elizabeth's blame of witchcraft and hints at suspicion regarding Rebecca Nurse. He questions the Christianity of Proctor and his family. Proctor admits that he does not respect Parris as a minister. Hale asks Proctor to recite the ten commandments. Proctor tells Hale then what Abigail revealed to him about the true cause of their affliction. Hale is more taken with Elizabeth's denial of the existence of witches than Proctor's revelation.

Giles Corey arrives at that moment, quickly followed by Francis Nurse, reporting that their wives had been arrested. Rebecca Nurse has been accused of supernaturally murdering Goody Putnam's babies. Hale attempts to defend the witch trials in the face of this outrageous charge of wrongdoing. Ezekiel Cheever arrives and announces that he is now the clerk of the court and he has a warrant for Elizabeth. He says that Abigail Williams has accused her and he has been instructed to search the house for poppets. The Proctor's hand over the only one they have, the one Mary has just given Elizabeth. Cheever bids Elizabeth to come with him but Proctor insists on sending her to fetch Mary. They did a examination of the poppet, Cheever discovers a needle in it and becomes convinced of Elizabeth's guilt. They learn that Abigail had suddenly clutched her stomach that evening and pulled out a two-inch needle. She claimed that Elizabeth Proctor had been was the one to attack her. Mary enters and admits to having made the poppet and to leaving the needle in it. She states that Susanna Walcott and Abigail had both seen her make it in court. Elizabeth displays her anger toward Abigail. Cheever takes this as further evidence of her guilt and insists on her arrest. Proctor turns to Hale who responds by again defending the court system. Elizabeth is taken and Proctor commands Mary to accompany him to court to tell the truth about the poppet. She responds that Abigail will kill her for this and that they will only become liable to Abigail's wrath by going to court. Proctor realizes then that he must reveal his relationship with Abigail to save his wife.