Monday, August 18, 2014

Why is Giles Corey expelled from court in Act Three of "The Crucible"?

Giles Corey goes to court, along with Francis Nurse and John Proctor who has brought Mary Warren to testify to the truth that the girls have been pretending to see spirits and that there was no witchcraft.

Corey, Nurse and Proctor have brought a petition signed by 91 people vouching for the good Christian character of their wives who were arrested in Act II.   The Putnams have charged Rebecca Nurse with the mysterious deaths of their seven infants.  The atmosphere is very charged with emotion. 

Giles Corey makes a statement that Thomas Putnam has put his daughter, Ruth up to accusing George Jacobs of witchcraft because he wants to purchase his 600 acres that are adjacent to the Putnams'.  When Danforth asks how Corey knows this, he tells the court that he heard it from a reliable source, but will not name the man.

The court insists that Corey give the name of the man, he refuses.  Giles Corey is removed from the court because he refuses to name his source for the information concerning Putnam's accusation against George Jacobs.

Corey is removed, along with John Proctor, who is accused by Mary Warren of witchcraft, and put in jail.

Corey is later executed, he was pressed to death for refusing to answer the court's accusation of witchcraft against him.  He died have never answered guilty or innocent, therefore his lands were preserved for his family.

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