Question

read the following speech from act iv of the crucible. parris: tonight, when i open my door to leave my house—a dagger clattered to the ground.... you cannot hang this sort. there is danger for me. i dare not step outside at night! which sentence best explains why parris feels threatened? the townspeople are outraged that genuinely good people are being executed. the judges and leaders have received an accusation of witchcraft against parris. the townspeople feel guilty and ashamed for believing the girls lies. the judges and leaders have decided that parris is an incompetent preacher.

Explanation:

To determine why Parris feels threatened, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: In "The Crucible," as the trials progress and innocent people are hanged, the townspeople become outraged. Parris fears for his safety because he is associated with the trials, and the townspeople's anger at the unjust executions could turn against him. This aligns with his fear of stepping outside at night.
• Option 2: There's no indication that Parris has been accused of witchcraft at this point; his fear is more about the townspeople's reaction to the executions.
• Option 3: The townspeople's guilt isn't the main reason for Parris' threat; it's their outrage over the executions and potential retribution against those involved in the trials (like Parris).
• Option 4: The issue isn't about Parris' competence as a preacher but about the danger from the townspeople's outrage over the executions.

Answer:

A. The townspeople are outraged that genuinely good people are being executed.