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Goodwife Cruff
Goodman Cruff is Prudence’s father and Goodwife Cruff’s husband. Because Goodwife Cruff commands more authority in their marriage, the novel calls him “too spineless to stand up […] against his shrew of a wife.” According to 17th-century New England society, men were supposed to have more control in marriages. The novel depicts this sexism when it commends Goodman Cruff for “stepp[ing] into his rightful place” as he silences Goodwife Cruff. Goodman Cruff is notably kinder to Prudence than his wife is. When Prudence reveals that she can read and write, he is very proud of his daughter and announces that he wants Prudence to attend Kit’s school. It seems that he isn’t as prejudiced against Kit as his wife is, demonstrating that not every Puritan is intolerant of difference.
Goodman Cruff Quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The The Witch of Blackbird Pond quotes below are all either spoken by Goodman Cruff or refer to Goodman Cruff. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 18
Quotes
William could help her. Why hadn’t she thought of him at once? Anything William said would carry weight in the town. His position, his character, were unquestioned […] The thought steadied her. She thought of him coming to champion her […] Dear dependable William! Perhaps he would come tonight […]
It was Rachel who finally came instead.
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Chapter 19
Quotes
“Hold your tongue, woman,” shouted her husband unexpectedly. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about Prudence being bewitched. All these years you been telling me our child was half-witted. Why, she’s smart as a whip. I bet it warn’t much of a trick to teach her to read.”
Goodwife Cruff’s jaw dropped. For one moment she was struck utterly dumb, and in that moment her husband stepped into his rightful place. There was a new authority in his voice.
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Goodman Cruff Quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The The Witch of Blackbird Pond quotes below are all either spoken by Goodman Cruff or refer to Goodman Cruff. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 18
Quotes
William could help her. Why hadn’t she thought of him at once? Anything William said would carry weight in the town. His position, his character, were unquestioned […] The thought steadied her. She thought of him coming to champion her […] Dear dependable William! Perhaps he would come tonight […]
It was Rachel who finally came instead.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19
Quotes
“Hold your tongue, woman,” shouted her husband unexpectedly. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about Prudence being bewitched. All these years you been telling me our child was half-witted. Why, she’s smart as a whip. I bet it warn’t much of a trick to teach her to read.”
Goodwife Cruff’s jaw dropped. For one moment she was struck utterly dumb, and in that moment her husband stepped into his rightful place. There was a new authority in his voice.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
