Final answer:
In Arthur Miller's play 'The Crucible,' the arrest of Rebecca Nurse instills fear and distress in the Proctor household, reflecting the widespread hysteria and danger to even the most respected community members.
Step-by-step explanation:
The news of the arrest of Rebecca Nurse in Arthur Miller's The Crucible has a significant impact on the Proctors: it causes fear and distress.
Rebecca Nurse is a highly respected figure in the community, and her arrest signifies that nobody is beyond suspicion and that the hysteria is escalating. John Proctor, who is skeptical of the witch trials, views her arrest as a sign of escalating irrationality and as a direct threat to himself and his wife, Elizabeth, who is also later implicated.