The Crucible Salem Witch Trials

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In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, some of the characters accuse the other townspeople of witchcraft. The play is set in Salem, Massachusetts and is based on real events that happened in history. Why did the Salem Witch Trials happen? The event started because of mass hysteria which was caused by people pointing fingers at each other. The same thing happens in Miller’s play. Lust, jealousy, and greed motivate Abigail Williams, Mrs. Putnam, and Mr. Putnam to falsely accuse their neighbors of witchcraft.
In the play, Abigail is the niece of Reverend Parris. She was made an orphan after her parents were killed by the natives. Abigail used to work for John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth as their servant. She seduced John and had an affair with him. Elizabeth found out about John’s affair and fired Abigail. “John- I’m waitin’ for you every night,” says Abigail (176). When she says “every night” this is an example of her desire for him because she is always thinking about him and waiting for him to come to her every night. Even though the affair was a one-time thing for John, Abigail believes that she can still be with him, but the person who is in the way of her happiness is Elizabeth. This is why she she tries …show more content…
He can be very cruel and has a vindictive nature. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if it hurts other people in the process. “I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land,” says Giles Corey (214). Putnam convinces Ruth to accuse Jacobs of witchcraft because of his own selfish desires. He is an opportunist and immediately jumps on the bandwagon when people start pointing fingers at each other. Putnam adds to the hysteria by encouraging the accusations and accusing other people of witchcraft for their property. Greed motivates Putnam to accuse Jacobs of
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