John Proctor's Treatment Of Women In The Crucible

Women were often treated differently based on age, title, and relations before the trials, but then were treated as equals to the men during the trials. “I’ll not be ordered to bed no more, Mr. Proctor! I am eighteen and a woman, however single!”(1240). Being in no relations with anyone, the women were to listen to any man, authoritative figure, now that the trials have begun, the women now find it more adequate to fend for themselves then to worry about work. Mary Warren, servant for the Proctor household, is a young woman who was given orders by John Proctor; the Proctors did not have problems with Mary until the Salem Witch Trials started.

She once took Abigail’s side during the beginning of the trials to save her own self. Later, turning against Abigail to save John’s wife Elizabeth, she is asked by John Proctor to turn against the girls and help him “overthrow” the court or she would be beat. As soon as word gets out to the other girls that Mary is for John Proctor they instantly accuse Mary of being a witch and for torturing the girls. Mary is described as a “big yellow bird that has come to tear away Abigail’s face” (1260). Since Mary was caught lying before of course the court believes all the other girls over her, on the verge of giving in and going against John Proctor, he then

She put the fear of God into the other girls by threatening to do reddish work if they dare told the truth. Out of pure fear all the girls followed her lead throughout the trials. When the girls accused someone, especially a Goody, of course the court will believe a group of girls with the same story over a single woman. At this time the Devil could bind with anyone with no exceptions. The people of Salem would believe any nonsense story of witchcraft just because there was “proof” of witchcraft in Salem, the girls dancing in the woods naked because of Tituba's spells she put on the girls to act like