Salem Witch Trials In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that takes place during the Salem witch trials. In 1692, a hysteria began in Salem, Massachusetts, when rumors of witchcraft started. These rumors lead to the court trials, which result in nineteen hangings of accused witches. The group of girls responsible for the accusations, is lead by Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris’s niece. Reverend Parris sees Abigail along with his daughter, Betty, Mary Warren, and other girls from the town dancing in the woods with his slave, Tituba. The next day Betty is sick and the rumors of witchcraft begin. These rumors of witchcraft give the group of girls a great amount of power, because anyone they accuse of witchcraft is either hanged or given life in jail. Throughout

He’ll lay in jail if I give his name! HATHORNE. This is contempt of the court, Mr. Danforth! (Miller. 3).
The judges then tell Giles that he is in contempt of the court and he must reveal the name, but Giles still refuses to tell them. As a result, Giles is arrested and charged with contempt of court and is eventually pressed to death when he will give the court officials an answer. He knows that as long as he doesn’t die by hanging that his family will be able to keep his land. Ultimately, Giles Corey chooses to die rather than let another man be punished. Giles proves that he is a righteous man by being responsible to

Mary Warren is the current servant for the Proctors and a part of Abigail’s group of girls. Mary knows that everything the girls are doing is a hoax and it is her responsibility to stop it. However, Mary is scared to confess because she does not know what will happen to her, and she is fearful of how Abigail will react. In an attempt to get her to confess that the girls have been lying, John Proctor brings Mary with him to the courts with her deposition. When they arrive at the court, Mary is very timid and quiet, not saying much. Mary is questioned by the judges and she does reveal that the accusations were made up. Mary says it was all pretend and she only thought she was seeing spirits. When Abigail is asked about Mary’s claim, she denies it, of course. After denying these accusations, Abigail pretends that a cold wind has come upon her and blames it on Mary. The rest of the girls follow Abigail’s lead and accuse Mary of bewitching them. At this point, Mary knows the judges are not going to believe her and she will most likely be arrested, so she joins the girls and to seem more realistic, Mary turns on John and calls him the Devil’s man. Mary tells Danforth, “ My name, he want my name. ‘I’ll murder you, ‘he says, ‘if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court,’ he says!” (Miller. 3). Consequently. John Proctor is arrested and taken to prison as a result of another one of Mary’s lies. Mary