Examples Of Greed In The Crucible

Through out the play, Greed proved it could lead to persecution. Thomas Putnam, a wealthy land owner, always wants more land. And he has the money to buy it. He wanted land from George Jacobs, a man that had 600 acres of land. His greed led him to convince his daughter, Ruth, to accuse Jacobs of sending his spirit upon her. Court then decides that Jacobs is to be hung. If he is hung, his land will have to be forfeited. Then Thomas can buy that land. This is known because Giles Corey says, “If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeits up his property- that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece “(Miller 286). Giles Corey knew what Thomas was up to. The only person in Salem, who could buy the land was him. Thomas’s …show more content…
When the girls were caught with Tituba, they got scared. They didn’t want to get in trouble. Two girls pretended they couldn’t wake because they were so scared. We know this because Abigail Williams tells John Proctor, “We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all” (Miller 149). She told John that when they were alone. She was telling the truth to him, and he never told anyone. Because no one knew the truth, the girls started accusing people of witchcraft. The people they accused got hung. Their fear had killed innocent people. Another character who fell into the hands of fear, was Mary Warren. Mary Warren knew the girls afflicted were lying, because she was with Tituba too. When Elizabeth Proctor was arrested, John Proctor made Mary Warren go to court and tell the truth. When Mary did, the other girls went against her. They accused her of doing things a witch would do. She got scared, and lied. Mary said that John made her do it, that he was with the devil. She accused John of witchcraft, which led to him getting arrested. And later on, being hung. It was only fear, but the girl’s and Mary’s fear killed