Status stands as one of the major determining factors of many aspects of one’s livelihood throughout history, especially in the Puritan society as portrayed in The Crucible. The women in The Crucible clearly have a lesser influence than that of their male counterparts, but consequently; the women of Salem use their varying statuses in order to get their way by taking advantage of certain situations. In terms of the upper class, the women will surely hold the trust of the others in their community simply because they hold the power of the class. For example, Ann Putnam is the wife of Thomas Putnam, an influential and wealthy figure in Salem, and therefore she also holds much influence without trying because of her relations to Thomas Putnam.
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Not only does their gender downgrade them, but so does status, therefore, when an opportunity comes to have an influence in the community, these women take it and go all out. One example of this is Abigail Williams’, whose response to nearly being caught for toiling with witchcraft saves her from her potential doom. As some of the most prominent people in Salem gather around Betty and speculate about witchcraft, Abby struggles to maintain her secret as these powerful figures try to figure out if the dancing she did in the woods with Betty and the other girls had anything to do with witchcraft. After Tituba is brought in for investigation, Abby sees that by confessing that she was dealing with the Devil, she will not be hung for witchcraft and the town will then assume she is cleansed of all evil. Abby suddenly finds herself preaching about wanting “the light of God” and “the sweet love of Jesus” but then begins pointing fingers at others to not only cleanse herself but also to put any other possible blame on others (45). Knowing nothing will happen to her for confessing, Abigail has no reason to hide the truth, but as a result, she uses this opportune time to accuse others of witchcraft because she has the attention of those who would not traditionally listen to what she, as a peasant girl, has to say. It is the moment in the limelight that allows her
Not only does their gender downgrade them, but so does status, therefore, when an opportunity comes to have an influence in the community, these women take it and go all out. One example of this is Abigail Williams’, whose response to nearly being caught for toiling with witchcraft saves her from her potential doom. As some of the most prominent people in Salem gather around Betty and speculate about witchcraft, Abby struggles to maintain her secret as these powerful figures try to figure out if the dancing she did in the woods with Betty and the other girls had anything to do with witchcraft. After Tituba is brought in for investigation, Abby sees that by confessing that she was dealing with the Devil, she will not be hung for witchcraft and the town will then assume she is cleansed of all evil. Abby suddenly finds herself preaching about wanting “the light of God” and “the sweet love of Jesus” but then begins pointing fingers at others to not only cleanse herself but also to put any other possible blame on others (45). Knowing nothing will happen to her for confessing, Abigail has no reason to hide the truth, but as a result, she uses this opportune time to accuse others of witchcraft because she has the attention of those who would not traditionally listen to what she, as a peasant girl, has to say. It is the moment in the limelight that allows her