The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, describes the Puritan society, saying, “...this predilection for minding other people’s business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of suspicions which were to feed the coming madness” (Miller 5). Those who mind other people’s business are only causing trouble for others and for themselves which will, ultimately, hurt others. For example, the townspeople of Salem only cause problems for each other once they start accusing others of witchcraft due to misunderstandings. The girls accuse each other of fallacies, like when Betty cried, “You drank blood, Abby!” (Miller 19). The girls constantly drag each other further down in order to take blame off of themselves, however,
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Abigail’s want for John Proctor is most likely the start of the hysteria as she, according to Betty’s testimony to Parris and Mrs. Putnam, “…drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife!” (Miller 19). If Abigail didn’t want John Proctor so badly she would never had gone after his wife. John’s wife also admits the fear that Abigail did purposely accuse her in order to take her place, saying to John, “She’d dare call out such a farmer’s wife but there be monstrous profit in it” (Miller 61). Abigail and Elizabeth Proctor’s rivalry fuels the entirety of the Witch trials and without it many lives would have been spared. John Proctor and Reverend Parris’s rivalry also affects the trials. Each one constantly tries to entrap the other and have them condemned. Proctor despises Parris as he believes he is corrupt. His belief of Parris’s corruption and refusal to attend his sermons gets him put into question. People doubt him to be a true believer in Christ all because he is not happy with Parris and what he teaches. Parris is also not a fan of Proctor and repeatedly tries to catch him up in his words in order to incriminate him. Without these rivalries fueling the hysteria and doubt of the fellow Puritans, there would likely be no trials. Abigail drives the whole horrific incidences forward just so she can win back Proctor, or, possibly get back at him for brushing her off after sleeping with her. Elizabeth points out Abigail could also be trying to get back at John for, “There is a promise made in any bed” (Miller 61). Rivalries in The Crucible drive forward accusations from the townspeople and put further cause towards condemning each
Abigail’s want for John Proctor is most likely the start of the hysteria as she, according to Betty’s testimony to Parris and Mrs. Putnam, “…drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife!” (Miller 19). If Abigail didn’t want John Proctor so badly she would never had gone after his wife. John’s wife also admits the fear that Abigail did purposely accuse her in order to take her place, saying to John, “She’d dare call out such a farmer’s wife but there be monstrous profit in it” (Miller 61). Abigail and Elizabeth Proctor’s rivalry fuels the entirety of the Witch trials and without it many lives would have been spared. John Proctor and Reverend Parris’s rivalry also affects the trials. Each one constantly tries to entrap the other and have them condemned. Proctor despises Parris as he believes he is corrupt. His belief of Parris’s corruption and refusal to attend his sermons gets him put into question. People doubt him to be a true believer in Christ all because he is not happy with Parris and what he teaches. Parris is also not a fan of Proctor and repeatedly tries to catch him up in his words in order to incriminate him. Without these rivalries fueling the hysteria and doubt of the fellow Puritans, there would likely be no trials. Abigail drives the whole horrific incidences forward just so she can win back Proctor, or, possibly get back at him for brushing her off after sleeping with her. Elizabeth points out Abigail could also be trying to get back at John for, “There is a promise made in any bed” (Miller 61). Rivalries in The Crucible drive forward accusations from the townspeople and put further cause towards condemning each