Relationships come with their shares of peaks and valleys. Most relationships are also built with a strong foundation. However, no matter how strong this foundation is, the hurricanes that come along have the capability to permanently impact the future of a relationship. Constantly, people are told not to let the past get in the way of their future. The same cannot be said however in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. In Miller’s play, a number of relationships that the townspeople have built were influenced through various experiences that changed their interaction with one another controversially. Every individual encountered a situation in which their action had the possibility to heavily impact a relationship they built with another
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Immediately, it is seen there is a definite amount of tension between them, and their families. As the play progresses, it is learned that this tension derived from years back. Their relationship began when Ann hired Rebecca as her midwife. This did not end well however, for none of Ann’s babies survived in the care of Rebecca. Ann’s growing suspicion that Rebecca was to blame for her five unborn babies’ deaths. Therefore, upon the town’s ballistic reaction towards the possibility of their fellow townspeople being witches, Ann saw an opportunity to right Rebecca’s alleged wrong towards her. Ann was so convinced that Rebecca was responsible for five of her babies’ deaths, she let this occurrence cloud her judgement, and she assumed the worst of Rebecca. Ann Putnam says to Rebecca with an edge of sarcasm, “...You think it God’s work you should never lose a child, nor grandchild either, and I bury all but one? There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires,” (Miller, p.28). Not to mention Ruth, her eighth child survived, and she did not go to Rebecca to give birth. Ann was desperate for answers. Therefore, it was no surprise that when news came to Salem about the possibility of witches living amongst them, Rebecca jumped to conclusions, and accused Rebecca of being a witch. This speculation then lead Ann to even more hatred against Rebecca. However, that piece of information not only affected the Putnams and Nurses. In fact, it caused pandemonium within the whole town. When the news about witches spread throughout Salem, friends turned against friends, and neighbours turned against neighbours Additionally, the fact that the property-hungry Putnams were long ago involved in a squabble with the Nurses regarding land did not help their already unsteady association. Rebecca and Ann’s relationship show how one’s search for
Immediately, it is seen there is a definite amount of tension between them, and their families. As the play progresses, it is learned that this tension derived from years back. Their relationship began when Ann hired Rebecca as her midwife. This did not end well however, for none of Ann’s babies survived in the care of Rebecca. Ann’s growing suspicion that Rebecca was to blame for her five unborn babies’ deaths. Therefore, upon the town’s ballistic reaction towards the possibility of their fellow townspeople being witches, Ann saw an opportunity to right Rebecca’s alleged wrong towards her. Ann was so convinced that Rebecca was responsible for five of her babies’ deaths, she let this occurrence cloud her judgement, and she assumed the worst of Rebecca. Ann Putnam says to Rebecca with an edge of sarcasm, “...You think it God’s work you should never lose a child, nor grandchild either, and I bury all but one? There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires,” (Miller, p.28). Not to mention Ruth, her eighth child survived, and she did not go to Rebecca to give birth. Ann was desperate for answers. Therefore, it was no surprise that when news came to Salem about the possibility of witches living amongst them, Rebecca jumped to conclusions, and accused Rebecca of being a witch. This speculation then lead Ann to even more hatred against Rebecca. However, that piece of information not only affected the Putnams and Nurses. In fact, it caused pandemonium within the whole town. When the news about witches spread throughout Salem, friends turned against friends, and neighbours turned against neighbours Additionally, the fact that the property-hungry Putnams were long ago involved in a squabble with the Nurses regarding land did not help their already unsteady association. Rebecca and Ann’s relationship show how one’s search for