The Blame Game

The play, “The Crucible,” was written by Arthur Miller and gives an intimate perspective towards the topic of witchcraft in the context of the Salem witch trials of 1692. Throughout the play, many individuals are accused of the crime of witchcraft. Often times, they were accused over very minor indications. This caused much upheaval, as more witches were taken into custody over such trifles. Some kept their sense of virtue and decided to tell the truth that they had not committed any atrocities. This did result in their untimely death; however, as the courts were biased to the accused, assuming that they were guilty if accused at all. Others decided to lie their way out of it, admitting to their alleged crimes, or by placing the blame on anyone else they could find. Those who lied then began to play the blame game. As one lie was told, often times, many more untruths were told as each person accused attempted to defend themselves. Among those who fit this description comes the insidious character known as Abigail Williams. Throughout the events of the play, Abigail appears largely to blame for the Salem witch trials since she is a liar, accuses more witches than anyone else, and is morally corrupt.

Witchcraft was treated as a serious crime in those days. Often times, accusations of witchcraft were fallacious and could result in being sentenced to a grievous death, namely through a public hanging. When Abigail is accused of witchcraft by Hale, she is led to resort to lies as her means of refuge. Her reaction when Hale asks if Tituba had enchanted her at all was this: “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”(19) Considering that her life was at stake, one can not blame Abigail for taking the easy way out like she did. Yet, in this case, part of her argument is true. In a sense, she was not completely at fault, since Tituba was from Barbados, where some of the customs may have been different. Perhaps the populace danced in the woods and drank chicken blood at nighttime in Barbados. Yet, it is her inability to realize this that made Abigail’s words devoid of the truth. She jumps to conclusions rather than pure logic, which remains a habit until the very end of the play.

Abigail’s lies are also closely tied into her mannerisms. As the unfavorable topic of witchcraft is brought to attention, Abigail seems to be on her toes, readily accusing and implicating anyone to draw suspicion from herself. Of all the lies told by Abigail, her most outrageous ones are introduced during Mary Warren’s interrogation. In her first one, Abigail claims that Mary’s evil soul is freezing her over. Her second lie is concerned with an ostensible conversation she has with Mary’s spirit, which is as follows: “Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do.”(115) Abigail is lying twice in that example. First of all, she is not exactly speaking with Mary’s spirit; she is merely attempting to draw attention from herself. Secondly, Abigail is certainly not doing God’s work, in fact, she is doing the opposite. Abigail should be telling the truth that she danced in the woods upon her own free will, yet, she lies and accuses instead. Such acts are the kinds of acts upon which God would frown. The truth will out; at least, it would in a perfect world.

Last but not least, Abigail is not doing God’s work, as she is morally corrupt on the inside. Towards the beginning of the play, when John Proctor enters for the first time, this sparks flirtatious sentiments within Abigail, flustering him greatly. Though he did have an affair with Abigail, Proctor held his marriage and faith on a high pedestal. Abigail then begins to act more fervently on her fleeting emotions, when she says this of Elizabeth, his wife: “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her!”(24). Clearly, Abigail is trying to reunite with Proctor mainly by exploiting his wife. Again, she is resorting to her jealous disposition and decides to manipulate his wife anyways, thinking that she may be absorbed soon enough by the entire witchcraft issue. Unfortunately for Proctor, Abigail succeeds at this. At court, Mary Warren gives a doll to Elizabeth as a gift, which Abigail makes Mary stick a needle through. Abigail then uses her dinnertime at the Parris’ to stab her belly with a needle, the same place as on the doll, claiming that Elizabeth’s spirit had stabbed her. It is a pity how such minor and false evidence could be taken so far as to arrest Elizabeth. It was the hysteria of the time that led the courts to believe in such fiction. Later on, Abigail would fail, since her lies end up reaching Proctor, who then dies as the martyr of her cause.

Abigail is responsible for the uprisings of thought during the Salem witch trials. She is a corrupted character, who lies, accuses, and follows her corrupted mind to belittle others. Salem was a small, but pious town. The people of Salem went about, freely expressing their faith in God and why God was so good. Yet, these people had differing views about the issue of how God’s followers were seen on high. These conflicting concepts began the witch trials, which ended up corrupting the piety of this small town. As people were accused, they were led astray from their virtue, and were led to lie and cheat their way out of the situation. Often times, it was the grudges that the people held towards each other that were the biases of their accusations. Abigail was the most major advocate for this style of thought, as she fit this description more closely than any of the other characters in the play. Her false accusations lead to an entire cycle bent on selfishness and vengeance that repeats itself throughout the play. That is why Abigail Williams is largely to blame for the situation in Salem.

To The End

"While I speak God's Law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this - I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statuses. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do so."(129)

This quote is quite a stretch of a reason given by Danforth explaining why he is doing what he is doing. In a few words, he claims to be doing the work he was assigned to do by Heaven. This builds off the theme of lying once again, since all the minor trifles that Danforth accuses all the others for are not nearly as bad as sentencing hundreds of people to death. Danforth seems to think himself of being perfectly holy and in God's favor, since he sees himself as doing God's work, and being God's voice on earth. This makes him a bit cocky, and he seems to see himself as infallible. The more people he accuses and sentences to death, the more he feels in God's favor. However, didn't God condemn murder in the Bible, and later on, didn't Jesus tell us to love our enemies? Danforth must have forgotten about those things, and is going on with his job of committing large-scale atrocities. The whole prospect that Danforth was carrying out God's service was probably some kind of misunderstanding. He knew that he was to destroy evil, yet he had little to no proof that the accused were actually evil. Perhaps Proctor was correct in saying that he saw himself with the Devil, and with the Devil was Danforth, because Danforth is probably the largest of all the warlocks of his time.

Will Danforth eventually see his wrongdoing?

"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!"(143)

This quote is centered around the opposite theme as the other quote. Danforth's words in the above example are vehement lies, while the words of Proctor three lines up are in fact the truth. Proctor is giving his final defense for his alleged "witchery." He is simply saying that he will not publicly admit his crimes, since he sees them as false and does not want everyone else to see him that way. Throughout the play, Hale along with Proctor have seemed to be the "voices of reason." This is because they were more liberal about the whole issue of witchcraft, not being fooled as easily as Danforth, who believed anyone when they told him that they met with the Devil, and saw other people with him. Only Proctor and Hale were aware that Abigail and the other girls were lying during Mary Warren's interrogation, but their attempts at reasoning it out with Danforth were quashed by his overweening pride. Unfortunately, Mary Warren, of whom Proctor was defending, turns on him and pins the blame for her presumed "witchery" on him. Proctor then decides to sign a confession to save his own life, simply because his wife said so. Yet, on the inside, he wanted to die. This is because Proctor sees himself as the better man, almost Jesus-like, since he sees himself as not being pious enough, and decides to be the scapegoat so that he might make a statement as to how much others should value what is good and true. Proctor could have signed the confession and publicly announced that he was a warlock, yet, he went even further. He as well as Rebecca Nurse decided to die for virtue's sake, and would be remembered for it. After all, many of the occurrences within the play itself are acclaimed to be historically accurate.

How strongly must the people have felt about witchcraft during its time?

To Page 127

"I believe him! This girl has always struck me false! She has - "(114)

From this quote, it is inevitable that there is at least one sensible judge at the witch trials. In this quote, Hale suspects Abigail for lying and announces it for the first time. This strikes Danforth as odd, since he seems to trust her. From the scene where Abigail and the other girls supposedly freeze, Hale's suspicion must have been building up since. One moment the girls were fine, yet the next, they were complaining of a draft and implicating Mary at the same time. Hale is quite aware that there is much falsity within the words of Abigail. Abigail appears as a trustworthy individual because she deftly utilizes ethos as her means of appearing so. She attempts to charm those in the courtroom, and when she is suspected of anything or questioned at all, she throws a tantrum, claiming to be the one who is finding all the witches and must not be punished, for without her, Salem would be teeming with them. Shortly after this selection came in, Abigail and the other girls claim to see a yellow bird, which becomes a demon that "possesses" them. Danforth takes this to heart when he hears them repeat all the words of Mary after she says them, but Hale and the only other sensible person, Proctor, sense that the entire scenario is a mere fib. In her fear, Mary is eventually forced to lie herself, and pin the blame on Proctor, who was defending her. This links to the constantly recurring theme of lying present in this play, and in that we see how contagious these lies have become. This strikes Hale senseless, and shortly after that, he has had it. In a fury, he exclaims, "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!"(120)

What may become of the court without a sensible judge such as Hale?

"Devil, him be pleasure-man in Barbados, him be singin' and dancin' in Barbados. It's you folks - you riles him up 'round here; it be too cold 'round here for that Old Boy."(122)

This quote is rather interesting, since it gives an opposing perspective on how the devil was seen during this time. Tituba, who said this particular piece, was accused of witchcraft. Interestingly enough, she claims to accept the devil in the face of her likely punishment of hanging, saying that in her home country of Barbados, the devil was a kindly spirit. From this, Tituba comes across as fearless, which is a good quality to have in situations like the witch trials. She claimed to accept the forbidden, and made sense out of it. Also, the reader can perceive an intelligent thought process behind her words. Sure she is accepting the devil, which is basically death if an utterance of such words is overheard. Yet, she claims that he is outgoing in Barbados. Salem is in Massachusetts, hundreds of miles from Barbados. Chances are that every other character in the play has never been to such a place. Being so far off, exotic, and warmer, which may be perceived as almost hell-like, the people may be inclined to think that Barbados is the place where the devil lies, and may possibly expel accused witches there. For Tituba, that would be a dream come true, since during her time in Salem, all she had known was trouble.

Is this going to work out at all?

To Page 113

"But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim. None other."(100)

This quote emphasizes the insidious nature of witchcraft and relates to the eminent themes of lying and side taking portrayed throughout the play. This quote makes the point that witchcraft may not be witnessed by anyone, except for the accused witch and the victim. Throughout the play so far, the authority has seemed to be taking one side. It is stated throughout the play that those in charge have been given the divine mission of purging the devil and his allies from Salem. In that sense, this quote leaves very much room for doubt. Assuming that it is in fact true, this quote is saying that anyone considered a victim of witchcraft has the ultimate say. When any evidence that is against the side not in favor is issued, often times, they are accused and implicated in every way for atrocities never committed. Again, if the alleged victim happens to be of a deceptive type, this could be very unfortunate for those not in favor. While in favor, it is possible for any person to make up any kind of lie, and to have others believe them, no matter how outrageous the claims. Building off the point made earlier that the judges were on a divine mission, the judges have claimed that God expels the life out of anyone who gives any false utterances. If the judges were not so naïve, they would be able to realize that those of whom the thought they could trust are playing them for fools. If these trials are bent on irradicating falsity,
surely these trials are not being held very much on God's favor, since the devil's tactic of lying is being used in God's "defense."

This being the case, what kinds of people were being accused of witchcraft during this time?

"Your Honor, I freeze!"
"They're pretending!"
"She is cold, Your Honor, touch her!"
"Mary, do you send this shadow on me?"
"Lord, save me!"(108-109)

This quote again touches on the theme of lying. Yet, in this case, it is more concealed, namely through cooperation. This is an interesting case, as one can clearly see a collaborative effort to bring shame upon a witch. Among the few who were acting out these antics were Abigail and Mercy. As the events of the play have unfolded, one may get the impression that they are of the designated few who seem to be trusted by the authority. Upon scanning the few lines before this particular selection, it is tangible that Abigail merely made up this situation on the spot. Relating this to the previous quote, it seems that Abigail and Mercy are the victims in this case, and Mary is definitely the "witch." That is unfortunate for Mary, since she is aware that in her position, anything could be taken as evidence, especially if taken from reliable sources. In the lines following this selection, it can be seen that Danforth, the administer of the whole situation, believes in those doing the acting. That is a shame, since again, the one who is supposed to be defending God is giving in to devilish lies. Danforth should know better than to straight up believe in this bombast. Salem was considered to be a liberal place. As such, Danforth must be more liberal and look more closely at the whole situation for any possible faults, as he does not want to be possibly sentencing the innocent of whom God relishes.

In what way might such collaboration be so deadly?

To Page 98

"I pray you, Mr. Parris. Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?"(88)

This quote basically sums up how ridiculous these witch trials have become. A major pattern seen throughout the events of the play show those in charge turning to a select few for all the answers for suspected social woes. As stated in the above quote, children are among that select few. This is unusual, since children are more immature than adults, and they had not suspected that they may be poking fun with their accusations or trying to get at their rivals while in a seeming position of power. Could it be that they would not have the heart to kill a child who had not lived to see very much? Perhaps they had the idea in mind that the children made up what the world would be tomorrow. Apparently, this world of tomorrow might possibly be filled with underhanded liars. Eventually, Danforth thankfully realizes this potential scheme when he says, "I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me"(91).

Why would the children have been seen as the most trustworthy in this case? Why not someone older and wiser?

"No, old man, you have not hurt these people if they are of good conscience. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between."(94)

Again, this is another statement undermining the relevance of the witch trials. This quote relates to the theme of "all or nothing" that has seemed to prevail in the accusations of witches. That is merely concerned with how a person may only take one side or another, not any other side in between. To draw parallels with the previous quote, a select few, notably children, had a bit of an advantage in Salem's society at the time. The courts were not after them as hotly and were free to ramble on as they wished about others, since they were not openly harming themselves. Also, as already mentioned, Salem is a place contaminated with spite. One single person at the time could be seen as both for and against the court, depending on who was judging them as such. A friend would defend them, saying that such a person is for the court. An enemy, in the meantime, would claim the opposite. This points out a problem in the words of Danforth as stated above, if a person may potentially be viewed as both for and against the court, is that not being in a state of betweenness? Sure the state has the final say, but it is all derived from "evidence" and witnesses, of which may be ambiguous and meander off either way.

What was Danforth really trying to get at in this statement?

To Page 83

"Nurse, though our hearts break, we cannot flinch; these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!"(71)

In this quote, Hale is telling Proctor and the others present in the scene that they live in troubled times. Clearly, this is the case in their society at the time. Close friends were constantly being dragged off with accusations of being a witch and such things which are unable to be proven. Also, Hale asserts his belief in witchcraft at this time, saying that everyone must follow where accusations are directed. This is unusual that Hale would speak as if this were almost a normal situation, and possibly at a later time, this idea with come back to bite him. Perhaps his belief in the Devil's presence in Salem will lead him to turn in his own friends, as he stated that long-term friendships were "criminal."

How might Hale turn in should this be the case?

"I'll tell you what's walking Salem - vengeance is walking Salem."(77)

As it seems, there is at least one character who is not a fool of sorts. Proctor is saying in this quote that witchcraft is all a farce, once again. He makes the point that it is concerned with grudges between people developing callously and resulting in one person turning in the other. With that, it is implied that the witchcraft trials are not the work of the devil, it is merely ill sentiments gone wild. Perhaps this idea leaking could result in a widespread realization that there is no real work of the devil present, but merely just trifling amongst the people of Salem. If this idea is adopted by the others, perhaps it is their reasoning that could potentially end these cases of witchcraft for once and for all.

Why might this idea not catch on?

To Page 67

"That she - she sometimes made a compact with Lucifer, and wrote her name in his black book - with her blood - and bound herself to torment Christians till God's thrown down - and we all must worship hell forevermore." (56-57)

This quote comes in when Mary Warren, Elizabeth, and Proctor are discussing those who have been recently accused of witchcraft. This quote discussed the story that Sarah Good told that spared her the death sentence. She claims to have met with the devil and vowed to weaken Christendom. This is important since it shows how dire the situation was at the time. Witchcraft must have been a very serious crime if those accused were forced to tell such outrageous stories just to possibly save themselves. For one, the devil does not really exist. Also, she is being accused for something that no one could have witnessed, and chances are it was made up by a fellow rival. It comes across as striking that she would have to make up such fallaciousness.

What other things might a person accused of witchcraft make up in order to save themselves?

"It may be I have been too quick to bring the man to book, but you cannot think we ever desired the destruction of religion. I think that's in your mind, is it not?" (66)

This quote comes in when Reverend Hale visits the Proctors. He says that Elizabeth's name was mentioned during a witchcraft trial, and came over to investigate the issue. In drawing up conclusions about witchcraft, Hale was quite liberal. He looked anywhere, inquiring of the absence of the Proctors at mass to why one of their sons was not baptized to is Elizabeth knew the Commandments. Again, this is strange, since Hale seemed to be accusing them from only the most trivial sources. If a person does not go to church, that does not mean that they are against the church or anything. Sometimes, it is a personal choice to not go. maybe one sees church as boring or someone is sick and cannot attend. Also, The Proctors do not have to baptize their sons to remain as Catholics. As long as they live wholesome lives, they do not exactly have to baptize their sons that way. Lastly, it was quite petty of Hale to ask Elizabeth if she knew her Commandments. There was little purpose in the act, and if she did not know them, she was not exactly a witch. As long as she lived a good life, her lack of knowledge in that area may be compensated for.

What other such things may have arisen suspicion of witchcraft?

Character List

Reverend Parris - a priest, holy, cares for his daughter Betty, against the devil

Betty Parris - sickly, danced in the woods with some other girls, accuses many others of witchcraft, suspected to contain a demon within

Tituba - Parris's slave, from Barbados, fearful of witchcraft and what it could do to her, willing to tell lies to back herself up, she likely did not see anyone with the devil, danced in the woods with some other girls

Abigail - danced in the woods with some other girls, likes John Proctor, accuses Tituba and many others of witchcraft, protective of her identity

Susanna - nervous, a messenger for the doctor caring for Betty

Mercy - the Putnams' servant, danced in the woods with some other girls

Ms. Putnam- against witchcraft, thinks that Betty might be a witch

Putnam - a well-to-do landowner, well known, solemn, against witchcraft

Rebecca Nurse - a nurse caring for Betty, elderly,

Mary Warren - lonely, afraid of being accused of being a witch, merely watched the others dance in the woods, thinks that they should tell the truth about the situation

John Proctor - a farmer with a strong character, had an affair with Abigail and now dislikes her, critical of Parris's ways

Giles Corey - elderly, inquisitive, believes in witchcraft, has money on his mind

Reverend Hale - serious about his work, scientific-minded, accusing, believes in witchcraft

Even more Crucible Quotes and Stuff

"It discomfits me! Last night - mark this - I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly - mark this - I could pray again!" (40)

This quote is important since it shows how suspicious people were at the time of witchcraft. Reading books is an ordinary activity, yet, Giles seems to disagree. Though she read night, there is nothing wrong with that. Some people fall asleep easier by reading. The part that may have caused suspicion was when his wife would not tell what the books were about. He is probably afraid that such books are concerned with witchcraft. This makes a statement on how much he cares about his wife, since talking about these kinds of things may raise suspicions towards her.

What would be considered a sign of witchcraft at the time?

"I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil!"
"She speaks! She speaks!" (48)

This quote is important since Parris’s daughter, Betty, appeared to be sickly. Hale tried to get her to say a word, but she would not budge. Yet, when his debate with Tituba reached a point where they began to accuse others of witchcraft, Betty was rather quick to arise and ecstatically accuse her rivals. This is unusual, since Betty seemed really out of it, until accusations of witchcraft came up. That seemed to be the remedy for all her problems, which is rather strange. This shows not only how “sick” she may have been, but also how much she cares about these other people, by mentioning them when speaking of things that may result in a death sentence.

Is Betty really sick?

More Crucible Quotes and Stuff

"She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her! Let her turn you like a -
"Do you look for whippin'?" (23-24)

This quote is important since in it, John Proctor is talking to his wife Abigail. In this dialogs, we learn that Abigail has a rival named Elizabeth, who is not speaking well of Abigail and associates well with Proctor. At the time, bad reports of a certain person could lead people to think them as a witch and then execute them. The last line shows Proctor defending Elizabeth, which may be an indication that he might turn on Abigail if led too far astray.

Judging by this, who might a person in Salem at this time turn in as a witch?

"I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more." (28-29)

This quote is important since it shows that the church of the time has come to mention God less and less. At the time, people were going around, accusing each other of being witches and for evil things as a whole. At church, which is God's alleged house, the priest typically talks about God's goodness. The failure of the church to make God's goodness openly expressed in mass could have perhaps channeled all the coarse feelings that the people of Salem felt at the time.

How might the failure to mention God in a regular mass affect the meaning of it?

Quotes and Questions

1.) "She ails as she must - she never waked this morning, but her eyes open and she walks, and hears naught, sees naught, and cannot eat. Her soul is taken, surely." (13)
- Ruth seems to be acting differently as mentioned here.
- The only influence Parris and Mrs. Putnam could think of was that of witchcraft.

Why did they just assume that Ruth may be a witch?

2.) "I'll lead them in a psalm, but let you say nothing of witchcraft yet. I will not discuss it. The cause is yet unknown. I have had enough contention since I came; I want no more." (17)
- The people of the parish wanted to pray.
- Parris said not to mention a word about witchcraft among any of them.

What might happen if they leak any word that someone may be a witch?

Monday Feces

Parris - holy, suspicious,  afraid, serious, Puritan

"He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God to his side." (3)

Tituba - a slave, frightened

"...she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back." (8)

There are a few features of the plot that I feel will dictate this play.  First of all, this play is set at the times of the Salem witch trials.  That will likely determine the people's language, the setting, and the events occurring throughout the play.  The characters will probably be very holy sounding, trying to accuse their rivals of being witches, and such accusations might even kill off a few of the main characters.

Also, the historical accuracy will add even more depth to the plot.  The characters are supposedly real, and for the most part, they have remained the same as they were described throughout history.  The book states that the fates of each character are as they were in real time.  In a sense, that could add more to the understanding of this play.