The Crucible 765code, as long as one is condemning others, her name
is safe. If she confesses, it will appear that she has
taken responsibility for her actions. Accusing her
neighbors of sinful behavior serves to highlight
Abigail’s innocence.
As a result of this, the girls begin to pass their
blame on to others, including some of the most
upstanding, spiritual women in the community.
No one is safe from their accusations. Even those
with the most solid reputations are now considered
out of favor with God and ostracized among the
townspeople.
These sinners are alienated from the spiritual
society simply because their good names are tainted.
If one is seen with a sinner, he imposes the oppor-
tunity for others to speculate about his own good
nature. In this society, one is guilty by association.
No one wants to be involved with a sinner, for fear
they will be accused of sinning as well.
When Proctor finally comes forward to confess
his adultery, it is too late. The court believes that
Abigail and her friends have been chosen by God
to cleanse the town of evil and reestablish order
in society. Abigail’s plan to become John Proctor’s
wife backfires, however, when he is sentenced to
be hanged for witchcraft. Unable to confess her
wicked deeds, she steals her uncle’s money and runs
away. With no husband or means of support, it is
rumored she becomes a prostitute, thus continuing
her estrangement from society.
John Proctor is condemned for not confessing
his sin of devil-worship—which would have been
a lie—or accusing others of the crime. Therefore,
along with those desperate to keep their good
names, he is hanged. The trials are meant to purge
evil from society, but the ultimate result is the
unnecessary deaths of innocent people.
Erin Brescia
community in The Crucible
Salem, Massachusetts, a theocracy, was a rigid,
Puritan community. Because church and state were
connected and God was the ruler, sinners were
condemned in the eyes of the law. Since everyone
was expected to adhere to this moral, religious code,
one would think that life in Salem would be near-
utopian; however, this was far from the truth.
Before the witch trials are even set to begin,
problems abound in this small community, the
setting of The Crucible. First, there is resentment
among the townspeople. Mr. Putnam has witnessed
the deterioration of his family’s good name, and
his wife is angry because she believes supernatural
forces have murdered seven of her children before
they lived a day. She ultimately blames their deaths
on a midwife who served her during several of the
births. Abigail, a former servant of John and Eliza-
beth Proctor, is angry because Proctor had an affair
with her, but refuses to leave his wife and marry
Abigail. Elizabeth Proctor is resentful toward her
husband, who cheated on her. Because he sees he
cannot make her happy, Proctor tells her in anger, “I
see now your spirit twists around the single error of
my life, and I will never tear it free!” (62). No matter
what he tries to do or how very careful he is, Eliza-
beth will refuse to believe or trust him, even though
he is sorry for what he has done.
Second, there is a plethora of personal disputes
among the citizens of the town. Because the church
and state are one, more often than not these disputes
are taken directly to court for a judge with religious
authority to resolve. Giles Corey, who comes before
the court in defense of his wife during the trials,
attests that he has previously been in court 33 times
and never once needed a lawyer to defend him. It is
his belief that Mr. Putnam has accused another of
witchcraft so that Putnam can buy the defendant’s
land.
Reverend Parris is also at odds with members
of his congregation, and he is afraid of losing his
post as minister. Several prominent members have
left his church, and there are rumors that many are
not pleased with Parris. When his daughter “falls
ill” after dancing in the forest he is fearful that his
good name will be called into question. He does
not necessarily want to cry “witch,” but it would be
easier for him if the events could be attributed to
supernatural forces rather than to his lack of control
over his daughter.
When the witch trials begin, the town is pushed
into further ruin. Reverend Parris is afraid to leave
his house, and Hale confesses, “Excellency, there are
orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned
cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting