How Does Goody Putnam Use Jealousy In The Crucible

Melting Townsfolk with Envy

Every action roots in an emotion. Tituba, Goody Putnam, and Abigail from The Crucible make many decisions through jealousy. Jealousy is a feeling of resentment or animosity. The title of The Crucible relates to a container that can melt substances in high temperatures. The emotions people have can act a lot like the container, a crucible, and the accused townsfolk act as the melting substance. Through the misjudgments of the town, many people act through jealousy to achieve what they want. The citizens accuse Tituba of not loving citizens and witchcraft. Goody Putnam strives to have a healthy child but cannot achieve this goal. Abigail wishes to hold Mrs. Putnam’s place as the wife. The Crucible written by Arthur Miller is a story with many emotions; some people affected by jealousy are Tituba, Goody Putnam, and Abigail.

The town is accusing Tituba for hurting children, not loving God, and witchcraft. She responds saying, “Aye, sir, a good Christian woman” (45). The townsfolk prosecute her for actions she has not committed; many townsfolk assume she has made these mistakes. She is

one of the first accused in Salem and works as a servant for Reverend Parris. At first, she denies the existence of witchcraft, but later she confesses that she helps her sister. Rightfully accusing her of witchcraft, she becomes envious of those who are still safe from the trails. Out of the whole town, she is the first accused and has the bad fate come without any warning.
Goody Putnam’s multiple attempts to have children left her with envy for those who have healthy children.

She is struggling to have children that stay full of life unlike her neighbors; “Let God blame me, not you, not you, Rebecca! I’ll not have you judging me anymore!” (39). She questions why many neighbors have been able to conceive many healthy children, yet she can only have one. God supposedly leads Goody Putnam to believe he is only trying to punish her. Within Goody Putnam’s several attempts to have a child, her desire to have a child becomes more prominent. She finds it comforting to think about how the supernatural have to do with her unborn children. Considering witchcraft covers the town of Salem, this is easier for her to grasp. She is very envious of the mothers throughout the town and especially Rebecca who has eleven

children.
Abigail realizes her envy for Mr. Putnam’s wife as Abigail loses her job. “Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-” (23). Even though John Putnam calls Abigail a child, she is envious of his relationship with Elizabeth. The Putnam’s marriage intrigues Abigail. She begins to see Elizabeth as a block in the road to her happiness through marriage. Abigail starts to say many rumors about Elizabeth hoping for her to go away from her husband. Abigail sets Elizabeth up to go to trial for witchcraft, which helps her get closer to Mr. Putnam.
Many of the unjust callings dealing with witchcraft are rooted from the little girls dancing in the moonlight. The emotions are testing the turbulence of the citizens of Salem, Massachusetts. Jealousy seems to hurt Tituba, Goody Putnam, and Abigail throughout The Crucible. A crucible is like the town of Salem. Once the emotion sprouts, the emotions begins to burn those in the way. The emotions of Tituba, Goody Putnam, and Abigail show throughout the actions they make. The townspeople of Salem hold many emotions other than jealousy.