Research Paper On The Crucible

716 Words2 Pages

The story, "The Crucible," takes place during the witch craze in Salem, Massachusetts 1962-1963. The witch craze or the Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft. This was a period of paranoia as more than two hundred people were convicted. In the story, it makes connections to actual history while being fictional at the same time. The story begins with a group of girls dancing in the forest and got caught by a man named Reverend Parris, a local minister. Not long afterward one of the girls, Betty, falls into a coma-like state. Parris, who is also Betty's father, questions the leader of the group and his niece Abigail Williams while waiting for Reverend Hale. Abigail claims they were only …show more content…

Elizabeth tries to convince John to expose Abigail as a fraud; he refuses, and she becomes jealous, then accusing him of still suppressing feelings for her. Their servant and one of Abigail’s circle, Mary Warren returns from Salem with the news that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft, but the court didn't pursue the claim. John and Elizabeth continue their argument once they sent Mary to bed, only to be interrupted by Reverend Hale. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to the Proctor home with the news that their wives have been arrested. Officers of the court suddenly arrive and arrest Elizabeth. After they have taken her, Proctor threatens Mary, telling her that she must go to Salem and expose Abigail and the other girls as frauds. The next day, Proctor brings Mary to court to testify that the girls are lying. Judge Danforth is suspicious of Proctor’s motives. Proctor insists in his charge, convincing Danforth to allow Mary to testify. Mary tells the court that the girls are lying. When the girls are brought in, they turn the tables by accusing Mary of bewitching them. Proctor, furious, confesses his affair with Abigail and accuses her of being motivated by jealousy. To test Proctor’s claim, Danforth summons Elizabeth and asks her if Proctor has been unfaithful to her. Despite her usually being honest, she lies to

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