Reasons For The Salem Witch Trials In The Crucible

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. In Salem witchcraft became a very big deal. Twenty people died while over two hundred people were accused and it all happened because of one person. Many people are to blame for the witch trials and deaths of the accused, but Abigail is the most to blame. Before the play started Abigail had an affair with John Proctor and Elizabeth fired her from being their maid. The affair is the reason that all the girls danced in the woods. Abigail wants John to herself so she makes the other girls dance in the woods to get rid of Elizabeth. Throughout the play the only people who know about the affair is John, Abigail, Elizabeth and Mary Warren. Towards the end of the play John Proctor says “I have known her sir. I have known her.” (Miller 189) meaning this in a biblical way, which proves that they did have an affair and everyone finds out. Also to get rid of Elizabeth Abigail accuses her of using a poppet. Abigail stabs herself in the stomach in the exact same spot that Mary Warren

She’s a very manipulative and that goes back to threatening the girls; because she is manipulative threatening the girls is something that comes easy for Abigail. Also because she is manipulative she controls the court. The court listens to her and goes along with everything she says. For example, whenever Abigail says “I -- I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come.” Hathorne says “She is cold, Your Honor, touch her!” (Miller 188) showing that he believes her. There is also a part in the play where Abigail says she sees a bird and everyone believes her then too. If it weren’t for everyone believing her and her being able to manipulate everyone into believing her then all of this could’ve been