The girls are able to accuse and imprison anyone they want within the town just by saying they saw them “with the devil”. The town follows a strict hierarchy, making the trials unique in that they empowered individuals normally looked down upon such as the young girls and Tituba, Tituba is able to voice all the hate she has for her master and get away with it saying it was “suggested by the devil”. To do this he uses his daughter, telling her to accuse those whose land he wants.įrom reading The Crucible, the struggle for power is evident in Salem. As people are accused, they are forced to sell their land and property for a smaller price than they are worth, allowing Putnam to buy them and gain more control. In a similar way, Thomas Putnam is also to blame, benefitting from the trials himself. The explanation for this may be that Parris used the confusion and hysteria of the town to his advantage, exaggerating the case to make himself look trustworthy to secure his position of power. He becomes responsible because of how he escalates the trials in such a rapid manner, not once questioning the honesty of the girl’s stories and accusations. Another individual who is also responsible for the trials is Reverend Parris.

This results in the accusations of many of the townsfolk living in Salem, blaming them for “witchcraft“ they never committed, further hiding her mistakes and guilt. By attempting to cover up her actions in the woods, Abigail creates lies about witches that spread throughout the town, spreading hysteria and drawing away attention from her wrongs.

The main person partially responsible for the trials is Abigail Williams. Throughout the story, we see how the empowerment of previously powerless individuals impacted the trials, along with how the actions of only a few people sparked the tragic event. It illustrates how hysteria and lust for power can go out of control and create permanent change, along with damage. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, portrays the story of the Salem Witch Trials and the chaos brought with it. The Power of Hysteria in The Crucible, a Play by Arthur Miller

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