2. Crucible pg. 8-30

Quote 1: "It is not surprising to find that so many accusations against people are in the handwriting of Thomas Putnam, or that his name is so often used as a witness corroborating the supernatural testimony, or that his daughter led the crying-out at the most opportune junctures of the trials" (15).

Thomas Putnam seems to be an instigator towards witchcraft. He maintains his reputation and position by putting other people's lives at stake and uses references that allude to possible witchcraft in order to raise awareness that somebody is using it: "That is a notorious sign of witchcraft afoot, Goody Nurse, a prodigious sign!" (25). Putnam tries to persuade Parris that he should tell the village about the witchcraft going on when he knows this will destroy Parris's position in society, especially because Parris is a reverend and strange things should not be happening in his house of all places: "Let your enemies make of it what they will, you cannot blink it more" (16). As long as Mr. Putnam is not being negatively affected, it does not matter to him what occurs. His presence in the village seems to focus a lot on himself.


Quote 2: "Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring you a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it" (20).

Abigail Williams turns out to be somewhat of a lunatic and will definitely be pinned for being a witch some time in the book. She sounds innocent when she speaks to Parris, but when she converses with other peers, we hear more of her inappropriate deeds she is hiding. Abigail starts off saying she only danced in the forest, but then it is later revealed that she also drank blood in order to kill Goody Proctor and had some sort of an affair with her husband. Considering how Parris took Abigail into his home just like a daughter, this is not a way she should be repaying him for his hospitality. The things she does will cause Parris, herself, and possibly Betty to be suspected as witches. If one goes down, then the others are at risk. The characters introduced so far all have some sort of tension between each other and disagree with at least one other person very often. They need to be careful what is said or else it will not be difficult to accuse somebody of saying something sinful, and have that person be penalized for it. It is hard living in such a society where nobody can be trusted.