To begin, it is a popular belief that Tituba, a slave in the story, was justified in her confession to witchcraft in order to save her own life. After the girls of Salem peg Tituba as the culprit for corrupting their souls and torturing them, she is interrogated and accused by characters such as the esteemed Reverend Hale and town’s Reverend, Mr. Parris. Finally, Parris exclaims, “ You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!” (1.941-942). Tituba instantly confesses, and saves herself from a terrible death. In this situation, it is believed that few would uphold their truth, and rightfully so, for their life is on the line. Although this may be true, by confessing, Tituba unknowingly starts a whirlwind
On February 29, 1692, issued warrants were released for Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba for witchcraft. Good, a beggar, and Osborne, a poor elderly woman, both claimed they were innocent and Tituba, a Caribbean slave from Elizabeth Parris’ family, confessed to being a witch. Tituba not only confessed to doing witchcraft but that there was a whole coven of witches in Salem, making her not the only one. Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams were experiencing tremors, spasms, fits and crying while throwing things. All of this made everyone suspicious about witchcraft.
Rosenthal’s article focuses on Tituba’s life and how she played a role within the Salem Witch Trials. Rosenthal sheds light on the fact that Tituba was married, which is left out in several documentations of her. He also brings up the fact that she admitted to doing witchcraft and the infamous circle of girls she told stories to. He shares that not many people would know that her plan was not to cause a ruckus upon Salem but to ultimately warn people of the devil.
Because the fact that she told the truth, Tituba did not have to go to trial and ended up being a big help with catching the rest of the witches. The other witch was Sarah Good. She had been accused by 7 people. One of those 7 was her own daughter, Dorcas Good. Sarah was arrested on March 23th and executed on July 19th.
Tituba the witch The crucible by Arthur Miller is about the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Many people in Salem truly believed that witchcraft was real and lived by that. Majority of the citizens also often thought that they could see the devils spirit in people and they knew when someone was guilty of witchcraft.
In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Reverend Parris, a solipsistic and impatient minister of Salem, Massachusetts, possesses a 40-year-old Barbadian slave named Tituba. Tituba is misunderstood and genuine; she was neglected by the Parris' due to her perceived lack of intelligence, which clarifies when the girls were caught dancing in the woods and accused Tituba of being "with the devil" because she had been seen dancing with Betty, one of Reverend Parris's daughters and Abigail, Reverend Parris's niece. Abigail also claimed that Tituba reached out to her with "the Devil’s book" in dreams. Miller portrays Tituba as a gullible slave who fibs to shield herself from being tormented by her master, to show her devotion to the Parris family, and to
The main person that I believe that did witchcraft is Tituba because most of the people in the village knows that she can call the Devil. Mrs.Putnam said “Tituba knows how to speak to the dead, Mr.Parris” (Miller 1266). And in the story many people bring up that Tituba can speak to the dead and to the Devil. Mr.Parris saw them dancing in the woods, also Abigail admitted that they did danced in the woods like witches do during that time. Abigail said “Now look you!
So speak utterly, Tituba, turn your back on him and face God- face God, Tituba, and God will protect you” (Miller 44, Act 1). Tituba, the lowest of the low, has her status temporarily elevated because of the witch trials. Normally, she is the one told what to do and told to obey; now, however, she has the power of life and death over others. With the “good” power and the “bad” power being displayed in the town of Salem, times got very puzzling for the court and
Tituba was the only one to confess of being a witch. In June 10, Bridget was hanged. Then the little girls became drunk with power!
It is of the utmost necessity to analyze all pieces of evidence in order to reach a valid conclusion on one’s nature. If just one component is removed, then the entire decision is altered. 2.2 presents the audience with the final piece of insight on the true intentions of the characters that is needed to fully define their
Abigail blamed Tituba for witchcraft because Abigail did not want the blame and Tituba was an easy scapegoat since she is black. Abigail yelled at Paris, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”(1.905). This is just one of the victims of Abigail scapegoating. The main purpose, scapegoating, occurred more than vengeance did.
Tituba was a servant of Reverend Parris that would dance with the girls in the woods around a fire. Abigail is the niece of Reverend Parris, which he adopted and a girl who also had an affair with John Proctor. Betty is the daughter of Reverend Parris who gets caught in the mess with Abigail and Mary. 4. Mrs.Putman believed that there are witches in Salem because she had talked to a witch to contact her dead children.
Tituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. Based on the background knowledge of the time, slaves were not considered part of the class system, so she was not valued as a community member. Tituba is conscious that she is in danger, “she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back” (Miller, pg. 6). Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, “You beg me to conjure! She beg me make charm” (Miller, pg. 44) but realizes that her word against Abigail will not stand.
What role did repressing women play in creating the Salem Witch Trials in Puritan society? Repression of women by the church in Puritan society lead to the women wanting power. The church was the powerhouse of the Puritan society, so if you were to get in trouble with the church you would be banished or hanged. Also, getting in trouble with the church could cost you your spot in heaven. Keeping women and young girls from the bulk of society and power made them seek power and rebellion.
There are quite many unmarried women that accuse innocent people in The Crucible. For example, the antagonist Abigail is an orphan and unmarried girl; she occupies a low social status in the Puritan Salem. At the beginning, Parris said: “I have given you a home, child, I have put clothes upon your back” (Miller 11) and try to make her tell the truth by reminding her status in the society and the fact Parris is the one who raised her. Also, Parris tells her that she is “now seven month out of [Proctors’] house, and in all this time no other family has ever called for your service” (Miller 11). This quote suggests ever since Abigail is send out from the Proctors, no other family asks her to work, and this indicates that Abigail needs to work for the other family.
Although government claims to seek justice and the truth, the truth is impossible to come out by denouncing any views that are against theirs and accepting the ones that would assist in corrupting society even more through conformity. Reverend Parris and the other leaders express their intentions to seek the truth, yet threatens violence on those who do not adhere to their belief of witchcraft in Salem. Tituba insists their dancing in the woods was innocent, yet Parris uses his authority over her to force her to confess, saying, “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death…” (Miller 36). With Reverend Parris’ threat, it symbolizes the injustice in Salem and how acceptance only came through conformity, the alternative being death.