The paradox created during the Salem Witch Trials about superstition was proven to be false as the main reason for the accusation of people as witches was due to personal vengeance. Arthur Miller begins writing The Crucible by saying, “The Salem tragedy, which is about to begin on these pages, developed from a paradox” (Crucible 6). Many people believed that these Puritans were actually witches. However, they were not really witches: people just accused them of practicing witchcraft because of vengeance and greed. The Salem Witch Trials started in 1692. In the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, many people especially young girls were accused of practicing witchcraft and being possessed by the devil. If found guilty of practicing witchcraft, you would be sentenced to death by hanging. …show more content…
They all started off when Betty Parris and Abigail started acting very strange. People knew the devil was residing in them. In The Crucible Arthur Miller said, “She is cold your honor touch her!” (Crucible 108). This was one of the signs that you were possessed by the devil. Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne were the people who were initially accused. Sarah Good was accused because she was a very poor, old woman. She often begged people for food and money and they thought this was a good reason to accuse her. Sarah Osborne was accused of practicing witchcraft because she skipped church masses/meetings very often. People thought she did not believe in God which is a good reason to believe she is working with the devil. Finally, Tituba was accused of practicing witchcraft. She was a slave from Barbados. People came to the belief that she was telling stories to these girls about her encounters with the devil. She also had a different skin color which is the main reason for her accusation in the town of Salem. After having their trials, they were all sent to jail. This was the beginning of the infamous Salem Witch Trials