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Salem Witch Trials Research Paper

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What really happened?

The Salem Witch trials were the most notorious killings of 1692, 20 people were put to death with little to no evidence. During the late months of summer in Salem, Massachusetts rumors of witches swept the town. Many different theories have been stated on why the the salem witch trials happened and why the girls did it. Some theories being attention seekers, jealousy or illness.

One of the theories of why the Witch Trials occurred is attention seekers. In the play many of the girls in town were involved in the witchcraft hysteria. The three main characters in the play that caused the trials were Abigail Williams,Betty Parris and Mercy Lewis. In Act one Betty wakes up from her “coma” like sort when everyone is gone except for Mercy, Abigail and Mary Warren. This far in the play people have already suspected witchcraft and knowing that Betty was faking for attention. This theory explains how the girls faked for attention. …show more content…

In the play Abigail Williams and John Proctor had an affair (pg 149, Miller); “You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor” As Betty says this to Abigail. It is no lie that Abigail was obsessed with Proctor and would do anything to become his wife like accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. In Act two the accusation of Elizabeth is released and there is a warrant for her arrest, the accuser is Abigail Williams; claiming Elizabeth's spirit stabbed her in the stomach, evidence against her is a poppet with a needle in the stomach. The theory states how Abigail was jealous and would do anything to get what she

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