Hysteria was raging throughout the Puritan town of Salem, with ordinary people being hunted down and accused of witchcraft as young women berate their fellow commoners. Abigail Williams, an eighteen-year-old girl who had just committed a sin, was trying to put the shame of it behind her. As most teenagers, to cover up that she was drinking a charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor, she told an even bigger lie. She falsely accused innocent citizens of witchcraft, and given the severity of the claims, a court with judges was found to investigate the accusation of witchcraft. Salem found over a hundred citizens to be sinful, with witch hunts that continued to rage through the Puritan society due to their religious beliefs, the people’s fear, and manipulation. …show more content…
Hale is a wise, educated male with a degree of power in the town, who possesses a very strong belief to escape the devil and execute the witches. Reverend Hale has “much experience in demonic arts…” (Miller 82) Hale stirs up the idea of the devil being present at the mere opportunity of the investigation using his expertise after being invited by Reverend Parris after his daughter, Betty got sick. Parris’ only concern, on the other hand, is his reputation. Nothenless, Parris can act dishonestly to gain approval and status in the Puritan town. Danforth is similar to Reverend Parris in a way that he does not care about justice as much as his reputation and the well-being of the court. He does not look at the case objectively, choosing to kill innocent people because “who may possibly be witness to it [the sin]? The witch and the victim. None other. Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself