The Crucible Tituba Character Analysis

In Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible,” Tituba is the African-American slave of Reverend Parris. She was originally from Barbados, and many of her customs and culture she carried over from her homeland are foreign to the villagers in Salem who believe she practices what they call “black magic.” After being coerced into performing this “black magic” in the woods one night for Abigail and a group of other girls (including Mercy Lewis, who was sent by Mrs. Putnam in vain hope of communicating with one of her seven dead infant children), the pack is found out by Abigail’s uncle, the Reverend Parris. After lengthy interrogation, Reverends Parris and Hale are able to beguile Abigail into being forced to confess to drinking blood and trying to summon

It is easy for a typical villager in Salem to place blame upon a slave, someone who is considered lower in society and in life. Tituba’s main motivation is to save her own life after being accused of witchcraft. Frightened and vulnerable, Tituba surrenders herself when Parris threatens her, saying “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!” (Miller 1119). Tituba answers “No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir” (Miller 1119). Prior to Parris’s death threat, Tituba refuses “compacting with the Devil.” After realizing her life is at stake if she denies it, Tituba confesses to submitting to the Devil and attempts to make herself innocent and to unload this blame, which she had received from Abigail, onto the Devil and even onto others in the community by claiming that they work with Satan. In a panic, she begins to name others in the community that may be able to share in the blame of witchcraft with her and lighten her own punishments. I believe that while what she did was wrong, Tituba has proper justifications for her actions. She acts out of instinct and fear, striving for