The Witch Trials In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Empowerment to those qualified is a dangerous entity, but power to those unqualified sets the course for disaster. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, many characters abuse the power of accusations in the witch trials to gain for themselves. Throughout the play, many people who were previously powerless, gained the power they needed to get what they want. Three main characters; Mary Warren, Thomas Putnam, and Abigail Williams, take advantage of the system to satisfy their personal wants, and they use the lives of others to their advantage. Therefore, in The Crucible, these characters took advantage of the witch trials to empower themselves, take revenge, and ruin the lives of others to achieve their personal goals. One main character throughout

As Miller stated when introducing Putnam, Thomas was a greedy man with many grievances. Putnam initially sought revenge when his brother-in-law, James Bayley, was denied minister of Salem. Thomas’s resentment is clear, and he shows he will do anything to the town to try and clear the family name. With his revenge plot for the town in the back of his mind, Putnam also has many land disputes with people throughout the town. When Putnam is among Giles Corey and John Proctor, land becomes an issue in the conversations. While Corey and Proctor talk about moving wood from John’s bought land, Putnam claims it is his land, and says “I’ll have my men on you, Corey! I’ll clap a writ on you!” (Miller, 32). Here, the audience sees Putnam’s first thought and threat to destroy Corey. This can be seen as foreshadowing for the arrest and execution of Giles Corey and others. Corey is not the only victim of Thomas Putnam, Francis Nurse and John Proctor’s land is sought after by Putnam, and Putnam shows he will go to the extremes to achieve it. Putnam wrongfully imposed his initial power to manipulate the town girls to accuse many of these men’s wives through the witch trials, and he knew the men’s future reactions would result in jail and execution, ultimately, allowing him to gain their wealth and

Abigail was originally just a regular teen in the town, but through the witch trials she gained the power to accuse anyone. Abigail’s affair that was ended by John seventh months prior the witch trials still sits in the back of her mind. Abigail is still in love with John; however, John’s wife stands in the way for Abigail. Abigail’s accusation against Elizabeth is not truthful, and all of Abigail’s clique knows that. When some of the girls speak of confessing, Abigail lashes out at the girls saying, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you!” (Miller, 20). Here, the audience sees Abigail’s true side and how she now has control over her group of friends. Abigail used the witch trials to get an accusation against Elizabeth for her self-interests, and John can see that. John is able to bring Mary to her senses, and motivates her to tell the truth to the court, but Abigail stands in her way. While Mary is attempting to confess, Abigail is able to control the other fearful girls and scare Mary from testifying and telling the truth, allowing Abigail to get what she pleased. In the end, Abigail abused the powers of the trials to control her friends, accuse