The play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, is a play about how the Salem Witch Trial came to be. A religious community was trying to outcast the “devil” within their society. However the accusations was not taking lightly, the hanging was due to supposedly practicing witchcraft. In Act I, the fear, the paranoid came from the adults, from being gullible when it came to the words of the girls. Initially, the change of hearts started when the groups of girls were dancing in the forest. Dancing is prohibiated in their communituy, but the rebelious teengagers thought otherwise and were caught. Paris asked his niece, “And what shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?” (Miller 180) Paris is the minister of their church, having such scandalous act, affects his reputation. His refusal of admitting that his niece and daughter needs to be punished was affected by Betty’s fake slumber. He was insecure about his position in the community causing him to think irrationally. Since …show more content…
Putman spoke loud and clear that, “I take it on soul, but who else may surely tell us what person murdered my babies?” (86) A well known respected woman that speaks on her mind, everyone will be easily persuaded. She is using the delicate situation to hold accountable for her seven dead babies. It does not matter if there is proof, but she is willing to use this and will cause more tension for a rebels act that can be punish quietly. If only they would stop speculating and keep quiet. The overall situation in Act I of “The Crucible” is very delicate at this point, it is the only the beginning. The way the adults are thinking now will leads towards a mistrust and misguided community. Their foolish into seeing clear and adequate solution will cause a tragedy in their community. Thus, creating the atmosphere of tension and paranoia due to being naive on handling a situation without incorporating