Why Is Revenge Important In The Crucible

“We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged” (Heinrich Heine). Revenge is considered the ultimate drive to one's own vices. It could be someone's victory and another's downfall. Furthermore, revenge always comes with a antecedent cause. Why would revenge be sought out if one did not have a defined reason? Nevertheless, the reason is usually unnecessary, for the fact the outcome overshadows it. Revenge is what causes many people to strive for their goals, often with evil intention.
In Salem, many townsfolk lives hiding their dirty desires. While many states that the rising problems in Salem are because of the supernatural, in truth, it was only the hysteria and superstition of the people. In Act 1, Ann Putnam incessantly fuels the notion of witchcraft by bringing up names of specific women and mentioning the death of her seven babies as the link between the assumptions (466). As Act 1 progresses and the townsfolk become more afraid, each person’s silent fears create tension and unease. Lies are spread and suspicions increase. This becomes a battlefield of the cunning, in which the only weapons are wit and deceit. However, as the scenes progress, many of the townsfolk do not realize

In the beginning of Act 2, Abigail has already condemned 14 persons, and the number keeps rising as more time passes (490). She plays her little game, somehow believing it will win her the protagonist, John Proctor. When Abigail is introduced, the audience learns of their previous affair, but the flame is dispersed when Elizabeth Proctor finds out. Heartbroken from Proctor’s apparent refusal to continue their relationship, she turns to lying and mischief to seek the murder of Elizabeth, and take her spot as Proctor’s wife (469-471). But the revenge spirals out of control as she becomes mad with power. Yet as more time passes, the accusations become