The Crucible Literary Analysis

Parris had a strong influence on the villagers, and what he, or any leader of the church, said was taken to be unquestioned truth.❝Some historians have also blamed Reverend Samuel Parris for the witch trials, claiming he was the one who suggested to the Salem villagers that there were witches in Salem during a series of foreboding sermons in the winter of 1692❠(Brooks) Because of strong trust in the church, the people believed Parris when he announced the source of the troubles to be witches, thus beginning the witch hunts.

If the people diverge from what is acceptable, the church and government leaders do not like it as it signals a loss of their control. However, Hale desides that the witch-trials have gone to far. Hale says,❝I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!❠(Miller 655) Hale is a well-respected minister and his denouncement shows his belief in the fallacy of the witch hunt and that they are just a distraction from the other community divisions.

Church leaders and pastors could not be doubted because they were considered to be more pure and in close communication with the will of God. Danforth says,❝Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!❠(Miller 639). Danforth is a respected leader of the church and is involved in the witch investigation. His word that there is a plot against their Puritan beliefs is taken as truth, thus fueling the continuation of the witch trials.

Danforth refuses any questioning of the legitimacy of the witch trials. Danforth says, ❝I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed: the names of these seven are given out and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks of floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God's law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering.❠(Miller 667) Danforth's ego is attached to handing down these judgements. He needs to still appear powerful and doesn't want to consider that this trial might be ungrounded persecution.

Thomas and Ann Putnam are wealthy and influential. He was looking for personal gain and used the witch trials as a means to buy up the land of the accused. The narrator speaks of Thomas Putnam, saying,❝.He was a man of many grievances… His wife's brother-in-law, James Bayley, had been turned down as minister at Salem. Bayley had all the qualifications, and a two-thirds vote in the bargain, but a faction stopped his acceptance, for reasons that are not clear… He undoubtedly felt it poor payment that the village should so blatantly disregard his candidate for one of the most important offices, especially since he regarded himself as the intellectual superior to most of the people around him… Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and honor of his family had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he could.❠(Miller 571) The witch trials were an opportunity for the Putnam's to get land they wanted and felt they were entitled to.

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Her religious rituals would appear strange to Puritans and confused with a sort of witchcraft and Devil worship. Tituba says, ❝Oh, it be no Hell in Barbados. Devil, him be pleasure man in Barbados, him be singin’ and dancin’ in Barbados. It’s you folks—you riles him up ‘round here; it be cold ‘round here for that Old Boy.❠(Miller 662). In Tituba's religion, the Devil is not an object of fear, but more a representation of human imperfection. But to the Puritans, hearing her speak rather nonchalantly about the Devil, they take it very seriously and assume that witchcraft and devil worshipping must be involved.