the crucible
...ho fainted was none other than Reverend Parris’ daughter Betty, the other was a girl named Ruth Putnam. These girls soon after fell ill and were unable to wake from their sleep. There was speculation that the girls had been conjuring spirits in the woods and that this was the devils work. The household slave named Tituba at first denied any tie with the devil. But upon further questioning admitted (though falsely) to being in ties with the devil. To save herself she placed blame on other townsfolk that seemed like they may be suiting candidates to compact with the devil. The first names given by Tituba were Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn. Sarah Osborn was a beggar and social misfit who was housed by whomever would take her in. And Sarah Osborn was a troublesome old woman who hadn’t been in attendance at church for many years. The people of the town were bust with the talk of witchcraft and didn’t think much of it for some time. When the realization hit though, it hit hard. Upstanding citizens were now being accused of witchcraft. Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor and numerous others were being convicted of sending their spirits out onto others. John and Elizabeth openly denounced the existence of witches. John brought forth the idea that the girls had been lying. The courts dismissed this and when John refused to admit to witchcraft he was hung. By this time there had been 19 accused witches hung, at least 4 people had died in jail, and one man Giles Corey was pressed to death by stones. The cour...