What sort of world do the people of Salem inhibit?

What is it about Salem society that allows the girl stories to be so readily believed?

Salem is located in New England, Massachusetts made by a small community and in 1692 witchcraft was known as a mass hysteria ending with 19 people being executed due to accusation of practicing witchcraft. Throughout the history of Salem, Christians had a strong belief that the Devil could give certain people the power to harm others, and in order for a person to be a witch they will have to have some communication with the devil allowing them to enter their body. Gender wise, it was easier for women to accept the devil then men as women are seen weaker in the olden days. The main creation for witchcraft in 1692 is due to several adolescent girls in Salem Village which begins to exhibit strange and alarming symptoms that some of their parents quickly came to interpret as the result of witchcraft. Resulting from the fact that children are not widely cared in the society, the accusation of witchcraft triggers the girls to have mass hysteria to accuse other members of Salem community as have any practices in witchcraft and in the end seven men and thirteen women was executed. In the modern society, the community knows that witchcraft does not exist, and with research with Puritans religion enhances the belief of witchcraft.

At the beginning of act one, Betty and Ruth were already seen as having strange symptoms after being found dancing and casting spells in the forest shows an unacceptable behaviour to Puritans, and therefore finds it to be a sinful act. Parris which caught the girls dancing in the forest, also a girl who was running naked as her dress was lying on the grass elucidates the fact that the society does not approves anyone to reveal any parts of their body (Miller12). It is also evident that the Puritans were oppressed by the society through following strict rules and regulation. It is also a sin to not attend church, and people are expected to work hard to have their lifestyle restrained and ridged. Not only are the girls in the novel oppressed by the society, however it implicitly shows that a majority of people disagrees with the rules and regulation. It is seen from Mr. Putnam that Proctor has not attend church after snow flew (Miller28). Where Proctor states that he didnt come five miles to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation which further emphasizes how Puritans dominates witchcraft over God (Miller28). Due to the fact that

children misbehaving are unacceptable in the society, Parris and Mr. and Mrs. Putnam already jumps to the conclusion of witchcraft, There be children dyin in the village determines how Mr. Putnam jumps into the conclusion of witchcraft rather than thinking it was a silly season (Miller27). Not only are the girls seen as oppressed to the society however everyone was oppressed by the society in different ways. This is mainly to do with the fact that Puritans are unable to express anything sinful or wrong. Clearly, in the modern world, we are expected to have done wrongs in the society. However at that time, people are not expected to have any sinful acts which is highly ironic as human can make mistakes.

It is acceptable for reasons why the girls are unable to speak the truth. It is crucial to individuals to have their vanity and pride due to their working status. As Parris is the reverend, he is unwilling to lose his working status. This is shown when talking to Abigail to tell him the truth; the main reason is for his status as work fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me further represents how reverent Parris worries about losing his job due to a misbehavior of her child and niece. He also mentions the effort he had put Abigail in home and to put clothes upon her back. It is possibly that Parris is not caring towards his niece through complaining how much he took care of her. Instead of putting his time on his daughter and niece, he cares about his vanity and pride (Miller 12). Hale also cares about his vanity and pride, as entering he carries half a dozen heavy books, he also stated that the books are weighted with authority (Miller35). Although it is known at 17th centuries, not much people have books to read, it gives Hale the authority for people to realize his importance in this situation. However, it he also concludes that there is witchcraft happening in Salem without

understanding the situation, and moreover evidence of where witchcraft has happened. Ironically even though Hale has said We cannot look to superstition in this, when directing to Tituba with the devil, he asks her When the Devil comes to you does he ever come- with another person? Perhaps another person in the village? (Miller32). Indirectly tells Tituba to accuse another person with practice of witchcraft. Given the choice for Tituba to lie or be sentence to death, she has no choice however to blame the accusation on another person in the village (Miller34).

In conclusion the girls were believed because there were circumstances in which everyone is able to confess their wrong doings, and to exact vengeance on old enemies. However, not much people would expect execution and the trouble it has led to innocent people, and through no evidence of any source of people to jump into the conclusion of witchcraft further frightens people that witchcraft does exists and foreshadows the death of innocent people to audience.