The Crucible Cinco

1.) Francis Nurse: "with a mocking, half-hearted laugh: For murder, she's charged! Mockingly quoting the warrant: 'For the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam's babies.' What am I to do, Mr. Hale?"

Rebecca's charge is absurd. What proof can possibly be given to prove this fact other than the hysterical ravings of death-ridden spinster? I want to know what proof could possibly be given in court to support this. Like Mr. George pointed out a few classes ago when I tried to argue communicating with dead babies, these people are arguing the technicality of an absurdity. They have brought a case to court over the proposed murder of seven babies by supernatural means. While they may think they are still arguing technicalities, it is all of an absurdity, which erego renders the entire argument invalid. Goody Putnam is accusing Rebecca only because her children have prospered and her own have not. Just because Rebecca is a better mother than Ann does not mean she is a witch. Any characteristic or ability that someone excels at is automatically considered for witchcraft because other people are jealous.

2.) John Proctor: "If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking Salem--vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant's vengeance! I'll not give my wife to vengeance!"

Proctor points out the very thing we have been saying for a while now. The only way to escape the accusation of witchcraft is to point out others. Meanwhile, the accuser is venerated as a godsend. It is a win-win situation for the accuser, but then the accused is not even given an option. They are either a reformed servant of the devil, or dead. And who is running the entire show? A group of power-hungry teenagers led by a lovesick, conniving she-devil of a girl. The entire village is wrapped around Abigail's finger, and now whatever she says is worshipped as God's word. The power has gotten to her head, and yet, no one has questioned her yet, as Proctor states. They are at this girl's beck and call, but how do they know she is not weaving witchcraft in the woodwork? The true reason, as Proctor points out, for everything is vengeance. The Putnams accused the nurses because of their land feud. Abigail accused Elizabeth because of her love for John. The signs of witchcraft in this society are not whether someone is dancing in the forest or drinking blood, but the feelings of contempt in their enemies. People point their fingers because of their own feelings of hatred, not the signs of the other person.