Реферат: The Crucible Reasons Innocent People Confessed To

Witchcraft Essay, Research Paper

Living in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 during the Witchcraft Trials must had been an

uncanny event to experience. The entire witchcraft hysteria started because people were

pointing fingers at each other. Innocent women and children were being accused for ridiculous

reasons such as mysterious book reading and having poppets, or rag dolls, lying around the

house. The way the judicial system operated in the 1600’s was entirely mismanaged. It let guilty

people live and innocent people die. If one was accused they were given one of two choices,

they could either confess and live or not confess and be hanged. Therefore innocent people that

were being accused would confess to save their life, even though they were not witches.

Women that were accused of witchcraft could make a third choice that men could not.

One would make this choice when they did not want to blacken their name by admitting and still

wanted to live. This choice was to pled that one was pregnant. When one made this choice their

trial would be put off for several months because the higher officials would not want to kill the

innocent infant. For example both Sarah Good and Elizabeth Proctor did not confess but said

they were pregnant so they were both thrown in jail until they gave birth or the officials could

definitely determine if in fact they were pregnant.

Throughout the story people mostly considered themselves as the first priority and they

could care less about the others in town, this meant they all looked out for just themselves. For

this reason many of the people in Salem, whether a witch or not, would confess so they could

live. They would not care that innocent people were dying because they would not confess to

witchcraft like the other cowards that confessed just to live. This was Tituba?s confession, who

was one of the first persons to be accused. ?No, no, don?t hang Tituba! I tell him I don?t desire

to work for him, sir.? (1058). With that confession she was thrown in jail even though she

confessed to being a witch. On the other hand, the sweet and innocent Rebecca Nurse never

confessed so she was hanged. Elizabeth later informs Proctor that not all the accused are

truthful like Rebecca Nurse because they have confessed. Elizabeth says, ?There be many

confessed.? ?Who are they?? Proctor responds. Elizabeth replies, ?There be a hundred or more,

they say. Goody Ballard is one; Isaiah Goodkind is one. There be many.? John questions,

?Rebecca?? ?Not Rebecca. She is one foot in Heaven now; naught may hurt her more.?

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