In the time of 1692, when the Puritans came to this country for religious freedom, they had a strict moral code that everyone in the village lived by. Religion was especially important. The state was founded on religion, built on religion, thrived on politics, which turned out to be a very social life. Witchcraft was despised by religious groups, who believed that witches could cast spells on people. They had a great fear of defying God and also believed that they should do everything in their power to punish people who would do just that. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is an excellent example of how all these morals and beliefs are dismantled simply by the resulting emotions, revenge, and misunderstandings of five seemingly normal girls. Each of the characters plays an important role in creating this hysteria known as the Salem Witch Trials. From the beginning, when the girls are caught dancing in the woods by Reverend Parris, to the end, when John Proctor is accused of being a witch himself, false beliefs prevent this great misunderstanding from ending. With these thoughts in mind, one might believe that the whole fear of witchcraft was completely made up. Evidence to support this conclusion can easily be found by looking a little deeper into the literature. Abigail Williams, who was caught dancing in the woods by Reverend Parris, was a very manipulative person. Described as the leader of the girls who started this epidemic by accusing people of witchcraft. She instills fear in other girls by convincing them to do what she says. Obviously the suspicion of witchcraft proves nothing as she threatens the girls not to tell the truth about the dancing in the woods. Abigail instills fear in the other girls by using past experiences from her harsh life to threaten them. Abigail threatens Betty and Mary Warren: "And remember this. Let one of you say a word, or a hint of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the dark of a terrible night and bring you a timely calculation that it will make you shiver. And you know I can do it; I have seen the Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! " (Miller 132). Simple threats like these aid the witchcraft hysteria. This last quote from Abigail may lead one to believe that she might have known what she was doing. He had found a way to use this to his advantage; take revenge on the people who had hurt her. Abigail was secretly having an affair with John Proctor while he was working at his house. John claims he wants nothing to do with Abigail, yet she is still infatuated with him. Elizabeth, John's wife, dishonored her for this. Abigail harbored an ongoing grudge against Elizabeth. For Abigail, accusing Elizabeth could be the perfect revenge. Abigail wanted Elizabeth to die so that she and John could "dance on her grave." He soon realized the strength of the accusations against ordinary people. Many other residents soon fell victim to their outrageous plot. Reverend Parris expressed his belief that the girls were not witches only out of fear of losing his good name. He claimed they were simply sick. Of course, that's exactly how they looked. The girls' actions and hints of witchcraft surrounding her daughter, Betty's coma,they will threaten his reputation and force him to leave the church. This put more tension between him and John Proctor. John had stopped going to church because Parris preached only hellfire and damnation. Along with his lectures, witchcraft fit in perfectly. John and Parris did not agree on how religion should be preached nor on the whole issue of witchcraft involved. John knew Abigail's manipulative personality. He had also met him and told him that their accusations were a fraud. He had the information but he couldn't come out and tell everyone that she was lying about the relationship they had before. If he had come forward and said that Abigail was a fraud, she would then have gone on to tell the court that John is a libertine. The fact that he committed adultery with her isn't going to go away just because I'm in the middle of a witchcraft trial. Proctor decides to keep his mouth shut about the matter and attempts to stay out of the trials by refusing to go to court and testify. Mary Warren, who works at the Proctors' home, attends the trials. He returned home with the news that Elizabeth's name had been mentioned in court. Reverend Hale, who is witnessing the interrogation of the accused, soon arrives at the prosecutors with the news that Rebecca Nurse, a highly respected citizen of Salem, has also been charged. He questions them about their faith. They were very sincere about their faith in God, but when Hale asked John to recite the 10 Commandments he stammered, ironically leaving out the all-important “thou shalt not commit adultery.” They soon learn that many other accusations have been made against particularly respected citizens. The girls had said names in court, which is undoubtedly an irrational thing to do. Obviously these girls had no solid evidence against the women they were accusing, or perhaps they simply harbored a grudge against them, as Abigail held against Elizabeth Proctor. John Proctor quickly figures out the pattern of events in Salem. After his wife was accused, he seems to have reached boiling point and can no longer stay out of the trial. He sees the truth in this evidence, the driving force behind it all: "I'll tell you what's walking in Salem: Revenge is walking in Salem. We're what we've always been in Salem, but now the crazy kids are rattling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! I will not give my wife to vengeance (73). In an attempt to free his wife, John Proctor goes to court with Mary Warren who had admitted to him that she had not seen any spirit and that the other girls were lying. Parris, who is present in court, shouts that Proctor is trying to overthrow the court. However, fearing for his own reputation, Parris tries to portray Abigail as an angel and John as a crazed madman. nothing better to take himself to court and distract the trial by simply trying to free his wife, as Parris keeps saying Mary, who seems extremely shaken, will not speak in court, so John has made her sign a document saying that the he whole witchcraft incident is a hoax. Judge Danforth calls the other girls into the room. The girls turn on Mary and accuse her of being attacked by her spirit in the room. Mary cries and begs them to stop. Knowing that Abigail is lying, John accuses her of being a whore and, in doing so, admits to committing adultery. Once again, the dilemma takes an unexpected turn and Abigail accuses John of being a liar. John then tells the court that his wife knows the truth. The screaming continues with the girls. Mary then runs into Abigail's arms and accuses John of being in pact with the devil..