Crucible Act 1 Quote (142) Brandon Lu

"Abigail. Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about;
I think you’d best go down and deny it yourself. The
parlor’s packed with people, sir. I’ll sit with her.
Parris ( pressed, turns on her). And what shall I say to
them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered
dancing like heathen in the forest?
Abigail. Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I
confessed it—and I’ll be whipped if I must be. But
they’re speakin’ of witchcraft. Betty’s not witched.
Parris. Abigail, I cannot go before the congregation
when I know you have not opened with me. What
did you do with her in the forest?
Abigail. We did dance, uncle, and when you leaped
out of the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened
and then she fainted. And there’s the whole of it.
Parris. Child. Sit you down.
Abigail (quavering, as she sits). I would never hurt
Betty. I love her dearly.
Parris. Now look you, child, your punishment will
come in its time. But if you trafficked with
 spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my
enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.(142)"



This quote shows that the people back in those times also believed heavily on religious things. Everyone would have to be confronted infront of everyone by the people of the town just like the Scarlet Letter as Hester was being publicly humiliated with her hateful sin. This quote shows that people will be punished if they were to commit something bad just like the public condemnation in the Scarlet Letter. They believed heavily on things like spirits and god and they believed that all these things had an effect on how people acted and behaved. Both the Scarlet Letter and the Crucible based their society on something that cannot be seen by the naked eye, like god and spirits.