Act 1.

The Crucible is a story that takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It is based on the Salem witch trials where many were accused of witchcraft. Witchcraft was a huge sin then due to their great belief in religion. A group of girls in Salem were accused of witchcraft after seen dancing and chanting in the woods. The girls were Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Mary Warren, Tituba, Mercy Lewis and others. A few things that you see some girls have (that others believed to be results of witchcraft) are convulsions, loss of appetite, cannot wake up, temporary loss of sight and hearing. All of these could easily be faked tricking the towns people into believing it was from the devil upon their souls (and witchcraft). In the beginning of the story you see that Betty Parris may be having these problems. She is in bed very sick leaving many to believe it was witchcraft. Reverend Parris, her father, believes there is no way it would be that. He calls for Reverend Hale, another minister who knows more about witchcraft, to come see his daughter. Abigail Williams, his niece, has been living with the family during all of this and is thought (by Parris) to be of some cause to this witchcraft. She had formerly lived with John and Goody Proctor though. She was kicked out after Goody Proctor became aware of the affair she had been having with her husband. Her husband had been seduced, and even though he had done those things he regretted it, and he wanted only to be faithful to his wife. Not only had Abigail been in the woods doing the so called witchcraft, but also, Tituba the Reverend Parris' slave. Now, they both along with rest of the girls at this time denied having done anything of the sort. They said it was just dancing and singing Tituba's songs from Barbados. We also find out about another girl who has suddenly become sick which is believed to be witchcraft also. This girl is Ruth Putnam. Her parents, Thomas and Ann Putnam, visit Reverend Parris on telling him of their daughters "illness". (Ann Putnam had 8 children, but only one survived and that is Ruth). Both believe it is witchcraft that has brought the sickness on. (Ruth was on of the girls who was dancing in the woods). Abigail also, blames Ruth and Tituba for conjuring spirits in the woods when Parris kept asking. She still says she had nothing to do with it. Parris soon finds himself worried about if this talk of witchcraft in his home would get out to the town and in the end risk his job as a minister. Mary talks to Abigail and Mercy (with Betty in room sick laying on the bed) when Parris is not around. She says of how she wants to tell about what happened in the woods. She said she just watched so nothing would ever happen to her. This made Abigail furious, she says that she had just as much a part in it as the others. They are suddenly started in the midst of their conversation by Betty. All of a sudden Betty gets up darting from Abigail saying she wants her mom. Abigail says, but your mother is dead. With that, Betty says of how she can fly to her then. Abigail warns her that she told Parris of everything they did in the woods. At that Betty became angered and started yelling "You drank blood, Abby! You didn't tell him that!... You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife!" (175). Abigail became angered now too. She smashed Betty across the face. Betty yells for her mother and begins to sob. Abigail then warns the other girls of what will happen if they leak a word. She informs us that Tituba conjured the spirit of Ruth's dead sister. Mary wants this to stop, but finds that Abigail has the upper hand and she dare not do a thing to stop her. We find out all of these little incidents occurring throughout the story. Two others would be when John Proctor comes to visit. Abigail and him find that they are in the room alone with Betty on the bed sick. Abigail curses him for loving her and denying it. John had a time with he, but tells Abigail it is over now and he wants nothing, but his wife. During their talk we hear a psalm being sung. It states "going up to Jesus" and at that Betty clasps her hands over her ears and begins to scream. Parris, Mrs. Putnam, and others run in at the sound. Mrs. Putnam says that it is because her soul is the devil's and she cannot bear to hear the Lord's name. Another incident would be when before Ruth became sick she had an outburst. During her outburst/fit she said pointed to Rebecca Nurse seeming it be that she was her attacker. She soon accused Rebecca's spirit of tempting her with witchcraft. These are just a few incidents that have occurred in Act 1.