The Crucible: Theme - Witchraft - Mindmap in GCSE English Literature

Created by: Natalia
Created on: 05-04-13 12:59

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Witchcraft
- Parris is worried about his reputation
  - "We did dance, uncle, and when you leaped out the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened and then she fainted. And there's the whole of it."
    - The one place where Abigail tells the truth.
  - Parris' parlour is "packed with people"
    - There's already hysteria about the rumours of witchcraft.
    - Everyone was involved in everyone's business.
  - Denies that witchcraft is responsible for Betty's illness.
    - Doesn't want to be involved with magic.
    - Scared that if he's not seen taking witchcraft seriously he will lose his authority.
- Many Puritans believed the Devil was out to get them.
  - There were outbreaks of disease, Indian attacks and failed crops.
  - When unexplainable things happened, people often thought it was the devil's work and that they had been cursed.
  - Some people believed that the witches worked for the Devil.
- Abigail lies
  - "I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!"
    - By blaming others, she shifts the blame from herself.
  - "I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand."
    - Confesses after sees Tituba's confession, which offers an example of a wat out.
    - Abigail spent the first act worrying about the possibility of being disgraced for casting charms.
    - By confessing, she is redeemed and free from guilt.
- People are genuinely scared of witchcraft
  - People of Salem believe that witches exist, and some think that they work for the Devil and want to hurt other people.
  - They live hard lives and many unexplained things that happen are seen as punishment from God or the work of the Devil.
  - People believe that if they get rid of witches the Devil will have less power, so their lives will be better.
  - The genuinely good people like Rebecca, Giles and Elizabeth aren't scared of witchcraft.
    - Miller could be suggesting that people's fear of witchcraft is actually driven by their guilty consciences/
- Poppet
  - There are different kinds of witchcraft.
    - People are confused about what witchcraft actually involves.
  - Abigail is prepared to do anything to get what she wants.
  - Abigail controls the situation even though she isn't there.
  - Hale believes the girls are telling the truth.
  - Elizabeth says Abigail is murder, which is then used as evidence against her.
- Yellow Bird
  - Mary is a coward
  - Abigail controls the girls psychologically.
    - She is powerful
  - Girls pretend they are under a spell.
  - Lies
"We did dance, uncle, and when you leaped out the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened and then she fainted. And there's the whole of it."
- The one place where Abigail tells the truth.