For my English class I have to take a poll so here is my question.
Who, in your opinion, is to blame for the deaths of those innocent Puritans who died during the witch hunt years and why?
I would like to say thanks for everyones help in advance
2006-10-25 14:38:48 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Abigail
2006-10-25 14:41:41 · answer #1 · answered by Just another nickname 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it all depends.. to be honest this question is not asked appropriately because it says during the witch hunt years, which i can only assume must be based from the depiction in The Crucible, which is a dramatization of how it played out, much different.
Of course, in the story Abagail would be the direct cause. A more general answer could be that it was their religion, although its not a person, because it was a driving factor to influence those involved because it was not just Abagail who caused the deaths.
In reality we do not even know for sure, the accounts of the witch trials just were not kept well and after all these years the witch trials have just been dramatized more and more in history books even, and now all we know was that it occured by puritans towards puritans.
If I were to go only on the story I would say Abagail, but on the whole, story and history intertwined, it was the radicalism of some of their religious beliefs and the imaginations of young girls that lead to the deaths
2006-10-25 21:46:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are asking about the play, specifically, then my vote goes to Abigail. She keeps the hysteria rolling for her own sordid motives, and because she thinks the can get John back.
If you are asking about the historical events, I think the ultimate responsibility lies with mob mentality and group hysteria, which means no actual person is to blame. I do assign some degree of blame to Hawthorne and Corwin (spelling of names?), the two magistrates who were initially involved. They were the first to examine people, and they sat on the official panel of the court as well. They could have nipped everything in the bud if they had just stated unequivocally that witchcraft was not to blame in what was going on in Salem.
The whole Witch Hunt is a very tragic period, and it's very hard to assign blame to just one person. It's a perfect example of how things can get completely out of hand and grow to ridiculous proportions. Realistically, who do you blame? The original doctors who couldn't find a reason for the girls to behave so strangely? The Reverend Parris, who was convinced that evil had come among his flock? The magistrates I mentioned above? The judges that sat on the big court which later met to look into the matter? Everyone in authority had their own small part to play, and was equally to blame, but I think the single most guilty entity was group hysteria.
2006-10-25 22:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by Bronwen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abigail, she started the whole thing by accusing Elizabeth Proctor out of Jealousy for her husband of being a witch.
2006-10-25 21:42:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
since it's been years since i read that play and don't remember all the characters, i'm gonna say that it wasn't one particular character it was their whole damn society and rediculus beliefs. they're all to blame.
2006-10-25 22:39:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
fear of the unknown and the imagination running wild is part of the factor
2006-10-25 22:58:02 · answer #6 · answered by mysticideas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋