During the late seventeenth century, the strict Puritan ideals of the citizens of a small, New England town lead to the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. However, in the attempt to persecute the "witches" for going against Puritan idealism, the citizens playing the role of accusers are themselves breaking these basic beliefs and ideals that epitomize their society. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, written in response to the 1950's anti-communist actions, is a play that recollects these famous trials. The play, set during the time of the famous witch trials, depicts the lives of the citizens. Throughout the course of the play many of the ideals of Puritanism are broken. These ideals that are violated are lying and adultery, coveting of neighbor's goods, and envy. The citizens of Salem fail to live up to the Puritan ideals.
Lying, one of the most basic ideals that is intended to be upheld in Puritan society, is broken so obviously by the citizens of Salem. The act of lying itself is what causes the entire hysteria of the trials to reach the peak that it does. Abigail, one of the main characters, brings the accusations to a heightened state by making the first accusation of witchery. When Abigail is suspected of the responsibility of her cousin, Betty's, condition. When this suspicion surfaces with everyone in the room, Abigail proclaims that it is Tituba, who was practicing witchcraft, and made her perform the actions, and drink the blood. "I never sold myself! I"m a good girl! I"m a proper girl!. She made me do it! She made Betty do it!" - p:40 (Abigail indicating Tituba) In fact, the entirety of the hangings and accusations are based in lies. Numerous girls who were accused of witchery lied about their motives and accused other people falsely in an attempt to get themselves out of trouble. The lying about witchcraft became a vicious cycle in which most of the citizens of Salem became involved.