In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, townsfolk of Puritan Salem, Massachusetts gain power by falsely accusing other people of witchcraft. One person who gains lots power is Abigail Williams, a young girl who likes a married man, John Procter. She opposes his wife in futile attempt to get John to like her. Another person is Tituba a slave that lives in Reverend Samuel Parris" home. She claims to have resisted the Devil instructions, in even though they were tempting to her. Betty Parris also gains power by behaving as though she was possessed by the Devil and accusing others of being with the Devil. This was an endeavor to safe herself from blame. People can gain power by accusing other innocent people for controversial beliefs and reasons.
Abigail Williams, the niece of Rev. Parris, gains lots of power by accusing people of witchcraft. Abigail accused Tituba of witchcraft and claims that Tituba forced her to drink chicken blood and dance in a peculiar ritual. Abigail also claims that Tituba is trying to tempt her, Abigail said, "Sometimes I wake to find myself standing in an open doorway and not a stitch on my body! I always hear her laughing in my sleep. I hear her singing her Barbados songs and tempting me with--" (Page 187.) Another person she accuses is Elizabeth Procter stabbing her, in the form of poppet with a needle. Abigail claims that Elizabeth sent out her spirit to choke her. She also accuses the Procter family of being blasphemous by not going to the Church on the Sabbath. This is how Abigail a weak girl becomes powerful.
Betty Parris, the daughter of Rev. Parris, gains power through pretending to be possessed and behaving like a witch. She said, "I"ll fly to Mama. Let me fly!" This is considered bizarre, because Betty's mother is dead. She behaves like this to save herself from blame. She accuses Tituba for forcing her to participate in the ritual. She also accuses Tituba for her blasphemous behavior during recitation of prayers at the Church.
