In Act 1 of The Crucible, Tituba is initially accused of witchcraft by Abby and Hale, but she denies involvement. She is shocked and angry at Abby for saying she forced them to do things and tells Hale that she “don’t truck” with the devil. Under pressure from Hale and Parris, Tituba confesses to practicing witchcraft and implicates Good and Osborne (she later recants).
Historians have long pointed the collective finger of blame at the Parris’s slave, Tituba, one of the three women first accused of being a witch during the Salem witch trials of 1692. Tituba initially denies all accusations of witchcraft at first, but after pressure from Hale, she changes her response, claiming that there were other women involved in the devil’s work. Making accusations against other girls could save oneself when accused of witchcraft, which is what many did to avoid being hanged.
Tituba initially responds to Hale’s witchcraft accusation with fear and denial, insisting that someone else is bewitching the children because the devil has many witches in his service. Reverend Hale, an expert in witchcraft, continues to ask Tituba questions regarding her dealings with the devil. He counsels her to open herself to God’s glory, and the situation escalates as Parris calls upon Reverend Hale to assess the situation.
In the meantime, Abigail Williams plays the victim and accuses more women of witchcraft. Betty plays the victim, and the girls play along with the idea, accusing other townspeople of being witches. However, when John is accused of witchcraft, Tituba does not want to name others as witches because she is afraid of the consequences.
In conclusion, Tituba’s initial response to Hale’s witchcraft accusation is a complex and emotional one, as she denies any involvement in the devil’s work. The story highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the complex issues surrounding witchcraft in the context of the novel.
What does Tituba say in Act 1?
In Act I, Scene I, Tituba recounts a vision of the devil urging her to kill Reverend Parris to prevent any harm to her life, thereby underscoring her connection to the white community and the presence of Goody Good.
How does Hale confuse Tituba Act 1?
In The Crucible, Hale’s rapid and phrased questioning techniques result in confusion for Tituba, leading to a sudden shift in attitude after she confesses. He continues to ask questions in rapid succession, prompting her to respond promptly before he challenges her on a particular statement.
What does Hale think the accused witches should do?
The accused witches are encouraged to confess in order to liberate their souls from the devil’s influence, purge their transgressions, and provide resolution to their victims, as per the speaker’s guidance.
Why does Tituba confess to witchcraft at the end of Act 1?
Tituba, a black female slave, confesses to witchcraft after being threatened with physical violence by the townspeople. Despite being aware that Abigail’s testimony is false, she finds herself unable to mount a defense against the accusations leveled against her.
Was Tituba the first to confess to witchcraft?
Tituba, the first witch to confess in Salem, likely did so to avoid further punishment. She apologized for hurting Betty, claimed she never wanted to hurt Betty, and confessed her love for the child. She also recounted an active community of witches in Salem, including Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. By confessing early, Tituba avoided trial and provided key evidence against accused witches. Her husband, John, also became afflicted. However, when public sentiment changed, Tituba recanted her confession, causing Parris to retaliate by refusing to pay the jailer’s fee.
She spent thirteen months in jail until an unknown person paid seven pounds for her release and bought her. It is likely that the same person bought her husband, John, as Puritans were not inclined to split up married couples, even slaves.
What happened to Tituba in Act 1?
Tituba is accused of invoking the Devil in the woods, and, under pressure from Hale, she confesses. She proceeds to identify Goody Good and Goody Osburn as fellow practitioners of witchcraft. Abigail proceeds to accuse additional women of witchcraft, and Betty subsequently awakens and makes her own accusations.
What did Tituba say when she was accused?
Tituba, the first witch to confess in Salem, likely did so to avoid further punishment. She apologized for hurting Betty, claimed she never wanted to hurt Betty, and confessed her love for the child. She also recounted an active community of witches in Salem, including Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. By confessing early, Tituba avoided trial and provided key evidence against accused witches. Her husband, John, also became afflicted. However, when public sentiment changed, Tituba recanted her confession, causing Parris to retaliate by refusing to pay the jailer’s fee.
She spent thirteen months in jail until an unknown person paid seven pounds for her release and bought her. It is likely that the same person bought her husband, John, as Puritans were not inclined to split up married couples, even slaves.
What happens when Hale questions Tituba?
Reverend Hale compels Tituba to divulge her secrets by offering to persuade her and, if necessary, administer a whipping to the point of death. This ultimately proves to be a means of saving her life from a fate that would have been far more severe.
What does Hale do to Tituba?
In The Crucible, Reverend Hale demonstrates an appreciation for Tituba’s expertise in the realm of witchcraft, engages in discourse surrounding paranormal occurrences in Salem, and urges her to identify additional practitioners of witchcraft, thereby elevating her status and significance.
Who was the first person to be accused of witchcraft?
“A Quest for Security” is a book-length biography of Samuel Parris, the 1692 pastor of Salem Village church who led the witchcraft trials. Parris was a driving force behind the accusations, leading to the deaths of Elizabeth “Betty” Parris and Abigail Williams, who began having unexplained fits in January of 1692 after experimenting with fortune-telling. Tituba, a female slave likely of Native South American ancestry owned by Parris, was the first to be accused of witchcraft by Betty and Abigail. She also confessed and accused others, first naming Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne.
The book covers Parris’s early years, his time in Boston as a merchant and starting a family, and his eight years as the divided community’s pastor in Salem Village. The book examines his life as a Puritan pastor and the conflict within his congregation. In the spring of 1692, Parris’s actions led to an escalation of accusations, ultimately leading to his removal from the pulpit.
Parris’s last years were marked by moving from one small Massachusetts community to another, and he died in obscurity in 1720. The biography serves as a reminder of the concern of early Americans to sustain economic independence for their families and highlights the importance of providing material security for his children.
Add comment