In “The Crucible”, the Putnams’ eagerness to believe in witchcraft accusations stems from personal grievances and a desire for power. Ann Putnam, a primary accuser at age 12, was a primary suspect at the Salem Witch Trials of Massachusetts during the later portion of 17th-century Colonial America. She strongly believed in witchcraft, claiming that it caused the deaths of her children and accused Rebecca Nurse’s husband of being a witch.
In Act 1, Mrs. Putnam declares that witchcraft is to blame for the loss of her seven infant children, and Mrs. Putnam becomes hostile to Rebecca, who has not lost any. She admits that she sent Ruth to Tituba, believing that Tituba knows how to speak to the dead, and she wished to learn who murdered her seven children. She believes witchcraft is the cause for her children never living long enough to be baptized.
Mrs. Putnam capitalizes on the cries of witchcraft and intends to do everything she can to find out who enchanted her babies. She is not sure who enchanted her babies, but she capitalizes on the cries of witchcraft and intends to do everything she can to find out.
In the text, there is no evidence of witchcraft practiced in Salem aside from suspicions that witchcraft had afflicted his daughter and later his wife. Thomas Putnam, motivated by fear and sadness, was a strong force in the arrests of accused witches.
In summary, Ann Putnam’s beliefs regarding witchcraft in “The Crucible” stem from personal grievances and a desire for power. She is known for her belief in witchcraft and her efforts to find explanations for the tragedies that have occurred.
📹 What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials – Brian A. Pavlac
Dig into how the infamous Salem Witch Trials began and why they remain a cautionary tale of the dangers of groupthink and …
Why did Ann Putnam accuse people of witchcraft?
In 1692, young girls in Salem Village began claiming witchcraft, with Betty Parris and her cousin Abigail Williams being the first to accuse others. After Betty’s removal, 12-year-old Ann Putnam Jr. became the leader of a group of 17-to-20-year-old girls, women, and men, as accusations escalated. Her parents often encouraged her identification of “witches”, potentially using it as a tool of revenge against perceived enemies.
Ann’s parents frequently warned of evil in his sermons, frightening many parishioners, including young and impressionable children. Young girls in the seventeenth century were invisible and had no power, but the “afflicted” girls became the center of attention and wielded great influence.
As the accusations grew, it was difficult to regain control of the situation. Ann Putnam Jr. accused 18 of the 20 people who were eventually executed and over 40 more who were jailed. In 1699, an unknown illness killed both of her parents, leaving Ann to raise her siblings. In 1706, with encouragement from Salem Village’s new minister Joseph Green, Ann stood in front of the village congregation, reading her apology aloud.
What is the significance of Ann Putnam in The Crucible?
In The Crucible, Ann Putnam is a character who is deeply affected by the deaths of her seven infants and is a staunch supporter of the witch trials. Her false accusations of witchcraft against Rebecca Nurse initiate a wave of mass hysteria in Salem, causing a devastating impact on the town. Putnam’s allegiances lie with those who support the trials and purging of supposed witches. Her role serves as a catalyst for much of the play’s events.
What do you learn about Ann Putnam’s beliefs regarding witchcraft in the crucible?
The woman posits that witchcraft may be the cause of her children’s inability to survive long enough for baptism. She is therefore intent on identifying the perpetrator and investigating all potential instances of witchcraft.
What is Giles believes that Putnam’s motivation for accusing people of witchcraft?
Giles hypothesizes that Putnam is attempting to amass wealth through the accusation of witchcraft, with the ultimate goal of executing those accused.
What does Putnam stand to gain by charging people with witchcraft?
Thomas Putnam exploits the witch-hunt for his own benefit by requesting his daughter to name George Jacobs as the purchaser of his land.
What happened to Ann Putnam?
Annie Putnam, a primary accuser at age 12 at the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts, was the eldest child of Thomas Putnam and Ann (née Carr) Putnam. She was friends with some girls who claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft and proclaimed herself in March 1692. In 1692, she proclaimed herself afflicted herself, along with Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren.
Putnam is responsible for the accusations of 62 people, which resulted in the executions of twenty people and the deaths of several others in prison. She was frequently the subject of sickness and her bodily powers weakened.
What are Mrs Putnam’s beliefs?
Mrs. Putnam’s conviction that witches exist in Salem is attributed to two factors: her own life’s misfortune and the demise of eight of her nine children. This belief reflects the historical perception that women’s social status was contingent upon the number of children they had.
What does Ann Putnam confess?
In 1706, Ann publicly expressed remorse for her role in the Salem witch trials, asserting that her actions had been influenced by a delusion induced by Satan during that tragic period.
Why is Mrs. Putnam so passionate in her belief that there is witchcraft afoot?
Mrs. Putnam, who has lost seven newborns and believes that supernatural causes were responsible, is passionate about witchcraft and seeks solace in the idea of witchcraft to cope with her traumatic experience.
What does Mrs. Putnam blame on witchcraft?
Mrs. Putnam attributes seven of her children’s birth deaths to witchcraft, holding the belief that witches in Salem were responsible for these deaths.
Why is Putnam willing to speak of witchcraft?
Putnam is amenable to engaging in discourse on the subject of witchcraft in order to safeguard their territory. Conversely, Mrs. Putnam is privy to information regarding Ruth, who was dispatched to establish communication with the spirits of her deceased offspring.
📹 The Salem Witch Trials: Details You Were Never Taught
Talking cats. Mass hallucinations… from bread? The nearly year-long imprisonment of a toddler. Did the devil really walk through …
Add comment