What Role Does Ruth Play In The Crucible

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The Crucible is set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 where God and hard work consumes the people. At the beginning of the play, Reverend Parris is lying next to the bed of his ten year old daughter Betty who is unmoving and unresponsive. Hysteria is running through Salem because of the rumor that Betty is bewitched and she and several other girls where dancing in the forest with Parris’s slave Tituba. Solely afraid of losing his job, Parris questions Abigail. Even though Abigail denies that she and the girls participate in witchcraft, Parris does not believe her because Abigail has been out of work since Elizabeth Proctor abruptly fired her. Also, Elizabeth Proctor has stopped attending church because she does not want to sit so close to a soiled woman. When Thomas Putnam and Ms. Putnam enter the room, they report that their own daughter Ruth is in the same state as Betty. Ms. Putman also rumors that someone saw Betty flying over a neighbor’s barn. Seven of Mrs. Putnam’s babies died the day after their birth and she believes that it is witchcraft. She sends Ruth to Tituba to contact the spirits and find out the murderer. Thomas Putnam wants to broadcast the discovery of witchcraft. However, Mercy Lewis, the Putman’s servant, announces Ruth is improving, so Parris decides to lead a crowd…show more content…
Proctor thinks a town meeting should be called before Reverend Hale searches for witches. Rebecca thinks the witch hunt will just cause more problems. Paris and Giles fight about whether or not Parris should be reimbursed for the firewood he purchased. Giles declares that Parris is overstepping his boundaries as reverend. Proctor and Parris are feuding over Parris’s harsh sermons. Parris is paranoid that Proctor is among the people conspiring against Parris which Proctor is shocked he admits. Putnam threatens to sue Proctor because Proctor is harvesting lumber from his land. However, Proctor claims he purchased the land from Francis
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