2. The Crucible, Arthur Miller, Viking Press New York,NY:1953

I wonder how Abigail would know that Mary would give the poppet to Elizabeth Proctor. Seems like that question will go unanswered. I know Abagail was behind her when she was making it, but the play never indicated that Mary was all "I'm going to give this to Elizabeth Proctor". It seems like the girls were trying to get rid of all the women, since they were cursing people. Now they seemed like misguided harlots that danced in the woods and blamed it on "witches", which were well known women throughout the community. In that case, the adults have seemingly set a bad example, with exceeding expectations and then when confessing they used scare tactics. Some people were forced to admit things they didn't do in order to live. It was a domino of lies, and it didn't want to end. Seems like none of them were good Christians, only want-to-bees that went about it the wrong way. It shows the motivation a religion can give you, whether good or bad. With something to believe in your life has more meaning and you feel like you have a purpose. So many people in The Crucible wanted to have a purpose, to achieve greatness, and expected to achieve it by going against their own supposed morals. Makes you wonder if they ever really took a good look at the bible or just recited all the right verses like a good little Christian. John and Elizabeth Proctor's life, made me wonder if things such as cheating could ever be forgiven. If it would always leave a hole, that can't help but get bigger and bigger. I'm sure they'll be alright though, because they aren't puppets that follow the crowd. The betrayal by Mary was messed up though. She was pressured, scared, and young; when she tried to tell the truth, there seemed no possible way for it to be accepted. It would only drag her down and she would be labeled as a liar any way. The devil didn't have to disguise himself in this village because he was already all around them.