When Act 1 of the Crucible begins Reverend Parris is kneeling by the bed of his comatose

daughter Betty. He is pleading with God to awaken her. Williams and Susanna Walcott bring
news from Griggs. Susannah says the doctor has found no explanation for betty's disorder and
that he should consider sorcery.

Reverend Parris interrogates Abigail about the girls' activities in the forest and questions why
Tituba was swaying over the fire. She says they were just dancing while Tituba sang songs and
then Betty fainted when he jumped out of the woods, but she denies that they were naked.

Mrs. Ann Putnam enters and is glad to hear witchcraft is finally being discussed she shares
gossip about Betty flying and news about her daughter Ruth sleepwalking she also suspects a
witch murdered her previous seven children during their infancy. Her husband, Thomas, a
wealthy landowner also believes witchcraft is rampant in Salem and he accuses those landowners
whose land he covets of witchcraft.

When pressed further Abigail admits Tituba and Ruth called up spirits Mercy Lewis arrives and
reports that Ruth has not woken from sleepwalking. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam accompany Reverend
Parris downstairs where people are praying. Abigail, Mercy, and Mary Warren discussed their
previous night's activities. Abigail commands the girls never to speak of their sinful actions
because if the truth comes out, they will be whipped. She threatens to cast a spell on any girl who
disobeys.

In the Crucible, the Reverend Samuel Paris is the character who sows the seeds of hysteria he
strives to be the leader ruling the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1692 his laws are based on the
Bible and he judges his congregation's thoughts and actions accordingly although the original
pilgrims may have come to America to gain religious freedom. The Puritans of 1692 condemned
any original thought or belief that did not mess with their religion, since they fear being
excommunicated for any unorthodox opinions, the townspeople accept reverend Parris' dictates
without question their fears combined with Reverend Parris' discovery of the girls and Tituba
activities create a perfect storm for a witch hunt. The girls latch onto sorcery as the cause of their
condition to avoid being whipped and publicly humiliated for disobeying the theocracy's laws.

Reverend Parris acts to protect his position of power within the community which is threatened
by his daughter's participation in the night's events by interrogating and threatening to both
Abigail and the other girls. The Salem witch hunt becomes an interlocking series of causes and
effects driven for the most part by the selfish motivations of the citizens.

Act one of the Crucible continues, with John Proctor entering betty's room, Abigail flirts with
him and tries to persuade him to abandon his wife and marry her. Proctor tries to explain that
their affair ended seven months earlier and that he wants to save his marriage with Elizabeth.
Abigail is upset over this and denigrates Elizabeth which causes Proctor to yell at her, hearing
her friends sobs Betty wakes up and screams.

Reverend Parris and the Putnam's rush into the room along with Giles Corey and Rebecca Nurse.
Abigail says Betty heard people singing in the other room and woke suddenly, trying to calm
them Rebecca nurse explains she has many children, and they can be silly assuring them Betty
will wake up when she tires of the game. Ann Putnam expresses her grief over her own
children's deaths and suggests the peculiarity behind the survival of Rebecca's babies. She thinks
Betty screaming while they read the Bible aloud is a sign that she has sided with the devil.

Proctor and Corey argued with Thomas Putnam and accused Reverend Parris of greed
unbecoming a minister. The reverend demands Thomas Putnam side with him and not with
Proctor and Corey. John Proctor is a serious man who keeps his thoughts private unless provoked
Abigail angers him when she throws herself at him claiming he wants her still and speaking
disparagingly about his wife Elizabeth, when Betty screams Abigail tells Reverend Parris and the
Putnam's she awoke because of their praying. Ann Putnam takes this as a sign that Betty has
sided with the devil and that she cannot hear the Lord's name. Rebecca nurse explains that in her
experience children can be silly and Betty will wake up when she tires of the game. Proctor
agrees with her and asks reverend Parris to tell the townspeople to quit thinking the devil has
cursed Salem with witchcraft, however, Thomas Putnam demands the reverend keep the search
for sorcery active. Reverend Parris insists Proctor obey his teachings instead of airing his own
opinions. Proctor knows rumors feed people's fears which is why he insists reverend Parris
condemn any baseless allegations from the pulpit. Reverend Parris's unwillingness to even hear
another person's spiritual perceptions shows he is a flag bearer for the theocratical injustice
theme, the main conflict of the play, person against person is apparent already.

In the end of act one of the Crucible reverend, John Hale, a young minister and renowned
witchcraft expert enters the room he greets the people appreciates their warmth toward him and
enquires about the children's conditions and the happenings in Salem. Giles Corey having
Christians of his own for the reverend Hale mentions he could understand why his wife loves
reading so much the reverend Hale says they will need to speak further on that with him later.
After hearing examples of witchcraft reverend Hale says he will try to tear the devil from Betty
when Betty doesn't move after reverend Hale praise in Latin, Abigail is interrogated she breaks
down about the previous night. She claims Tituba called up the devil. Tituba denies these
allegations, but Thomas Putnam demands that she be hanged. Fearing for her life and caught up
in the hysteria, Tituba offers the names of villagers she thinks are witches. Abigail and Betty,
who suddenly awakes speak up and also list a group of men and women they have seen with the
devil.

At this point, many characters believe reality is composed of opposites. In order to truly
understand the goodness of God, they must comprehend the evil of the devil. As a minister in a
theocracy the books reverend Hale has red are only those he is permitted to study. They all
confirm the Bible's mention of spirits who signed with Lucifer. Hale asks about the condition of
the reverend Parris and Putnam's daughters before turning to Corey and Proctor. When Giles
Corey innocently remarks about the reading habits of his wife, Martha, he gives Thomas Putnam
a reason to accuse her of practicing witchcraft and add to the turmoil. The schemers play upon
the fears of witchcraft by using the concepts of guilt by association and the power of suggestion
to set the foundation for their deceptions when reverend Hale interrogates Abigail about what
had happened the previous night Abigail reacts to save herself from punishment by accusing
Tituba of calling out the devil making a soup using a frog and forcing her to drink blood. Tituba
denies it all but she is aware of her place as a slave. When Reverend Parris starts naming women
in the village who might be coconspirators Tituba joins the hysteric mood and agrees that the
women he mentions are witches, this gives Abigail an out and Betty realizing this awakens and
offers the names of any men or women who come to her mind.