The Crucible by Arthur Miller Read Free Book Online

money to pay for his wife’s funeral, and, since the parish was remiss in his salary, he was soon bankrupt. Thomas and his brother John had Burroughs jailed for debts the man did not owe. The incident is important only in that Burroughs succeeded in becoming minister where Bayley, Thomas Putnam’s brother-in-law, had been rejected; the motif of resentment is clear here. Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and the honor of his family had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he could.
    Another reason to believe him a deeply embittered man was his attempt to break his father’s will, which left a disproportionate amount to a stepbrother. As with every other public cause in which he tried to force his way, he failed in this.
    So it is not surprising to find that so many accusations against people are in the handwriting of Thomas Putnam, or that his name is so often found as a witness corroborating the supernatural testimony, or that his daughter led the crying-out at the most opportune junctures of the trials, especially when—But we’ll speak of that when we come to it.
     
    PUTNAM—at the moment he is intent upon getting Parris, for whom he has only contempt, to move toward the abyss: Mr. Parris, I have taken your part in all contention here, and I would continue; but I cannot if you hold back in this. There are hurtful, vengeful spirits layin’ hands on these children.
    PARRIS: But, Thomas, you cannot—
    PUTNAM: Ann! Tell Mr. Parris what you have done.
    MRS. PUTNAM: Reverend Parris, I have laid seven babies unbaptized in the earth. Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born. And yet, each would wither in my arms the very night of their birth. I have spoke nothin’, but my heart has clamored intimations. And now, this year, my Ruth, my only- I see her turning strange. A secret child she has become this year, and shrivels like a sucking mouth were pullin’ on her life too. And so I thought to send her to your Tituba-
    PARRIS: To Tituba! What may Tituba—?
    MRS. PUTNAM: Tituba knows how to speak to the dead, Mr. Parris.
    PARRIS: Goody Ann, it is a formidable sin to conjure up the dead!
    MRS. PUTNAM: I take it on my soul, but who else may surely tell us what person murdered my babies?
    PARRIS, horrified: Woman!
    MRS. PUTNAM: They were murdered, Mr. Parris! And mark this proof! Mark it! Last night my Ruth were ever so close to their little spirits; I know it, sir. For how else is she struck dumb now except some power of darkness would stop her mouth? It is a marvelous sign, Mr. Parris!
    PUTNAM: Don’t you understand it, sir? There is a murdering witch among us, bound to keep herself in the dark. Parris turns to Betty, a frantic terror rising in him. Let your enemies make of it what they will, you cannot blink it more.
    PARRIS, to Abigail: Then you were conjuring spirits last night.
    ABIGAIL, whispering: Not I, sir-Tituba and Ruth.
    PARRIS turns now, with new fear, and goes to Betty, looks down at her, and then, gazing off: Oh, Abigail, what proper payment for my charity! Now I am undone.
    PUTNAM: You are not undone! Let you take hold here. Wait for no one to charge you—declare it yourself. You have discovered witchcraft-
    PARRIS: In my house? In my house, Thomas? They will topple me with this! They will make of it a-
    Enter Mercy Lewis, the Putnams’ servant, a fat, sly, merciless girl of eighteen.
    MERCY: Your pardons. I only thought to see how Betty is.
    PUTNAM: Why aren’t you home? Who’s with Ruth?
    MERCY: Her grandma come. She’s improved a little, I think-she give a powerful sneeze before.
    MRS. PUTNAM: Ah, there’s a sign of life!
    MERCY: I’d fear no more, Goody Putnam. It were a grand sneeze; another like it will shake her wits together, I’m sure. She goes to the bed to look.
    PARRIS: Will you leave me now, Thomas? I would pray a while alone.
    ABIGAIL: Uncle, you’ve prayed since midnight. Why do you not go down and—
    PARRIS: No-no. To Putnam: I have no