In the crucible, I believe that the women are the victims. During Act One, we find out that John Proctor had an affair with 17-year old Abigail. In the relationship between the two, Proctor exposed Abigail to the cold, hard truth about the town. She is also robbed of her innocence and convinced that she is in love with John Proctor. “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you more.” As we can see, Proctor has given Abigail false hope about their “relationship”.
When Reverend Hale comes to Parris’ house to get rid of the devil in Betty, Giles Corey hints to Hale that his wife has dabbled in witchcraft. He says,”It discomfits me! Last night-mark this-I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she closes her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly-mark this-I could pray again!” Giles and the rest of the men in the town thin that whenever a woman is reading or teaching herself, that the Devil is in her. The men of the town do not know how else to describe a woman being just as educated as them.
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I agree that the women would be considered victims in the town. Before they learn more about the false accusations of witchery in the town, most men jump on the bandwagon to believing these tales. Especially Giles Corey when he first ignites the fire on his own wife, when he brings up the books and him not being able to pray. Later however, we find him claiming he never accused his wife of practicing witchcraft, however he had proposed the idea. I think it was wrong of the men in the town to jump to conclusions instead of getting steady facts first. But in their defense, is there really any hard evidence for any of these cases?