The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a
recounting of the Salem Witch Trials using many of the real characters and actions of
the historical event. In this environment of suspicion and accusation, it should not be
surprising to find anyone in prison in Salem.
In one sense,
perhaps it is a surprise to discover that Tituba is in prison at the beginning of Act
IV. While we know that Parris is intent on placing blame anywhere he can in order to
make himself look good, Tituba "comes to Jesus" in the first act and Parris seems quite
pleased with this. Parris has generally gotten everything he wanted, including John
Proctor's comeuppance in the court and in the town, so there is little need for Parris
to turn on Tituba for anything.
On the other hand, during
her pre-conversion confession, Tituba expresses her hatred of Parris and he is stunned
to hear it. He knows that Tituba was the lone adult with the girls in the forest the
night all this trouble began--well, the only adult besides him--so it would be natural
for a spiteful man like Parris to want to see her
punished.
Tituba is in prison with Sarah Good, and neither
of them seem to be quite in their right minds. While Tituba is not awaiting execution
like Proctor and the others, perhaps she is here because she has become a babbling,
frightening woman. The loss of her beloved Betty to the court and Abigail's mean
treatment of her could have caused her to lose touch with reality. She talks about the
devil, claiming he is "pleasure-man in Barbados, him be singin' and dancin' in
Barbados." She begs the devil to take her home, a sign that she may have become too
addled to live in Parris's house any longer, and prison might be the safest place for
her to be under those circumstances.
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