One of the major conflicts or major theme throughout the book is jealousy. The conflicts in the book can be seen stemming from this theme of jealousy through many occasions. The significance of the theme is that it causes people to do acts of prejudice towards people in their own town. This is done by using the witch frenzy or panic in the town caused by the girls to take out people’s dissatisfaction and conflicts with each other.
Throughout the book the theme of jealousy is seen with Thomas Putnam using his land dispute and jealousy of George Jacobs land lead him to make his daughter cry witchcraft against his own neighbor to gain land. Which can be seen when Giles Corey tries to convince the judges that false accusations are happening using the …show more content…
Proctor: It is your poppet, is it not?
Mary Warren, not understanding the direction of this: It - is, sir.
Proctor: And how did it come into this house?
Mary Warren, glancing about at the avid faces: Why - I made it in the court, sir, and - give it to
Goody Proctor tonight.
Proctor, to Hale: Now, sir - do you have it?
Hale: Mary Warren, a needle have been found inside this poppet.
Mary Warren, bewildered: Why, I meant no harm by it, sir.
Proctor, quickly: You stuck that needle in yourself?
Mary Warren: I - I believe I did, sir, I - 76 The Crucible
Proctor: to Hale: What say you now?
Hale, watching Mary Warren closely: Child, you are certain this be your natural memory? May it be, perhaps, that someone conjures you even now to say this?
Mary Warren: Conjures me? Why, no, sir, I am entirely my-self, I think. Let you ask
Susanna Walcott - she saw me sewin’ it in court. Or better still: Ask Abby, Abby sat beside me when I made it.
Proctor, to Hale, of Cheever: Bid him be gone. Your mind is surely settled now. Bid him out, Mr. Hale.
Elizabeth: What signifies a needle?
Hale: Mary - you charge a cold and cruel murder on