The Crucible

Thomas Putnam

Many of the characters in The Crucible have motives behind their accusations of witchcraft. They all seek some form of personal gain, such as preserving a good reputation or acquiring more land. Thomas Putnam is one of these characters. He is vindictive and bitter, and willing to do anything in order to attain more land.

Salem Village, Massachusetts, was a small settlement begun by Puritans. The Puritans were a very religious group of people who believed strongly in the existence of the Devil.

Thomas Putnam “was a man with many grievances, at least one of which appears justified. Some time before, his wife’s brother-in-law, James Bayley, had been turned down as minister at Salem” (1.1). Putnam had feelings of resentment against the town even before the witchcraft accusations begin.

“Putnam was the eldest son of the richest man in the village. He had fought the Indians at Narragansett, and was deeply in parish affairs. He undoubtedly felt it poor payment that the village should disregard his candidate for one of its more important offices, especially since he regarded himself as the intellectual superior of most of the people around him” (1.1)”

Thomas Putnam’s vindictive