find it and join it."
             Putnam: "He confessed it now!" [p. 49, ll. 17-24]
             Proctor never fears to stand up to Parris, question "authority" and speak his mind, something that he has no right to do from Parris' point of view. Parris' argument with Proctor also indicates Parris' continual battle to obtain authority within Salem. Parris loudly demands here:
             "There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!" [p. 49, ll. 6-7]
             This insist shows how in a strictly religious society like Salem Religion is used as an instrument of power. Whenever ecclesiastic authorities similar to Reverent Parris felt their fellow citizens' disobedience they kept treating with God's anger upon them.
             Furthermore Parris flatters and flaws on those in power, such as Thomas Putnam and Danforth. When the court is first set up, he hides behind it like a child behind a parent, and he loses no chance to set up the court against his "enemies", especially John Proctor. As long as the court is in power, Parris is its staunchest support. But in Act IV, when the town is beginning to turn against the court, Parris is the first to look for a way out.
             In conclusion, Reverend Parris is clearly a very insecure man who believes that a conspiratorial faction plans to force him to leave Salem. Thus he attempts to strengthen his authority and to get rid of his opponents through the witch trials proceedings.
             Thomas Putnam is a wealthy farmer who is greedy for more. He discovers he can use condign power to increase his property and therefore his wealth and status. He even uses his own daughter, Ruth, for his purposes. She is to accuse George Jacobs of witchcraft. It is also Giles Corey who suggests in court that Putnam will benefit from the execution of his neighbors as he is the only man with enough money to bye their farms. Giles Corey points this out on both page 115 and pa...