The Crucible: Expository Writing Assignment
             None of the people living in Salem Village had been ready for the terror and conviction they would have to face that winter in 1692. That year, over a hundred of the villagers were convicted of witchcraft, and nearly twenty were hung. None of the villagers had suspected that the accusers were actually the guilty ones. Three factors, which contributed to and reinforced the continuation of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, were deceit, greed, and fear.
             Deceit was a factor that played a great role in continuing the trials. Many of the people living in Salem had accused others of witchcraft for numerous reasons. Most did it simply to keep the blame and suspicion off of them. An example of this was when Abigail Williams stabbed herself with a needle and claimed it was voodoo, which was a form of witchcraft. "And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out" (Miller 74). She also claimed that it was Elizabeth Proctor who owned the doll and had performed this act of witchcraft. "And demandin' of her how she came to be so stabbed, she-to Proctor now-testify it were your wife's familiar spirit pushed it in" (Miller 74). Another example was when Elizabeth Proctor lied to the court about John having an affair to protect him. Here, Danforth asked Elizabeth, "To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery?" (Miller 113). Answering his question, Elizabeth responded faintly, "No, sir" (Miller 113). Abigail lied to the court about wanting to be free from the devil, and because of that, many others were accused of witchcraft. "I want to open myself! I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus!" (Miller 48). She then accused others of dancing with the devil. "I saw Sarah Good with the devil! I saw Goody Osborne with the devil!" (Miller 48). Because o
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