The Crucible, a historical work by Arthur Miller, is based on the events of the Salem Witch Trials. The play is set in a small Puritan village in Massachusetts in 1692. It begins with Abigail Williams leading a group of girls into the forest with Tituba, a Barbadian slave believed to have special powers. After being captured by Reverend Parris, his daughter Betty enters a coma-like state. To protect themselves and the girls, Abigail starts an accountability session and names all the innocent people in town. This leads to Abigail's condemnation of Elizabeth Proctor, which John Proctor believes was done solely to get her out of their relationship which developed during their affair seven months ago. Hoping to clear Elizabeth of the charges, Proctor goes to court with the assistance of Reverend Hale and Mary Warren, and explains to the officials that it is all a sham. However, Judge Danforth, incredulous, sentences Proctor and the other locals to death. This play shows the social chaos in the village resulting from superstition. The author, Arthur Miller, uses superstition to create a society where people blindly accept the belief that strange events out of the ordinary happen. In the first act, soon after Betty falls into a coma-like state, Reverend Parris asks others to come in to investigate what is going on. Abigail fiercely tries to wake Betty. He succeeds, but Betty rushes to the open window, thinking she can fly. Abigail grabs her before she jumps out and drags her back to bed. Out of nowhere, Betty exclaims, “…You drank a spell to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a spell to kill Goody Proctor! (p. 19) Through the speech of an ignorant little girl, Miller portrays how senseless this puritanical world is. The fact that the crowd gathered by Parris is provoked demonstrates the superstition of the people. Betty's alarmed tone and incredulous words show the gullible nature of the village. It is evident that the Puritans too abruptly believe everything they see and hear. Miller continually applies the concept of superstition as a motif in this play. Reverend John Hale of Beverly is called by Mr. Parris to investigate the distressed Betty. He carries half a dozen heavy books with him. Hale carefully examines Betty and tries to wake her, but fails. Trying to gain better understanding of the situation, he asks, “Mr.