Thomas Putnam did not literally kill anyone for their land in The Crucible, but it could be said that he influenced events that led to the deaths of George Jacobs and Giles Corey. It is not made explicit that Putnam was able to buy Jacobs's forfeited land after Jacobs was sentenced to hang as a result of Ruth Putnam's witchcraft accusation.
In Act III, Giles Corey tells the court "I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she‘d given him a fair gift of land." But when Judge Hathorne asks Giles for the name, Giles will not provide it because he believes that the court will then target this new witness.
Readers understand that Putnam did not acquire Giles Corey's land following his execution because Giles maintained his silence; this meant that his land would pass to his sons.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Viking, 1953.
No comments:
Post a Comment