The Crucible Post 1

At the beginning of Act 1, Parris had the power. At the end of the act, however, the girls were the people who the power had shifted to. Girls back then were basically just there to have a baby and take care of some things. Children, too, were nothing but little specks wandering throughout the town. Considering that Parris is the leader of the town, people would think that he is the one who would have the power. Parris, however, is a conceited leader and weak-willed. Abby is the exact opposite of Parris. Abby had threatened the other girls that if a word got out about what happened, Abby would do terrible things. Abby says,

"Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a point reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!" (20).

Abby is a strong leader of the other girls. All of the other girls follow Abby and the things she tells them to do.  Towards the end of the act, Tituba confesses to Reverend Hale about that night and is forgiven. Then out of no where, Betty woke up suddenly and started accusing people, along with Abby. The two girls were telling Reverend Hale, and everyone else who was there, whom the girls had seen with the devil that night. Women were supposed to be the ones who let the man take charge. Children especially were even thankful to be aloud to speak. Despite all of that, the power at the end of act 1 had shifted to the girls. The girls held the power over everyone at this point because of their accusations.