简介：InthePuritanNewEnglandtownofSalem,Massachusetts,agroupofgirlsgodancingintheforestwithablackslavenamedTituba.Whiledancing,theyarecaughtbythelocalminister,ReverendParris.Oneofthegirls,Parris'sdaughterBetty,fallsintoacoma-likestate.AcrowdgathersintheParrishomewhilerumorsofwitchcraftfillthetown.HavingsentforReverendHale,anexpertonwitchcraft,ParrisquestionsAbigailWilliams,thegirls'ringleader,abouttheeventsthattookplaceintheforest.Abigail,whoisParris'snieceandward,admitstodoingnothingbeyond"dancing". WhileParristriestocalmthecrowdthathasgatheredinhishome,Abigailtalkstosomeoftheothergirls,tellingthemnottoadmittoanything.JohnProctor,alocalfarmer,thenentersandtalkstoAbigailalone.Unbeknownsttoanyoneelseinthetown,whileworkinginProctor'shomethepreviousyearsheengagedinanaffairwithhim,whichledtoherbeingfiredbyhiswife,Elizabeth.AbigailstilldesiresProctor,buthefendsheroffandtellshertoendherfoolishnesswiththegirls. Bettywakesupandbeginsscreaming.Muchofthecrowdrushesupstairsandgathersinherbedroom,arguingoverwhethersheisbewitched.AseparateargumentbetweenProctor,Parris,theargumentativeGilesCorey,andthewealthyThomasPutnamsoonensues.Thisdisputecentersonmoneyandlanddeeds,anditsuggeststhatdeepfaultlinesrunthroughtheSalemcommunity.Asthemenargue,ReverendHalearrivesandexaminesBetty,whileProctordeparts.HalequizzesAbigailaboutthegirls'activitiesintheforest,growssuspiciousofherbehavior,anddemandstospeaktoTituba.AfterParrisandHaleinterrogateherforabrieftime,Titubaconfessestocommuningwiththedevil,andshehystericallyaccusesvarioustownsfolkofconsortingwiththedevil.Suddenly,Abigailjoinsher,confessingtohavingseenthedevilconspiringandcavortingwithothertownspeople.Bettyjoinstheminnamingwitches,andthecrowdisthrownintoanuproar. Aweeklater,aloneintheirfarmhouseoutsideoftown,JohnandElizabethProctordiscusstheongoingtrialsandtheescalatingnumberoftownsfolkwhohavebeenaccusedofbeingwitches.ElizabethurgesherhusbandtodenounceAbigailasafraud;herefuses,andshebecomesjealous,accusinghimofstillharboringfeelingsforher.MaryWarren,theirservantandoneofAbigail'scircle,returnsfromSalemwithnewsthatElizabethhasbeenaccusedofwitchcraftbutthecourtdidnotpursuetheaccusation.Maryissentuptobed,andJohnandElizabethcontinuetheirargument,onlytobeinterruptedbyavisitfromReverendHale.Whiletheydiscussmatters,GilesCoreyandFrancisNursecometotheProctorhomewithnewsthattheirwiveshavebeenarrested.OfficersofthecourtsuddenlyarriveandarrestElizabeth.Aftertheyhavetakenher,ProctorbrowbeatsMary,insistingthatshemustgotoSalemandexposeAbigailandtheothergirlsasfrauds. Thenextday,ProctorbringsMarytocourtandtellsJudgeDanforththatshewilltestifythatthegirlsarelying.DanforthissuspiciousofProctor'smotivesandtellsProctor,truthfully,thatElizabethispregnantandwillbesparedforatime.Proctorpersistsinhischarge,convincingDanforthtoallowMarytotestify.Marytellsthecourtthatthegirlsarelying.Whenthegirlsarebroughtin,theyturnthetablesbyaccusingMaryofbewitchingthem.Furious,ProctorconfesseshisaffairwithAbigailandaccusesherofbeingmotivatedbyjealousyofhiswife.TotestProctor'sclaim,DanforthsummonsElizabethandasksherifProctorhasbeenunfaithfultoher.Despitehernaturalhonesty,sheliestoprotectProctor'shonor,andDanforthdenouncesProctorasaliar.Meanwhile,AbigailandthegirlsagainpretendthatMaryisbewitchingthem,andMarybreaksdownandaccusesProctorofbeingawitch.Proctorragesagainstherandagainstthecourt.Heisarrested,andHalequitstheproceedings. Thesummerpassesandautumnarrives.Thewitchtrialshavecausedunrestinneighboringtowns,andDanforthgrowsnervous.Abigailhasrunaway,takingallofParris'smoneywithher.Hale,whohaslostfaithinthecourt,begstheaccusedwitchestoconfessfalselyinordertosavetheirlives,buttheyrefuse.Danforth,however,hasanidea:heasksElizabethtotalkJohnintoconfessing,andsheagrees.Conflicted,butdesiringtolive,Johnagreestoconfess,andtheofficersofthecourtrejoice.Butherefusestoincriminateanyoneelse,andwhenthecourtinsiststhattheconfessionmustbemadepublic,Proctorgrowsangry,tearsitup,andretractshisadmissionofguilt.DespiteHale'sdesperatepleas,Proctorgoestothegallowswiththeothers,andthewitchtrialsreachtheirawfulconclusion.…