CRUCIBLE Character Analysis Paragraph sample

      In his 1953 play “The Crucible,” Arthur Miller depicts the slave Tituba as the source of witchcraft in Salem and a woman who uses her wits to survive.  As the play opens, Miller states that Tituba is “very frightened because her slave sense tells her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back (832).  When she is accused of conjuring spirits in the forest by Abigail, Tituba quickly defends herself, saying, “You beg me conjure!  She beg me make charm—” (847). Under the intense pressure of interrogation, Tituba is able to deflect the blame from herself by implicating Reverend Samuel Parris, whom she knows is not popular.  A turning point in the first act comes when Tituba begins revealing what she knows about the Devil’s work in Salem, and even better, she has resisted the Devil’s request to kill Parris. “Oh, how many times he bid me kill you, Mr. Parris!” By taking this approach, Tituba transforms herself from a damned woman bound for the gallows to a valuable informant. “God will bless you for your help,” Hale assures her (848).  She chooses her words carefully, sensing both her newfound power as well as imminent danger.  Her position in Salem perilously vulnerable, Tituba is gravely serious when she cries out, “Oh, God! Protect Tituba!" (848).