In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, Mary Warren presents Elizabeth Proctor with a handmade poppet (a small doll) as a gift. This occurs in Act II when Mary returns home after a long day in court.
The poppet is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it symbolizes the innocence and childhood that is being overshadowed by the hysteria of the Salem witch trials. When Mary sticks a needle into the poppet for safekeeping, she unwittingly creates a key piece of evidence against Elizabeth.
Later in the play, the poppet becomes central to the tensions between the characters, as it is used to falsely accuse Elizabeth of witchcraft. Abigail Williams stabs herself and claims that Elizabeth’s spirit used the poppet to harm her, leading to Elizabeth’s arrest. This twist highlights the theme of how innocent actions can lead to devastating consequences in a society consumed by paranoia and fear.