In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, Tituba, a slave from Barbados, is one of the first characters to be accused of witchcraft. Under pressure and fearing for her life, she confesses to practicing witchcraft and begins to accuse others as a means of self-preservation. Specifically, she accuses several women in the village, including Sarah Good and Goody Osburn.
Her accusations catalyze the witch hunt that ensues in Salem. By accusing others, Tituba not only deflects suspicion from herself but also taps into the paranoia and fear that are rampant in the community at that time. This act of accusation leads to a frenzy of accusations in Salem, illustrating how fear can manipulate individuals and cause widespread hysteria.