Goody Osburn is a minor yet significant character in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. She is portrayed as a poor, marginalized woman in the town of Salem, known for her involvement in witchcraft accusations during the infamous trials.
Osburn is an unfortunate victim of the hysteria that grips Salem and is accused of witchcraft by the girls who are attempting to deflect blame from themselves. She is characterized as a woman on the fringes of society, and this status makes her an easy target for the accusations that sweep through the community. In the context of the play, her character helps to highlight the themes of scapegoating and social injustice. Goody Osburn represents how the vulnerable and powerless can become victims in times of fear and paranoia.