What happened:
Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good are still in jail in Boston. After their specters appear 20 miles away, the women are chained to the walls of the jail cell, which should also control their specters.
Rev Samuel Parris is feeling protective, and sends his 9yo daughter Betty away to live with a cousin.
We meet Martha Corey, a proud member of the church. She’s smug and disliked, and no one seems surprised when she’s accused. She torments Ann Putnam, and we meet the Putnam family servant Mercy Lewis. Mercy is badly afflicted herself, and may have severe PTSD from the Indian Wars in Maine.
Ann Putnam also accuses the beloved Rebecca Nurse, a saintly grandmother whose family has had land disputes with Ann’s father.
We’re also introduced to the 20yo servant Mary Warren, who says she’s afflicted either by her master John Proctor or by Martha Corey.
WHO’S BEEN ACCUSED
Two more women have been accused of witchcraft, but none has been to court:
Martha Corey is a self-professed gospel woman, disliked, and a member of the church. When she heard about the accusations she was smug and condescending at first, but now she’s bewildered and perhaps a little afraid. She hasn’t been arrested (yet). About Martha Corey
Rebecca Nurse is a beloved elderly woman and a long-time member of the church. She doesn’t know she’s been accused. About Rebecca Nurse
Carried over from last week, with no changes:
Elizabeth Proctor is a quarrelsome tavern owner and farm wife who uses healing herbs. She doesn’t know she’s been accused. About Elizabeth Proctor
Dorcas Good is 4 years old. Her mother is a beggar who’s already in jail. Dorcas has been only slightly accused, so nothing has been done yet. About Dorcas Good
Tituba is a slave. She’s confessed. Still in jail in Boston. About Tituba
Sarah Osborne is sickly and weak, and has denied the charges. Still in jail in Boston. About Sarah Osborne
Sarah Good is a pipe-smoking beggar who has her baby in prison with her. She’s denied the charges. Still in jail in Boston. About Sarah Good
WHO’S ACCUSING PEOPLE
The focus is shifting. The first accusers were young girls. Now three older girls, all servants (at least one of them a traumatized orphan), have chimed in.
18yo Mercy Lewis is a servant in the Putnam home. She is a traumatized orphan and refugee from the Indian Wars in Maine. About Mercy Lewis
20yo Mary Warren is a servant in the Proctor home. About Mary Warren
17yo Elizabeth Hubbard (an orphan who’s the doctor’s servant). About Elizabeth Hubbard
9yo Betty Parris is the minister’s little daughter and has been sent away. About Betty Parris
11yo Abigail Williams is a tomboy who’s the minister’s niece. She lives with his family. About Abigail Williams
12yo Ann Putnam is the girls’ unspoken leader. About Ann Putnam
WHO’S IN CHARGE
We’ve already met these people, but they’ll keep appearing throughout the story.
Reverend Samuel Parris is Salem Village’s Puritan Minister. About Samuel Parris
Thomas Putnam is an angry and powerful man, and one of the accuser’s father. About Thomas Putnam
John Hathorne is a cruel magistrate. About John Hathorne
Jonathan Corwin is a quiet magistrate. About Jonathan Corwin
William Phips is the ambitious and arrogant governor. About William Phips
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
All historical context can be found here.
This week’s additional context:
Why did Native Americans attack and destroy settlements in Maine?
Why did people believe that witches and their specters dressed alike? Why was that important?
Why were there babies in jail?
Tomorrow in Salem: The cantankerous Giles Corey suspects his wife