Act l. Theme

In act l. of the Crucible, lies just lead to more lies, whether to cover up another lie, to false accuse enemies, or to save ones life from such false accusations. Abigail Williams denies all to her uncle Parris of what happened in the forest with Tituba and the girls. Then suddenly, just seconds after she denies to Parris, she accuses Tituba of conjuring spirits, forcing her to "drink blood," making her "laugh at prayer," and making her "dream corruptions." The next three pages, 42-44, Tituba cries to Parris her innocence but as her punishment and her fear grows Tituba falsely confesses to all the crimes though; she had not committed even one;Tituba confesses to save her live, from hanging, begging for god, calling out names of "the devils witches." On page 40, Abigail unremarkably confesses to reverend Hale that she "didn't see no devil!" However; just moments after on page 45, Abigail does say, "I danced with the devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book." How does a person not see the devil one moment then supposedly danced with him, saw him and wrote in his book the next moment? Abigail then continues to yell out names of the towns people in which she saw them with the devil, yet her confession still hangs in the air that she "didn't see no devil!"