Thomas Putnam's Role in The Crucible: a Character Analysis

Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, digs into the Salem witch trials that happened way back in 17th century Massachusetts. You know, it's all about how crazy things get when everyone starts freaking out and folks in power start abusing it. One big character here is Thomas Putnam. He's this rich guy who owns a lot of land in Salem. And oh boy, his role in the story is pretty major. He kinda shows off the greed, revenge vibes, and the opportunism that really got those witch trials going. Let's take a closer look at Thomas Putnam and see how he kicked off some serious hysteria leading to pure tragedy.

A Man Driven by Resentment

Right from the start of the play, you meet Thomas Putnam as a guy who's just seething with anger towards the people around him. He's complaining about land and property fights, saying stuff like the town’s full of "black mischief" (Miller, p. 15). This line tells you just how much he hates on those who have more than he does. It's not just jealousy—he’s ready to use the witch trials for his own gain.

The Greed for Land

Putnam's greed? Oh, it's huge. He's all about grabbing more land by accusing others of being witches. He even gets his daughter Ruth to accuse people he thinks wronged him before. You can tell what he's up to when he says stuff like, "I'd not call it sick; the Devil's touch is heavier than sick" (Miller, p. 25). That’s him twisting things around to benefit himself and also showing he actually believes in this witchcraft thing. It's like he's found this perfect setup to get back at folks and snag more land.

The Thirst for Revenge

And then there's his thirst for revenge—another part of what makes him tick during these witch trials. Putnam wants payback against anyone who hurt him or his family before. Like when he accuses Rebecca Nurse of witchcraft, blaming her for his seven infant kids dying. Crazy, right? But even without proof, it's clear he just wants revenge on Nurse's family. You see it when he says stuff like "I'd clap her in the jail" (Miller, p. 91), showing how eager he is to make sure they suffer.

An Opportunist's Game

Putnam isn't shy about being opportunistic either—he jumps at any chance to push forward his own goals no matter who gets hurt along the way. He's got Reverend Parris under his thumb too and makes sure those trials keep rolling so he can get what he wants outta them. He's always pushing for more accusations—even if there’s barely any proof behind them! When he claims “I have many enemies...” (Miller p., 35), it shows how much eliminating rivals matters most to him throughout all this craziness.

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah—Thomas Putnam is really stirring things up in The Crucible. His greediness mixed with wanting vengeance fuels everything bad happening during those trials at Salem—the total chaos swallowing everyone whole really starts from guys like him going unchecked with their power trips over petty grudges or personal beefs! Looking deeper into who Putnam is helps us understand better why these witch hunts took off as disastrously as they did—and reminds us about innocent lives ruined 'cause some people couldn't put aside personal vendettas.

Works Cited

• Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Penguin Classics, 2003.
• Savran, David. Breaking The Rules: The Wooster Group. Theatre Communications Group Inc., 1991.
• Bloom, Harold (Ed.). Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Chelsea House Publishers, 1999.
• Parker, Hershel B., et al., eds.A Companion To American Literature From Its Beginnings Through Walt Whitman . Cambridge University Press.