- Jealousy:
Putnam of Proctor (among others ) over land, of Parris for his position of influence and for not being ‘his’ man
Ann Putnam of Rebecca Nurse (midwife) because she lost 7 babies and Rebecca has many.
Giles of his new wife’s learning
Abigail of Elizabeth Proctor because of John
The miserable of the happy e.g. the Putnams.
Those that go to church versus those that don’t and get away with it!
Parris of Proctor for his valued integrity and status as an honest man in the community. - Prejudice and hatred due to ignorance:Putnam and Mary Warren of Sarah Good and Goody Osburn
Tituba of Rev Parris - Vindictiveness:Putnam for previous ministers, one of whom he had jailed for debts, and because of his father’s will which saw him left less than his brother.
- Fear:of the land, forest, climate, Indians and of their own baser nature.
- Snobbery:Putnams think they’re better than others
Parris thinks he’s better than everyone else in the community
Abigail just thinks she can get away with it because the others fear her! - Love of minding each other’s business:Cheever of Proctor ‘he plough on Sunday’
- Guilt of own sins of:lust for someone else’s husband or wife, resentment of the power of the church, of its restrictions
Their hatred of each other was palpable in the community. The only time they banded together was against a common enemy, so divide and rule was a perfect method for Abigail here. Because they were always afraid it was easy to transfer their fears onto softer targets particularly if they had any sort of grudge against them or feared them. Divide and rule: they see that the best way to deflect attention away from themselves is to accuse someone else first.