The Crucible Group

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champion03
champion03
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Why is Thomas Putnam bitter in "The Crucible"?

this is in the crucible act one

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Posted by champion03 on Wednesday February 11, 2009 at 11:45 AM and tagged with bitter, characters, the crucible, thomas putnam.

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  1. rshaffer Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Thomas Putnam is bitter for several reasons.  Miller tells the reader in the narration in Chapter I that he had many grievances with people. 

    The first grievance mentioned is that his wife's brother-in-law, James Bayley, was rejected as minister of Salem even though he was highly qualified for the position.  There was a faction (large political party) who kept him from being voted into that position. 

    Second, he tried to break his father's will, which left a disproportionate amount of wealth to his stepbrother.

    Because Thomas Putnam viewed himself "as the intellectual superior of most of the people around him" (Miller 14), he took it personally when the faction rejected James Bayley.  He felt it was an attack upon his honor and his good name.  In addition, his failure at breaking his father's will was again humiliation of his honor and his what he believed his good name.

    As a result of this humiliation, Thomas Putnam found his revenge by accusing many people of witchcraft and also having his daughter cry out against the innocent people of Salem Village.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/summary

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    Posted by rshaffer on Wednesday February 11, 2009 at 12:13 PM