The Putnams are also always trying to hoodwink their neighbors out of their land.  They report Proctor for plowing on Sunday and Mr. Putnam puts his daughter up to accusing their elderly neighbor of witchcraft so they can take his many acres away from him.

Parris also feels that the parrish does not provide for him well enough.  He does not think his salary is high enough and that they should provide him with firewood when they feel his salary is more than sufficient and that six pounds of it is provided for him to buy or pay someone for his firewood.

Proctor and the Nurses are the only ones who see everyone else for all their foolishness and who are honorable and noble people.  It stands to reason that these people will be used to make an example for the remainder of the Puritan society since they are well-respected in town.

All these tensions will come to a head very soon in the play, and the unChristian attitudes that others have will be hidden beneath the accusations of witchcraft and sin.