The Witch Trials in Salem
Mass. in 1692, Abigail Williams is held in suspicion of practicing magic. Abigail in turn levels
charges against John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth. Abigail has a private grudge against the Proctors;
while working as their servant, she had an affair with John, and when John ended the relationship and
returned to his wife, Abigail was fired. Now the Reverend Parris is hearing accusations and counter-
accusations of misdeeds from all sides of the community in the wake of Abigail's charges, so he brings
in Judge Danforth to determine who is guilty or innocent. However, given the moral climate of the
time, it seems someone has to be found guilty of witchcraft, even though firm evidence of wrongdoing
is becoming hard to come by.
Metaphorical usage
In modern terminology 'witch-hunt' has acquired usage referring to the act of seeking and
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