The play is set in Salem, Massachusetts. The town is very religious and the majority of people are Puritans (due to the time at which the play is set). In the events of Act One, the women of the town are reported to have danced in the forest with the black slave, Tituba by Parris (whom is a reverend). After he saw them dancing, his daughter Betty became ill and fell into a coma. He then begins to question his niece, Abigail, whom was seen with the other girls dancing in the forest. However, Abigail tries to convince Parris that they were merely dancing and were not doing witchcraft. The Putnams then enter the room whom tend to hold grudges. ‘Goody Putnam’ (wife of Thomas Putnam) reveals that every child they had tried to have, always died at birth and they believed it to be due to witchcraft. The Putnams then try to convince Parris to declare that there is witchcraft in the town.