Throughout the play, The Crucible, there are changed details. These details seem minor, but it is important to take note of them to have a factual understanding of the Salem Witch Trials. There are many different details, changed by Miller to make his story less complicated and, overall, more believable.
In the Parris family, there are many historical inaccuracies. First of all, Betty Parris" mother was not dead as the dialogue in the play states. In actuality, she died four years after the witch trials began in 1692. As for the composition of the family, the Parris family in reality consists of two other children other than Betty--an older brother, Thomas, and a younger sister Susannah. In the play Abigail is referred to as Reverend Parris" niece, but actually there is no proof that she is their niece. In original documents, she is referred to as the Parris family's "kinfolk." Therefore she was probably a good friend of the family or she became part of the family by a type of an adoption. Also in the play, Rev. Parris states that he is a graduate of Harvard. Actually, he did not graduate from Harvard, but did attend for a while and then he dropped out. .
In the play, Tituba is assumed to be of Black African descent. In reality she was Amerindian, or more specifically South American Arawak. This affects how she was related to practicing black magic. Being from South America, she wouldn't practice African black magic, the magic that she would practice is the white magic she learned in Barbados from the English. Miller also fails to mention that Tituba is married to John Indian. .
The Putnam family really consists of a daughter named Ann, not Ruth. The mother was referred to as "Ann Putnam Senior" and the daughter as "Ann Putnam Junior." Miller most likely changed these names simply to keep his play less complicated. In the play Ann Putnam complains of all her miscarriages and she has only one child.
