Once upon a time, there was a girl named Abigail. Abigail was an orphan and was very beautiful, but she was also a very selfish and manipulative liar. Abigail lived with he uncle Reverend Parris.
Lies...
One night Aligail, Rev Parris's daughter (Betty), Tituba, and some other girls decided to go into the woods to cast a spell on the wife of John Proctor (Elizabeth).
In the past Abigail and John Proctor had had feelings for eachother, so in result of Abigail's jealousy they planned to cast a spell on Elizabeth Proctor. Back in the 1690's, during the Salem Witch Trials, any sort of witchcraft was illegal and was punished by death (hanging).
While the girls were dancing and casting spells and Elizabeth Proctor, they were caught by Rev Parris. Parris was extremely angry and fearful that if the town found out about this witchcraft his reputation would be ruined.
Why are you "dancing like heathens"?!
Word spread quickly about the witchcraft done in the woods.
Who is a witch?
So the town decided to hire a man named Reverend Hale to investigate the newly found witchcraft. Once Rev Hale came to town the people began accusing each other of witchcraft out of fear and personal gain. Resulting in the whole town blaming each other for practicing witchcraft.
The court then began punishing the people of the town for their so called crimes even though the people didn't do anything wrong.
Then Abigail, still jealous, untruthfully accused Elizabeth Proctor of using witchcraft on her.