The Crucible

8) Why is Rebecca Nurse accused of witchcraft?

Rebecca Nurse is blamed for “the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.” A number of Mrs. Putnam’s babies have died, and she is looking for an explanation. She decides that Rebecca Nurse is responsible because Ruth, Mrs. Putnam’s daughter, “accused Rebecca’s spirit of ‘tempting her to iniquity.’” The Putnam family may also be looking to punish Rebecca Nurse because of a land dispute they have with her husband, Francis.