Sarah Good Character Analysis
Sarah Good is a mentally disturbed and homeless lady in Salem. She is also a beggar, and this makes her a person of low social standing in the community. For this reason, Abigail easily accuses her of partaking in witchcraft. Her and Tituba prove to be easy scapegoats because they occupy the lowest echelons of society.
Within act one, Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam, as well as Reverend Hale, start questioning Tituba about her participation in witchcraft rituals. As they intensify the questioning, Parries tries to threaten Tituba, claiming that he would whip her to death. Putnam, on the other hand, claims that Tituba must be aware of Goody Osburn and Goody Good’s meeting with the devil.
Under pressure, Tituba admits that indeed she saw the two women in the company of the devil. Mrs. Putnam then affirms that She was always aware that her babies withered up in the hands of Goody Osburn.
Upon Abigail discovering that the confessions by Tituba have saved her from accusations of witchcraft and earned her Hale, Parris and Putnam’s formerly lost respect. She also confesses to witnessing Goody Osburn and Sarah Good in the devil’s company. After that, Abigail accuses Bridget Bishop of an alliance with the devil.
Sarah good is depicted as a social outcast who is unaware of the events operating around her. Her accusers are cork sure that she is unable to defend herself effectively since she might not understand the phenomenon of witchcraft itself. Her poor mental health makes it, even more, easier to be used and manipulated. Furthermore, Sarah Good has a poor reputation within the community since she is also an alcoholic. Consumption of alcohol is another sin, according to the Puritans. All these factors make her a prime target for scapegoating.