Tituba

By Armaan Fatteh-Patil

Tituba was an important character in The Crucible.  Dancing in the woods with the girls of Salem, these actions inspired fear and misunderstanding.  As a result, she was the first person accused of being a witch. And so began a series of events that resulted in deaths and disruptions of families.  Tituba was an outsider, from another country with a culture that the local Salem population was not familiar with. The Puritan people were uniform in their beliefs, diligent in the practice of their religion, and socially conservative.  Tituba looked different, acted differently and therefore inspired discomfort in the local community. She was felt to be either an innocent child dancing in the woods representing her culture or a witch.  In the novel The Crucible, there is a story of accusations, misunderstandings, lies, betrayal and ultimately condemnations that led to the Salem witch trials.  In the reader’s understanding of the story, Tituba was ultimately felt to be an innocent victim….. but what if she was not so innocent after all.  

In her jail cell alone, Tituba speaks aloud: 

They are such fools….I have but one name

And a color they fear

Yet invisible am I to those with two names

A witch they whisper, my new name

Mention voodoo and they quiver in fear

They know not what truly I am, only that I have one name

My dance sparked a hunt for the truth

Uncovering betrayal, lies and untruths

With satisfaction I see the judge condemn those with two names

My goal achieved, death and heartbreak has fallen all around

My true name unknown to them

It is only for you to know…Beelzebub, Satan or the Devil

One name….. only you can choose

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Biography

My name is Armaan Fatteh-Patil, and I am in 11th grade. When I am at school, I am often participating in Premedical club, HOSA or Science Research, but when I am not in school, I love playing video games.

Why did you choose to submit this category(s) of artwork/writing out of the many available category options?

From my recent writing projects, this is the piece I was most proud of.

What message do you hope to convey through your piece?

I hope that when people read this they are entertained.