Thomas Putnam

Thomas Putnam

Thomas Wissar January 12, 1651/2 - May 24, 1699) was a real person ( [http://www.loyno.edu/history/journal/1998-9/Karson.htm#24] ) in the Salem witch trials, and is a character in the play, "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. He was the son of Lt. Thomas Putnam (1615-1686) and Ann Holyoke (1621-1665). He was also a nephew of Elizur Holyoke and great uncle of General Israel Putnam.

Thomas was the husband to Ann Carr, and father of Ann Putnam, Jr..(In the Crucible, her name is Ruth Putnam) Together they blame Goody Osbourn, the midwife of Salem, for killing the seven babies that Goody Putnam had many years ago. Not only do they blame her, but they blame many of the wealthier and well respected citizens of Salem during the time. Unfortunately, their accusations are not booed down, but actually believed, because of the climate of fear and hysteria. In one of the most dramatic scenes in The Crucible, Giles Corey accuses Putnam of killing his neighbors for their land, so Danforth calls Putnam in to the court. Putnam denies the charge.

Minutes later Corey rushes at Putnam and tries to tear him limb from limb.

Putnam owns much of the land, and money. He is respective of the church, and is close to Reverend Parris. That does not stop him from subtly manipulating Parris. Putnam has often been viewed as unscrupulous and amoral, but his subtle machinations are often overlooked. He leads Parris by the nose to the conclusions he wants to hear, and faces down John Proctor, a man not lightly intimidated.

Putnam and his wife Ann act as a group in The Crucible, particularly in Act I, where they allow their fears and demands to override Parris' inherently weak personality.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Putnam (surname) — Putnam is a surname. The old colonial American and Puritan Putnam family was founded by John and Priscilla Gould Putnam in the 1600s, in Salem, Massachusetts. Many notable individuals are descendants of this family, including most of those listed …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas Le Douarec — (né le 14 mai 1970 à Rouen) est un metteur en scène, un comédien et un scénariste français. Sommaire 1 Formation théâtrale 2 Mises en scène 3 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thomas le Douarec — (né le 14 mai 1970 à Rouen) est un metteur en scène, un comédien et un scénariste français. Sommaire 1 Formation théâtrale 2 Mises en scène 3 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Putnam House — Infobox nrhp name = Gen. Israel Putnam House nrhp type = caption = Putnam House, front view lat degrees = lat minutes = lat seconds = lat direction = long degrees = long minutes = long seconds = long direction = location = 431 Maple St Danvers,… …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas H. Cook — (n. el 19 de septiembre de 1947) es un escritor estadounidense, cuya novela de 1996 The Chatham School Affair fue galardonada con un premio Edgar.[1] Thomas H. Cook nació en Fort Payne, Alabama, y estudió en el Georgia State College, realizó un… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Thomas H. Cook — (born September 19, 1947) is an American author, whose 1996 novel The Chatham School Affair received an Edgar award from the Mystery Writers of America. [MSN Encarta Enclopedia: The Chatham School Affair.] Thomas H. Cook was born in Fort Payne,… …   Wikipedia

  • Putnam County (Georgia) — Putnam County Courthouse im Eatonton Historic District, gelistet im NRHP Nr. 75000605[1] Verwaltung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Putnam Township, Michigan —   Township   Putnam Township Hall, West M 36 …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas Barnett — Thomas P.M. Barnett (born 1962) is an American military geostrategist.Education and careerBarnett was born in Chilton, Wisconsin, and grew up in Boscobel, Wisconsin. A distant cousin, Major General George Barnett (also raised in Boscobel), was… …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas Cleland Dawson — (* 30. Juli 1865 in Hudson, Wisconsin; † 1. Mai 1912 in Washington D.C.) war ein US amerikanischer Diplomat und Jurist. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Verhandlungen zu Nicaragua 1910 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”