Actually, it was Abigail who started most of the enthusiasm for witches. She was the one who accused Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch. She wanted Elizabeth dead so she could marry John Proctor. Thomas Putnam argued with Giles Corey over their land. This landed them both in court. Giles' wife was falsely accused, so he went to bail her out. John Proctor convinced Mary Warren to work with him and the Devil, but then confessed what he had done. Mary felt strengthened by his presence at court and was able to stand up to her master. All of these pre-existing conflicts between members of a community added to the hysteria of the Salem witch trials. They show what can happen when bitterness gets the better of people. An entire village can collapse due to fighting in the