You have sent your spirit out upon this child, have you not? Are you gathering souls for the Devil?
– Arthur Miller
The Crucible, Act 1. After Abigail names Tituba for forcing her and the other girls to take part in witchcraft practices, Hale unquestioningly takes Abby’s word. He immediately directs his inquisition at the black slave girl. There is no doubt that racism is a factor in the way witch-hunter Hale and the others are so quick to believe Tituba is a witch. Hale is responsible for whipping up local hysteria about witchcraft by blaming Tituba in front of multiple Salem townspeople for making the child Betty ill.