- Illness of Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Hubbard:
Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Hubbard, the daughter and niece of Reverend Samuel Parris, the minister of Salem Village, began exhibiting strange behaviors in early 1692. They experienced convulsive fits, uttered unusual speech, and acted as if they were being tormented by an invisible force. Sarah Good was among the first individuals accused of afflicting the girls.
- Reputation and Background:
Sarah Good had a reputation in the community as a beggar, an outsider, and someone who practiced questionable behavior. These factors made her an easy target for suspicion.
Accusations against Tituba:
- Background and Cultural Difference: Tituba was an enslaved woman of Caribbean descent living in the Parris household. Her ethnicity, cultural practices, and knowledge of herbal remedies made her seem mysterious and potentially threatening to some members of the community.
- Confession: Under intense interrogation and pressure, Tituba eventually confessed to practicing witchcraft and named other women as her accomplices, including Sarah Good. Her confession further fueled the hysteria and led to increased accusations against others.
It's important to note that the accusations against Sarah Good, Tituba, and others were based on superstition, fear, and a lack of scientific understanding, rather than concrete evidence or logical reasoning.