What happened first in The Crucible by Arthur Miller?

The first act of The Crucible by Aurthur Miller introduces the setting of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, during the Salem witch trials. The play begins with a group of young women, led by Abigail Williams, performing a strange ritual in the forest. They are secretly trying to curse Abigail's uncle, Parris, with whom she has a falling out. This act of witchcraft sets the stage for the accusations and trials that follow, as the girls' actions escalate into a full-blown witch hunt.