What is the significance of the poppet in the play?

The significance of the poppet in "The Crucible" lies in its role as false evidence against Elizabeth Proctor. In the play, when Mary Warren, the Proctors' servant, makes a poppet and sticks a needle into it for safekeeping, it inadvertently becomes a pivotal piece of evidence. Later, when Abigail Williams stabs herself in the stomach with a needle, she claims that Elizabeth's spirit used the poppet to attack her, manipulating the situation to further her own agenda against Elizabeth. This illustrates how innocent objects can be corrupted and used to fuel hysteria in Salem, demonstrating the dangerous power of accusations and the manipulation of evidence during the witch trials. The poppet ultimately symbolizes the intertwining of innocence and malevolence, emphasizing how easily truth can be distorted in a climate of fear and paranoia.