What motivates Thomas Putnam's accusations during the witch trials?

Thomas Putnam's accusations during the witch trials are primarily motivated by his greed for land. Throughout the play, it becomes evident that Putnam sees the trials as an opportunity to eliminate his neighbors and acquire their properties. His social and financial ambitions drive him to encourage unfounded accusations against those he feels are obstacles to his wealth. By leveraging the hysteria surrounding witchcraft, he manipulates the situation to his advantage, ensuring that the land of those condemned to death could be purchased or claimed at a lower cost.

Understanding Putnam's motivations highlights the themes of self-interest and the corruption of human morality within the context of the Salem witch trials. This perspective emphasizes how personal grievances and desires for material gain can lead individuals to engage in harmful behaviors that resonate with the larger societal hysteria.