His great knowledge of witchcraft gives him this skill; he helps gain both power and respect throughout Salem. Power is the thing that motivates him, as we all know that knowledge is power and he is primarily focused on knowledge of witchcraft – granting him knowledge and power and this power disguised as knowledge motivates him throughout. long. Another motivation of Salem's characters is witchcraft. Witchcraft became a major theme of the text, as it became a weapon that could leave innocent people hanging from a noose. Witchcraft had revealed to the reader that Reverend Parris was ashamed of his child and niece, as they were supposedly "possessed" by witchcraft; this could also relate to the theme of reputation. He uses witchcraft to say things he normally wouldn't, such as ensuring that Abigail's laughter during