Final answer:
In "Tituba, Black Witch of Salem," the group of young Puritan girls holds the power as their accusations of witchcraft lead to the execution of many, indicating that the correct answer is B) The girls.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the historical context depicted in "Tituba, Black Witch of Salem," power dynamics play a crucial role. Tituba, a West Indian servant in the Parris household, befriends a group of young Puritan girls by sharing tales of witchcraft with them. Despite her influence on the girls through these stories, the power ultimately rests with the Puritan girls once the witchcraft scare begins. The girls' accusations lead to the persecution and execution of many individuals, including Tituba's being named as a witch and her coersion to name accomplices. Puritanical belief in witchcraft and the devil equated non-conformity with witchcraft, placing immense power in the hands of those who could wield accusations effectively.
It is clear that in terms of control and influence over the events that unfolded, the girls possessed the most power. Once the Salem witchcraft hysteria began, the girls' testimonies were given significant weight, leading to the conviction and execution of the accused. The social dynamics and the period's beliefs about witchcraft made it so the girls were able to propagate claims of seeing witchcraft, which the community took seriously, resulting in a tragic miscarriage of justice.
Given this, the correct answer to the question of who has power in the text "Tituba, Black Witch of Salem," would be B) The girls.