Final answer:
Abigail is the niece of Reverend Parris in 'The Crucible' and lives with him because her parents were killed, leading her to be under his care. The Salem witch trials context highlights the impact of Puritan beliefs and the devil's role in societal issues at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between Abigail and Reverend Parris in the context of 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller is that Abigail is Reverend Parris's niece. She lives with him because her parents were killed by Native Americans, and as her uncle, Reverend Parris took her into his household to care for her. The tumultuous events in Salem, including the witch trials, draw stark attention to the dynamics of this relationship and how it influences the storyline.
In 1692, when the witch trials began in Salem, the fear and paranoia were greatly influenced by the Puritan belief system that held the devil responsible for all societal misdeeds. People like Reverend Parris’s daughter and niece exhibited fits and were thought to be bewitched - an accusation that would lead to the notorious witch hunt that swept through the village.