Through harsh rejection and preposterous delusions, Abigail Williams abused her good name and became the fault for the bitter ends of many for something they were not guilty of. I have reread significant sections of The Crucible several times and have read and analyzed it to the best of my ability on multiple occasions. Once reading this book in my Honors English Course at the number one high school in the state of California, we carefully analyzed the characters, going as far as even making character charts, to understand them and their intentions much better. Abigail WIlliams, who is at fault for the Salem Witch Trials, held verbal power and influence over the girls which led to the sentenced hanging of many, and acted unwisely on the galling …show more content…
Instead, she had abused that power and rather did the opposite; somewhat encouraging them to join her. All Abigail had to do was claim that “a cold wind has come” for the other girls to echo that they “freeze”[d] (Miller 3). Only through her actions and words did Abigail manage to sweep up the other girls in the courtroom to join in on her accusing Mary Warren of sending a spirit onto them. It is obvious Mary had not done such a thing, but to get out of a tough situation for herself, Abigail had acted as if she had, making the other girls follow her lead into the mass hysteria, merely making the situation worse for Mary and Mr. Proctor. The act of doing so represents the impression that her actions had on the other girls and how it affected other …show more content…
Elizabeth Proctor was cold for a few periods of time in her relationship with John Proctor. It is logical that one would assume that she is at fault because of this one action, leading her husband to feel detached from her. That feeling of detachment could have lead him to find comfort in Abigail and her temptations. It is only fair to take into account that Elizabeth was pregnant at the time (stated later in the book), which could have very well affected her mood towards her husband. It is also fair to acknowledge the fact that Abigail could always know better no matter her age. Abigail had the power to suppress her attraction towards John Proctor and prevent herself from trying to seduce him at his weakest point. John Proctor could have very well had the control to refuse Abigail’s seduction, but then again, she had proposed herself when his relationship with his wife was at a weak stage due to her lack of affection for him. When targeted at a vulnerable point, it is comprehensible that someone, just like John Proctor did, could give into an excessive amount of temptation. Abigail wanted him to give into that temptation for her own
Second, Abigail not only accused people herself, but she was able to convince other girls to accuse as well. For example, in Act 1, at the end of the scene, girls began to shout out names of people that they supposedly witness commit witchcraft. Translated, Abigail was so power
She didn’t think anything through nor did she know exactly what she was getting into. Abigail was desperate for love and as everyone knows, love can make you do crazy things. “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart!” From start to finish, it was all miss Abigail Williams. She created this mass hysteria that blanketed Salem like low hanging
The witch trials that took place around the 15 and 1600’s ruined many lives and crippled many towns. One of the most notable towns that this witch hysteria broke out was in the town of Salem. Salem was a normal puritan town during that time period in the new America with religion being the core of the town. Most of the people had good relations with others in the town before the witch trials, were people would accuse one of perfoming demonic arts in attempt to steal one's wife, land, or goods. Of the characters in The Crucible Abigail Williams who was the niece the town's reverend is the main reason that the mass witch hysteria broke out in Salem.
The Destruction of Abigail Williams Humans and government has always played a complex and contrast. A person’s emotions affect their actions when it comes to any situation and the internal battle of whether or not a person should lie in court to protect their feelings is brutal. It is never clear if a person is telling the truth or only looking to protect their feelings. This sort of problem arises in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts where the witch trials begin to broil after Abigail Williams and her friends are caught dancing in the woods and suspected of using witchcraft. In the midst of the Salem Witch Trials in The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, Abigail cannot find satisfaction with Salem because the people are hypocritical and she cannot
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, in 1692 witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts the main character in the play, Abigail Williams is to blame for. Throughout the play Arthur Miller had many things to state about injustice. One of the many things was how Tituba had been blamed for witchcraft because she was a slave as well as the race that she was. Arthur Miller also showed the trait, injustice, through Abigail Williams: everyone else was wrong and she always had to be right. In addition, John Proctor was married to Elizabeth Proctor and he had an affair with Abigail and throughout the play her jealousy was revolved.
Whether a citizen wills to gain power or keep their power, accusing citizens of witch craft seemed to be the way to achieve power. Ultimate power and the ability to send anyone to their death becomes the same thing in Salem. Constantly the people in Salem struggle for power. Mr. Danforth, the judge in Salem has the characteristic of being power hungry, He maintains his power by sending people to death row. The Salem Witch trials are the response to power hungry individuals.
***The Crucible is a play that explores the Salem witch trials and how the effect of suspicion and fear can play a toll on the members of their community. The story takes place at Salem Massachusetts Bay Colony during the sixteenth century. In view of this, the time period was taken advantage by the Puritan faith, which meant that the population consisted of spirited individuals who followed the faith strongly. Enclosed in this time period is young Abigail William who, also a puritan, constructed the main events of the play. Based on textual evidence throughout The Crucible, Abigail is seen as the main antagonist and stays with that position till the end.
“People at war with themselves will always have collateral damage in the lives of those around them.” In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, Abigail Williams is a selfish 17 year old who wants everyone around her to be as miserable as her because she cannot get what she desires most in this world, John Proctor. With this being said Abigail is the person who is most responsible for the Salem Witch Trials. Despite the fact that she is the trigger to the mass agitation which happens in the novel, she is not the only one at fault. The role of John Proctor and Judge Danforth are also to blame.
Afterwards, she was willing to destroy anyone in the way of her getting to be with him. Proctor definitely wishes he had never laid with Abigail, and everyone else was paying for his mistake, as she ruined everyone’s lives, “I have known her, sir. I have known her.” (Act III, 378). A single lie snowballed, leaving death and terror in its wake, all because Abigail could not, and likely did not want to control herself.
In The Crucible, there could be many suspects to blame for the innocent deaths that happened in Salem. Proctor could be blamed for the innocent deaths because he lied about his affair with Abigail. Speaking of Abigail... in my opinion Abigail Williams is the one to blame for the innocent deaths because of the lies she told, the accusations she made, and the affair she had with John Proctor. Abigail Williams told many, many lies in The Crucible. The reason the witch trials began in the first place was because of the lie she told about being in the woods.
In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Miller demonstrated that it was Abigail William’s flaws: lust, vengeance, and jealously that led her to be responsible the most for the tragedy of the witch hunts in Salem. Abigail Williams started the entire suspicion of there being active member of witchcraft throughout Salem, Massachusetts. She did this for her own benefits and used trickery to get what she wanted. Abigail was corrupt and only cared for her own desires. There are many reasons that these flaws are crucial to the outcome of the play.
I think Abigail is to blame for the hysteria at the end of Act 1, because she accuses other people, lies, and tries to get what she wants. First, when Abigail says, “If they be questioning us tell them we danced- I told him as much already.”(18). Abigail is telling the other girls to lie to Reverend Parris about what happened in the woods that night he saw them. Fear is used to scare the girls into lying even though what they did was wrong, Abigail doesn’t want to lose the power of controlling and “witchcraft”. Secondly, Abigail is speaking to John Proctor saying, “Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-.”(24).
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a dramatic play that expresses a very important message and that is how far people would go to save themselves from the hands of death. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. Throughout the play, Miller is introducing multiple characters that experience changes in their decisions and negatively influence more people eventually leading up to the witch trials. The main point that the story revolves around is that people would rather lie and blame someone else instead of confessing and accepting the punishment.
Proctor had given her love and attention, something that Abigail had craved for so long. When they were together, she finally felt wanted or needed. However as soon as Elizabeth had found out, it was all taken from her. The only person who cared for her as a person had left her. She couldn’t stand it and needed him back, even going so far as witchcraft to get her way.
Abigail 's heartless attitude is shown in act two when she frames and accuses Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft. She desired and longed for this revenge on poor Proctors innocent wife, aiming for her through out the play. Later on in Act Three she seems to lose her last attachment of society by destroying John Proctor, who she claims to love with all her heart. When John attempts and threatens to expose Abigail’s wrong doings, she skillfully manages to turn the whole problem around on him, sending him off