Self-preservation is “the protection of oneself from harm or death,” and is usually driven by a state of fear or pain. It’s not meant to be selfish or inconsiderate but more of a safety mechanism programmed into an organism's brain to ensure lasting survival. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller in 1953, expresses how out of fear of being condemned one will attempt to preserve themselves at the expense of others. Abigail Williams is one of the biggest conflicts in the play. We learn that she danced and brewed poison with Tituba and had a relationship with John Proctor, a married man. When Reverend Parris discovered the girls in the forest he confronted Abigail and accused her of witchcraft, and Abigail was put into a tough situation. She …show more content…
Whether Mary was in the forest that night is unclear but it’s noted that she did know about Abigail’s plan. Mary didn't want to be involved, but because she knew the truth she was forced into Abigail’s lies. Mary could’ve come clean about what really happened and she wouldn’t face punishment, but she’d face the wrath of Abigail for the night that Abigail was accused she addressed the girls with, “we danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnamns dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it,” (Miller AI, 20). To save herself Mary pretended, despite many innocents dying from her decision. Another example occurs only in the movies when she tells the judges that the girls are lying about witchcraft. While alone, Abigail and the girls approach Mary threateningly, trying to hurt her for ratting them out. Though, when confronted, the girls pretend to be attacked by Mary’s spirit, and when accused of witchcraft by Judge Danforth Mary immediately resorts to lying and blames John for tempting her into witchery. Mary was being attacked by both the girls and the judges and no one believed her when she told the truth, so Mary pushed the blame to John Proctor. Mary Warren did it for her safety, …show more content…
Upon discovering that rumours of witchcraft within his household has spread throughout Salem, Parris freaks out. He reminds Abigail that “there is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit,” and if his enemies hear of the rumours “they will ruin me with it…[and they] will [spread the news of witchcraft] out,” (Miller AI, 10). Parris is less concerned with his daughter’s condition and the witchcraft than how his enemies may ruin him if they hear of these accusations. However, his mindset changes when the girls become popular for exposing Salem’s witches, and Parris supports the girls’ efforts despite believing their claims or not. Because his daughter is “saving Salem from the Devil’s work,” he no longer fears for his downfall and believes that he has rebuilt his good reputation. Although McCarthy and Parris didn’t mirror the other’s actions, they did share a common goal of preserving their reputations through exploiting others’
Parris does not actually accuse the girls of witchcraft, but he interrogates them with a strong suspicion that they might be involved in such behavior. He cares so much about finding out what they did in the woods because his reputation is on the line. If his daughter and niece were practicing witchcraft, he’ll lose his job as minister. When he questions Abigail, he demands the truth because “[his] ministry’s at stake” and she “compromises [his] very character”(11). As much as he doesn’t want the rumors to be true of his daughter, he withholds judgement and doesn’t actually accuse anyone.
Parris gets Reverend Hale, who is an expert on witchcraft, Parris questions Abigail Williams, the girls leader, about the events that took place in the forest. Abigail, who is Parris’s niece and ward, admits to doing nothing beyond “dancing.” Abigail doesn't want anyone to know
Self preservation is one of mankind's base instincts and is ever present in everyone. This animalistic instinct can cause a person to do things seen as morally wrong by others or some will go to the most extreme lengths to keep themselves alive. Within the story The Crucible by Arthur Miller onse such character displays a very evident sense of self preservation and that character is none other than Mary Warren. Within the story Mary Warren is very guilty of raising hysteria amongst the town because of her actions due to self preservation.
As the niece of Samuel Parris, an authoritative reverend in Salem, Abigail’s name is already tied with an influential and powerful family. When girls throughout Salem are found in unusual circumstances the town turns to witchcraft. Coincidentally the first unusual sighting included Parris’ own daughter and niece, Abigail. Abigail took advantage of this opportunity and manipulated many innocent people. It is important to acknowledge Abigail's history in the town and any motives she may have had.
That backfired when her uncle ,Reverend Parris, showed up and caught the. Betty, Abby’s cousin, “fainted” and would not wake, to avoid getting in trouble for dancing and Abigail accuses Tituba of witchcraft so no one would find out that she was trying to get rid of Goody Proctor. That’s not the only reason why abigail is guilty for the witch
In the beginning of the book is shown that Parris is very concerned with his standing and status in the community of Salem, and being the one to find his own Niece and daughter dancing in the woods fears it could be used against him. “What shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing in the woods like heathen in the forest.” Later telling Abigail that “There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from the pulpit.”
John deals with Abigail and a dozen or so other tormented girls, as does the whole town. They cry witchery at everyone who has wronged them or defies them in any way, causing hangings of supposed “witches” that were innocent to anyone with common sense. These girls are widely believed by all, henceforth why Proctor proposes that the children are terrorizing the town; “Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now?... Vengeance is walking Salem...
But the mainly because everyone thinks she is a witch. Due to the women in the court room continuously repeating it with details to support, making everybody believe Mary warren is a witch. Mary was the one caught in the dancing in the forest and being accused of witch craft. When Mary was in court she admitted she was witch craft but, also made everyone to think it was an act. In act 2 page 80 Mary Warren is pressured by Proctor to go to court and confess that Abigail is guilty.
Abigail, a teenage girl, is caught doing witchcraft in the forest. During this time period, the people of Salem are Puritans and believe she should be hung for her actions. Because she is considered a child, they let her argue her side of the story. She accuses other people of doing witchcraft and even deems herself innocent.
She is accused of witchcraft, and naturally Abigail tries to take the blame off of herself. But she goes a bit too far. Abigail starts accusing everyone, but one person she is particularly interested in is Elizabeth Proctor. Since Abigail and John Proctor
(Miller 18). Mary was afraid of Abigail Williams and didn’t tell the truth fearing that Abigail would hurt her. While, she developed as a character and made better choices for herself. Acts 3 and 4 she attempted to help John try to accuse Abigail Williams of lying about witchcraft in the court. “I-I promise you, Mr.Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not’.
Abigail forces the girls of Salem to dance in the woods with her to help conjure spirits and make the charm to kill Goody Proctor. Abigail threatens the girls right after Betty took fright by saying, “let either of you breathe a word or the edge of a word about the other things and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” (Miller, 144). Later on as the trials prolong Mary Warren turns on Abby and is telling the court that she lied. When Abigail then accuses Mary of witchcraft she turns back to Abby and obeys her once again.
The Crucible: Self Preservation is Motivation By definition self preservation is the “..set of behaviors by means of which individuals attempt to preserve their own existence and the psychical processes that establish these behaviors..”. For The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, self preservation has been shown to have affected multiple characters, including John Proctor, Samuel Parris, and Abigail. In The Crucible, self preservation is also the greatest motivation . John Proctor is one of the characters being affected by this trend of self preservation being motivation for the characters of The Crucible.
Reverend Parris is upset and questions Abigail repeatedly what they were doing in the woods. Abigail denies that she was practicing witchcraft and that everyone was just dancing, “Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it-and I’ll be whipped if I must be. But they’re speaking of witchcraft. Betty’s not bewitched” (Miller,1262). Abigail tries to hide everything that they did by threatening the girls by saying,”Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller 1264).
Abigail, Mary, and the other girls pretended to see evil spirits and falsely accused others. Mary started to believe that what they were doing was wrong because they were causing innocent people to die. Mary decided to tell the truth in court to try and save Elizabeth. When she told the truth, Abigail told everyone that Mary was lying and scared Mary into the lie again. When Mary is asked about how she performed the acts, she replies, “I-I cannot tell how, but I did.