Abigail's 'Irony In The Crucible'

Parris says he saw Abigail and Betty dancing like “heathens” in the woods. Tituba was swaying over the fire speaking unintelligibly words, while an unidentified girl was dancing around in the woods naked.

Parris confronts Abigail about the situation and Abigail denies that she and the other girls were performing witchcraft in the woods. He thinks that the girls have conjured spells.

The accusations started when Reverend Parris caught the girls dancing in the woods. Betty pretended to be sick and blame it on the witches. Abigail and the girls accused many people to be witches.

The people that were accused were, Tituba, three local beggar women, Giles Corey, and his wife, Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor, and his wife, Elizabeth.

While Cheever

Mary Warren tried to tell them she had put the needle in there after she was finished making it but they proceeded to take Elizabeth into custody.

John was accused of witchcraft which means he is automatically guilty, it is not like present day, “innocent until proven guilty”. This means he might have to confess to save his own life. John was clearly irritated by Abigail’s acts in the courthouse he actually confesses his sin of adultery with Abigail. Of course Abigail is on her knees trying to deny everything John is saying.

The court is shocked, the judge demands to have Elizabeth in court to either back up John’s statement or lie. As Elizabeth enters, judges make John face away from her so they cannot speak. The judge then asks Elizabeth if John had committed such an act, she lies and said he had not, thinking John wouldn’t have confessed.

John didn’t have a problem verbally saying he is a witch but when Judge Danforth says he is nailing it to the church door things get a little different. He is okay with verbally telling God he is a sinner, however he is not willing to shame his boys, his wife, and his friends. His reputation is more important in his eyes with his close ones and the people of the