Abigail Williams The Crucible Essay

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Abigail Williams took one step farther, just to put the whole town into misery. If she chose to make the right decision many lives would be saved and the trials could not have happened. Given Abigail Williams' vengeful and selfish personality as well as all the constant lies and accusations she gave, she should be blamed for the witch trials.
When John’s wife Elizabeth finds out about Abigail's and John's relations she throws Abigail out. Since then John has not gone back for her however, Abigail has not accepted that. She is still looking for him and doing what she can just to receive and get back the “love” from John. When the two finally end up having a moment together John says, “Abby, I may think of

Parris discovered them sportin' in the woods. They were startled and took sick” (Miller 68). Fearful of the consequences for what they have done Abigail and the girls did what they had to so they would not be punished. With the idea of getting in trouble they all chose to lie about being bewitched and start accusing others all throughout the town. When the first thought of witchcraft enters the town Abigail goes on accusing Tituba to Mr. Hale, “She sends her spirit on me in church; she makes me laugh at prayer! … Sometimes I wake and find myself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on my body! I always hear her laughing in my sleep. I hear her singing her Barbados songs and tempting me with-”(Miller 44). Abigail tells this lie just to protect her name and to keep her out of trouble. As the play continues, she chooses to keep lying and accusing many, not just Elizabeth. Abigail lies about the thing she has done with the devil, “I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!”(Miller 48). She chooses to not tell the truth because it gives her the impression it will keep her safe. Eventually, Mary Warren tells the court the truth about all the lying that has been done. Abigail denies Mary and starts accusing her as a witch. She goes on to claim Mary’s spirit was there in bird form trying to attack her. Abigail says, “But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary…. Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do.” (Miller 115). In order for the court to believe that she is innocent she carries on her act and even turns on one of the girls. She chooses to lie and bring others down just to protect herself from the real