Abigail's Pursuit Of Power In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Abigail's pursuit of Power in the Crucible

Power is timeless, it has always been a cause of conflicts, a recurring theme in historical, political but also in interpersonal contexts. Often its pursuit affects one's moral integrity and evokes dramatic consequences. Inevitably Arthur Miller embedded it into his play “The Crucible” therefore enabling his work to be of relevance even now, 70 years after its publication. Especially in the character of Abigail the theme of empowerment is perfectly portrayed as she - originally in a rather weak and unfortunate situation - is able to gain control over the entire town of Salem and not only her own life but those of countless others.

Prior to the play, Abigail has an affair with John Proctor, a well-respected man in Salem, who she used to work for. After Proctor ends the affair, Abigail turns to her family’s slave Tituba in hope of learning witchcraft from her. She intends to harm John Proctor’s wife Elizabeth and eventually take her place. Abigail is then caught dancing in the woods with Tituba and her cousin Betty. Due to Salem being a Puritan society, rumors and suspicions start to spread almost immediately. When her uncle, Reverend Parris, asks her to tell him what happened and whether there was witchcraft at play, she initially denies everything and issues Betty and Tituba to do the same; she even beats

Several of the girls she accused then follow her lead by accusing more and more other people. Instead of bring considered a threat, these girls are regarded as allies to the court and to the theocratic justice system, due to it relying largely on spectral evidence that the girls provide. As hysteria grows, so does their power over the hysteric population of Salem. Everything they say is considered true, and every person accused is considered