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Anne Bradstreet Character Analysis

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Society plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s character. Human beings have learned to communicate and understand through the context of their languages, traditions, behaviors, beliefs, and values. Their cultural experiences and values have shaped the way they see themselves and what they come to cherish. When individuals are part of a cultural group, they learn the ways of that culture, enabling them to feel like as though they belong to the community. This concept is illustrated in works by authors such as Arthur Miller, Anne Bradstreet, and Mark Twain. Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, Bradstreet’s “Verses Upon the Burning of our House,” and Miller’s The Crucible demonstrate both the positive and negative effects society and external …show more content…

Raised by monotonous Puritans in Salem, Massachusetts, young Abigail Williams - a troublesome teenager infatuated with ex-lover (and married farmer) John Proctor - saw witchcraft as not only an exhilarating and enthralling practice, but as an opportunity to dispose of John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth. Misguided by the cultural principles of the Puritan community, Abigail lashes out and has an adulterous affair with John Proctor. Thus, Abigail’s Puritan and cultural affiliations led her to act hastily, as she was not only entranced by her romanticized affair with John Proctor but misguided by the practices of her Puritan community. As shown in the first act of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, John Proctor’s destructive behavior and inherently manipulative conduct mislead Abigail into believing that her affair with Proctor was one of respect and mutual devotion. For Proctor, however, their relationship belonged in the past—while he may have been attracted to her, he desperately tried to put the incident behind him (Miller 22). Abigail, in contrast, had no such sense of closure. Furthermore, in Abigail and Proctor 's first exchange, Abigail declared, “I look for John Proctor that … put knowledge in my heart” (Miller 24). This desperate confession suggests that Abigail was blind to the harsh realities of

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Ariel Medina C.L.I.M Mr.Zeko English 3 Period 4 6 December 2016 The Crucible “The Crucible” is based in real records taken during the Salem Witch Trials back during the late 17th century. Many people were unjustly hurt, imprisoned, and even killed during these times which show their rough moral structure. In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, Judge Danforth and Abigail Williams can be seen as the two characters most responsible for the death of fellow townsmen, John Proctor. Abigail could be seen as the cause of death of John Proctor because of her compulsive lying and her way of manipulating

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537 Words | 3 Pages

The Evolution of Elizabeth Proctor Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is a compelling look at the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Elizabeth Proctor began as doubtful of her husband, John Proctor, but ends up having faith in him in the end. She still believed her husband was still in love with Abigail but Proctor soon proved his love for Elizabeth throughout the play. Elizabeth evolves from a woman who doubts her husband, but then evolves into a woman who risks her life to save her husband. Elizabeth continues to question her husband's faith causing an argument between the two.

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73 Words | 1 Pages

John Proctor, a well-respected farmer, has to make many difficult decisions that affect himself, his family, and the community of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. The tragedy of Salem trials begins with John Proctor. He is a middle aged man, a farmer, a husband, and a father who also committed a truculent sin. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible demonstrates the effects of hidden sin on John Proctor's character, on his family, and on his community.

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Abigail is consumed by the idea that John Proctor loves her. She considers that John’s kind actions towards her are more than just lust. Her acknowledgement that it would be a sin for him to love another woman besides his wife reveals that she believes that John Proctor has such deep feelings for her, which are undeniable no matter how wrong it may be. Though Abigail appears to be caught up in her idea of their forbidden love, her romanticized obsession is not enough to prove that her actions are completely motivated by her obsession of

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512 Words | 3 Pages

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the setting is Salem, Massachusetts during the late 1600s where the town’s pious Puritan beliefs directly influence their government. A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctor’s wife Elizabeth. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. In this play, the author illustrates the central idea that people should not allow jealousy to control their actions.

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700 Words | 3 Pages

Abigail says, “Your wife?” Proctor says, “Surely you knew of it.” This is saying that she still has feelings for him. She says she will be a great wife to him, and that they will get married, but you can tell he doesn’t want her. Abigail just says she will treat Mr. Proctor better than Elizabeth treats him.

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875 Words | 4 Pages

During the late 17th century a total of 200 people were accused of participating in witchcraft, while 19 people lost their lives to the mass hysteria. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a group of girls start a huge uproar in Salem, Massachusetts when they start screeching about Salemites being associated with the Devil. Throughout the play write, it shows the consequences of mass hysteria and how it puts people's lives in danger. Abigail Williams causes a wave of mass hysteria and because of her trickery, innocent people have died by her and the other girl’s actions, for this Abigail is the most unforgivable character in The Crucible.

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In 1692, the Puritan village of Salem is against the practice of witchcraft and their opinions are divided amidst the majority who believe the accusations are true and the minority who think the accusations are not provable. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible shows how two of the characters, Reverend Hale and Abigail Williams, reflect these groups. Reverend Hale had previously belonged to the majority until he began to understand how the system of the theocracy is corrupt and now takes the side of the minority; Abigail Williams went a different direction because when denying the accusations that were made, she began to make them towards others for her own benefit. Reverend Hale and Abigail change their ways throughout the play based on how

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551 Words | 3 Pages

The Crucible “The Crucible” is a play, by Arthur Miller, about the Salem Witch Trials. After reading “The Crucible”, you will be asking yourself, is it necessary for a person to suffer? The answer to the question is shown through the characters, Giles Corey, John and Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail Williams. John Proctor is a respected puritan man in the community. John had made the mistake of sleeping with, a teenage girl, Abigail Williams.

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570 Words | 3 Pages

Cruelty is a recurrent theme in literature that often acts as a critical factor in a novel’s development. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the occurrence of cruelty is seen to be gradually increasing as the story goes on from accusations of witchcraft that lead into chaos and death. Through Miller’s depiction of the merciless accusations and murders of innocent people, cruelty reveals a high extent of people’s animosity and vengeance that is greatly influenced by the attitude of the surrounding atmosphere. The accusations first began when the girls who were caught “dancing” in the forest were under pressure to confess what they were truly doing.

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825 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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780 Words | 4 Pages

Corruption and manipulation are common trends in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. When crisis surfaced in the town of Salem, citizens leaped at the opportunity of salvation. The corruption and manipulation became prominent once this issue arose. When Abigail Williams is accused of witchcraft, she yells, “I want

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799 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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1789 Words | 8 Pages

She also does this to deceive Proctor into having emotions for her. Abigail believes that Proctor still loves her even though they have not seen one another in eight months. Even though Proctor smiles at Abigail’s actions, he is infuriated when she ask him to be with her again. Proctor has told her that their affair is over and is frustrated at Abigail every time she attempts to continue their partnership. Abigail cannot handle herself when Proctor says that they cannot have a

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751 Words | 4 Pages

Arthur Miller’s portrayal of a town in the midst of a downfall “The Crucible”, tells the story of how mob mentality and hysteria can significantly influence not only individuals but the whole town. This mob mentality leads to unthoughtful acts and false accusations. Two characters who demonstrate how mob mentality can lead to the demise of Salem are Abigail and Mary Warren. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. While Mary Warren gets pressured by Proctor to reveal the truth about Abigail, but the overwhelming pressure from the mob makes her turn from the truth.

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