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Authority In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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During ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, a story about the Salem witch trials in early American colonies, people constantly fight over what they believe is right as well as their personal authority. Throughout the story, the thought that people will abuse the sometimes small bit of authority that they have is prominent, one case being how Abigail and how she affects the trials. In many cases this authority also affects the capacity of independent thought throughout the colonies at the time much like the laws set in place that require the population to be Christian. Abigail, the daughter of parris, is a major part of the abuse of authority throughout the play and this is primarily due to the fact that she is the niece of the town reverend, Parris. In order to get what she wants, Abigail ‘...drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s [A town farmer] wife. [She] drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor…’(20) while she was in the company of the other girls of the colonie while also dancing in the woods. Generally this would be considered witchcraft at this time and if Parris knew of this Abby would certainly be hanged for it. So in the presence of all the girls who were in the forest dancing with her, she stated,”... I will come …show more content…

Basically, saying that if anyone snitches of what happened in the woods

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In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the antagonist, Abigail Williams, sparks the 1692 witch trails in Salem, Massachusetts. Early on, Abigail has an affair with John Proctor, a local farmer. At first, Abigail had once worked for Proctor as a house maid, but when Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, discovered that her husband was having an affair with the maid, she fires Abigail. In the middle of seeking revenge on Elizabeth for coming between her and Proctor’s “love”, Abigail also brings the entire village down as well. Miller demonstrates that Abigail William’s flaws- mendacity, lust, and spitefulness- led her to be most responsible for the tragedy of the witch-hunt in Salem.

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John Proctor said, in quote “Abby, you’ll put it out of your mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you more” (Miller 21). John Proctor only came to visit Abigail for one thing, and it wasnt to continue the affair, it was to put a end to Parris and his lies. Parris had one main lie, or vision he was keeping to himself, and that was when he found Abigail, Betty, and other girls dancing in the woods, which he knew about but never brought it up towards anyone. Thus leading to arguments between him and John Proctor in court, which lead John to bring up this incident.

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