Abigail is a manipulative liar. Famous author Arthur Miller points out in The Crucible that hysteria broke out over the perceived threat of witchcraft, which served as an analogy for the communists during the Red Scare. During the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, many Americans believed a war would break out and thus caused hysteria among society. Miller writes a play about a couple who has an affair in a religious small town. Abigail, the cleaning lady for the Proctor family, commits adultery with Mr. John Proctor is soon caught by Mrs. Elizabeth Proctor. The original text and movie adaptations produce an evil Abigail that uses witchcraft to rid herself of the wife. In The Crucible, Abigail could have reduced the hysteria in Salem had she confessed about the affair, the use of sorcery, and not used manipulation. …show more content…
Within the exposition, Betty falls ill after she danced in the woods with Abigail along with the girls. Abigail is quick to threaten the girls to lie, she truly defends her actions and says, “But we never conjured spirits” (Miller 1.47). That is when all girls begin following her lead. That led her to start blaming everyone in Salem as well as stating that Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar. At first Abigail believes and states, “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled!” (Miller 1.69). This leads to Parris wanting to put everyone in court to confess to witchcraft. Abigail's biggest goal was to get rid of Elizabeth and to stay with Proctor. Abigail's plan did not go as she expected as Elizabeth already knew about the affair and Proctor confessed. Elizabeth tells Proctor, “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you, but a good man.” (Act 2.57) Abigail finds this out in