Examples Of Ambition In The Crucible

Throughout human history, the failures that humans have made have been the reason for many catastrophic events. The Salem Witch Trials, beginning in the spring of 1692, are a perfect example of this. Over the course of the following year, over 200 people were accused and at least twenty were executed for their alleged crimes. Arthur Miller, an American playwrite, used this tragedy as inspiration for the play, The Crucible. Written in 1953 and taking place between the years of 1692-63, the play follows the settlers of a Massachussettes colony. The play focuses on a group of young girls, specifically Abigail Williams, who let their emotions get in the way of reason and cause the death of the townspeople. In The Crucible, human failings, such

Abigail is convinced that John Proctor is in love with her and is desperate for him to show her that. She is greedy for his love and affection which is why she uses every opportunity to try and get him to admit to his love by flirting with him, such as when she says “Give me a word John. A soft word” (22). Abigail is also desperate for power within the community. She gains her power by manipulating the other girls into following her and pushing her sins onto other people, such as when she taunted Mary Warren in the courthouse to save her own skin by saying “Envy is a deadly sin, Mary” (115). The negative ambition she has to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft also ties into her getting power. Both Elizabeth and John know about Abigail framing Elizabeth, “Question Abigail Williams about the Gospel, not myself” (70)., but her false persona of an innocent young girl is what ultimately allows her to get away with her

The jealousy and greed Abigail has for John Proctor is what inspires her hate for his wife, Elizabeth, and what causes the death of many of the women in Salem due to the accusations of witchcraft. The fear the young girls have of being punished for simple things, such as dancing and small lies, to begin with, is what ulitmately creates a bigger mess and allows them to be manipulated by Abigail. Abigail’s own fear is what causes her to continue creating lies to save her own life. These human emotions were easily avoidable, but the intense devotion to God is what instilled the fear of sinning in the townspeople’s minds, which led to the death of many innocent