Panic In Salem “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!” The Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692 and 1693. At this time in history, the Puritans of Salem, Massachusetts believed that God had chosen an elect group of people to be saved and everyone else was not. They had many rules and disciplinary actions for breaking these rules. Miller wrote the play as an allegory to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists. The Crucible revolves around power, and the sacrifices made to …show more content…
Abigail has been lying to conceal her affair and to prevent charges of witchcraft. One of her biggest lies was in the court on page 108 when she said, “ I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to being murdered every day because I did my duty pointing out the Devil’s people - and this is my reward?” She also tries to make herself look good by confessing that she is a witch then throwing out names of people that have not confessed yet. The quote that backs this statement up on page 48 is, “I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” Abigail is to blame for the hysteria in Salem because she often accuses others. Abigail constantly lies throughout The Crucible to make sure she does not get caught as shown in the following quotation, “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!”As expressed Abigail WIlliams has done the majority of the lying and gossiping while staying in a position of power which has led to chaos in