How Does Abigail Williams Use Deception In The Crucible

Abigail Williams is the prominent antagonist of Arthur Lee Miller’s The Crucible. Abigail Williams, also known as Abby, deceives others, especially throughout the action of the trial. Her rationale for deception centers around her desires. Her dishonesty hurts many innocent characters throughout the conflict. Abigail is a deceitful person who truly only cares for her gain. Abigail has several motives for her actions, which evolve and become more iniquitous as the plot evolves. Abigail’s motives include protecting herself during the trial, ensuring the destruction of Elizabeth’s relationship with John Proctor, and stopping anyone who tries to get in her way. Her deception contributes to several themes throughout the play, including the destructive

The first instance in which Abby uses deception is to protect herself from being accused of witchcraft. Reverend Parris, Abby’s uncle, is questioning Abby about the activity he witnessed them participate in the previous night. The night before, many young girls from the village met in the woods with Tituba to cast spells on boys they wished to be romantically involved with. At the ritual, Abby drinks the blood of a chicken to cast a harmful spell on Elizabeth Proctor. She greatly desires the demise of Elizabeth so that she may possess John Proctor’s heart. Reverend Parris discovered the girls dancing around a boiling cauldron while Tituba chanted. Parris is led to believe that the girls were participating in witchcraft. Parris calls Reverend Hale of Beverly to investigate and declare if the girls have been entranced by witchcraft. When Hale

John Proctor was told by Abigail that they never got involved in witchcraft and that everything they have been doing is all for show. John sends Mary Warren to give a deposition. When Mary tells the court that Abby has been lying along with the other girls in Salem, Abby thinks quickly about how to protect herself. Abby proclaims that a giant yellow bird has appeared on the rafters of the church and is threatening harm to her and the girls. Danforth chooses to believe Abby and the girls. Abby’s motive for convicting her friend, Mary Warren, is to protect herself. She does not care about Mary Warren’s fate; she just wants Danforth to believe her so that her innocence is