How Does Abigail Williams Use Power In The Crucible

Can you imagine threatening to kill someone just to keep your reputation clean? In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Abigail Williams wields power more effectively than others by manipulating people to stay on her side and doing anything to keep her reputation clean.Abigail is seen by Reverend Parris dancing in the woods and conjuring spirits with other girls, and she threatened to hurt the girls if any of them said a word that went against her. When she is being questioned by Reverend Hale about sending her spirits on the Minister's daughter, Betty, she uses Tituba as a scapegoat, so she can make herself look better. Shockingly, Abigail threatens the highest man in town, Judge Danforth, without any status, when she feels that her new-found

Abigail Williams effectively displays power by manipulating and threatening others to keep them on her side so she can keep her reputation pure. Before the play started, Abigail and other girls go to the woods at night to dance and conjure spirits. When Parris leaves, Abigail threatens to kill the girls if they ever mention anything against her or what happened in the woods. Abigail threatens to kill the girls by saying, “Let either of you breathe a word… and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine” (Miller 19). This exemplifies that Abigail will do anything to make herself look better, and that she has power over the girls because she knows this threat really alarmed them. Additionally, when Abigail says, “And you know I can do it ”, this shows that she has power and is threatening the girls with death. They know she is serious about the threat because they are now aware that she has seen the murder of her parents. The death of Abigail’s parents really affected her because has such a vivid memory of it happening to people so close to her. Abigail telling the

In Act 3, Abigail is seen to be getting questioned in court by Judge Danforth because he has reason to believe she has something to do with all of the girls becoming sick and conjuring spirits. Abigail then manipulates Danforth into thinking she did nothing wrong and that the least he should do is thank her by saying, “I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil's people– and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, question to like a–”(Miller 100). This suggests that Abigail wants Danforth to pity her. Abigail is shown manipulating Danforth into making him feel bad just so her reputation can seem clean, making her not in the wrong. Shortly after this, Abigail is seen threatening Danforth. After Abigail tries to manipulate Danforth into pitying her, she threatens his power and tells him that he could also be accused of witchcraft, and that she should not be blamed. Abigail justifies that he could also be blamed by stating, “Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it!” (Miller 100). This demonstrates that Abigail, who has no high role in the town, is establishing power since she is threatening the highest man in town