It becomes apparent in the very first Act that Abigail is not a trustworthy character. She is willing to throw blame at anyone to deflect the suspicion from herself, or even to gain something she wants. I suppose in some ways Abigail could be seen as a tragic character, but her manipulative nature sure makes it difficult to sympathize with her. She is willing to hang an innocent woman in her delusion that this will somehow result in John Proctor realizing his love for her. He has made it clear multiple times he has moved on and wishes to not see her but - of course - Abigail only persists.
Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” is an allegorical play, which symbolizes the 1950’s anti-communist crusade as the Salem witch-hunts of 1692. In both of these instances two devious and corrupt people become powerful leaders whom were able to inflate their own popularity through the use of some opportune scapegoats. Abigail Williams was able to put much fear into the hearts of the townsfolk by means of being accused of witchcraft for merely opposing the witch-hunts. This is a parallel to the situation you would be in if you opposed the communist crusades of Joseph McCarthy (http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/5344.html). There was also a parallel with the manner in which lives were ruined; in both occurrences the accused were looked at as indecent
The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller that takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. At the time there are a series of trials, called the Salem witch trials. The play begins with us finding about a young girl who is unable to move in her bed. The villagers dubiously see witchcraft but they do not know that the night before all the girls left the village sneaked out to the woods where they made a potion, with the help of a black slave, Tituba, to let them have the man they love. It was fine until one girl, Abigail went too far and wished death on the wife of John Proctor.
Through harsh rejection and preposterous delusions, Abigail Williams abused her good name and became the fault for the bitter ends of many for something they were not guilty of. I have reread significant sections of The Crucible several times and have read and analyzed it to the best of my ability on multiple occasions. Once reading this book in my Honors English Course at the number one high school in the state of California, we carefully analyzed the characters, going as far as even making character charts, to understand them and their intentions much better. Abigail WIlliams, who is at fault for the Salem Witch Trials, held verbal power and influence over the girls which led to the sentenced hanging of many, and acted unwisely on the galling
In the words of Richelle E. Goodrich, “Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled.” Arthur Miller recognized this sinful inclination as it commonly circulated during the anti-communist, “Red Scare.” He corresponds this period to the 1692, Salem Witch Trials, another frightening occasion where wicked accusations loomed over civilians. At least 200 people were thought to practice witchcraft and around 20 were executed on account of this. Without a doubt, both incidents prove how quick someone can act upon bitter motives, specifically by spreading unscrupulous lies for the sake of getting even.
In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Miller demonstrated that it was Abigail William’s flaws: lust, vengeance, and jealously that led her to be responsible the most for the tragedy of the witch hunts in Salem. Abigail Williams started the entire suspicion of there being active member of witchcraft throughout Salem, Massachusetts. She did this for her own benefits and used trickery to get what she wanted. Abigail was corrupt and only cared for her own desires. There are many reasons that these flaws are crucial to the outcome of the play.
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Miller introduces the idea, apparent in today’s world, that sometimes people blame others to save themselves from punishment through the characters’ actions and the asides from Miller. The most prominent character that displays this theme is Abigail Williams. Several times Abigail pushes the blame on others when she senses trouble. When Parris finds the girls dancing in the forest, Abigail knows she has to do something to avoid punishment.
The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1952. The play is also an allegory to McCarthyism, which was occurring when the play was written. In the most simplistic way the play was about the Salem Witchcraft Trials. These trials caused a mass hysteria throughout Massachusetts. Abigail Williams plays a main role by manipulating others into killing the innocent because of her accusations of witchcraft.
In The Crucible, there could be many suspects to blame for the innocent deaths that happened in Salem. Proctor could be blamed for the innocent deaths because he lied about his affair with Abigail. Speaking of Abigail... in my opinion Abigail Williams is the one to blame for the innocent deaths because of the lies she told, the accusations she made, and the affair she had with John Proctor. Abigail Williams told many, many lies in The Crucible. The reason the witch trials began in the first place was because of the lie she told about being in the woods.
The Appendix, Does it Belong? “You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!” (Miller 120). Said “whore” stands for the wild chase of witches throughout Salem. In the appendix Arthur Miller makes Abigail Williams, from his play The Crucible, look like she is the good one.
Nicole Schaefer Mr. Becker American Literature October 29, 2014 Two Women for Two Different Worlds In the novel the crucible, Elizabeth, wife of John Proctor, and Abigail Williams, mistress of John Proctor are two main roles. Elizabeth, a woman who is loyal and true, or manipulative and ruthless liar, Abigail. She pretends to see spirits and commands the other girls to pretend as well.
Abigail Williams’ Influence Is it okay for a person to lie and hurt other people just to keep him or herself safe? In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, Abigail Williams lies, a lot, to keep herself safe. Throughout the story, many people are accused of witchcraft. When a person is accused of witchcraft, it is very easy for them to get out of the accusation if they lie. The lies that are told shifts the belief of who knows witchcraft, and Abigail Williams uses those lies to gain influence over other people.
The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller. It takes place during the Salem witch trials. Salem is an isolated town in the Boston area that is set up perfectly for witchcraft accusations. Abigail is being accused of witchcraft and she is a manipulative girl. Abigail has been accused of committing witchcraft in the woods and she plans to bring other people down with her.
The Crucible takes place between 1692 and 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts. The Crucible surrounds the events of the true tale of the Salem Witch Trials & mass hysteria that ensued by a young, punished generation of girls. Abigail Williams is a young Puritan girl who was raised in a very “traditional” way through physical punishment and flagrant sexism. This way of life would cause her to lead the events in the Salem Witch Trials and
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play which contains a multitude of complex characters . In the play, the characters’ motivations and inner processes are explored. Because of the historical setting, the characters live in a society of judgement and extreme religious devotion. This is a factor that places any of the characters’ choices and morals in a public balance to be judged by others. Abigail Williams is the main character of the play and acts with an utter selfishness and obsession.