“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!” A quote from john Proctor in Act II stating how the accusations and hysteria of witchcraft has taken over the town. The accusations set on citizens from the girls have caused an uproar in the society and many citizens were either afraid of the devil or that the people themselves would have accusations set upon them. Suspicions of witchcraft were being used as evidence of whether or not the accused was hanged. The central theme throughout the entire play of The Crucible is that fear and suspicion can destroy a society. Abigail Williams was the main character held responsible for being the …show more content…
“Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam's dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” (Abigail Williams pg. 1223) Abigail Williams also shows her fear of being without John Proctor. Proctor rejects Abigail when she pleads for him to come back to her. In hopes of getting rid of Elizabeth Proctor, John’s Wife, Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft and attempted murder. Abigail’s fear of being alone results in Elizabeth proctor’s arrest. The village as a whole begins to fear being accused by Abigail because if accused they are limited to either staying honest and being hanged or falsely admitting to witchcraft and being released from prison. Mary Warren in Act IV is scared to testify against the group of girls because she believes that abigail will accuse her of working with the devil. Her fear becomes rightfully so, as Abby does accuse her of conspiring with the devil. The fear of death is displayed by the entire town. The accused are limited to either falsely admitting to witchcraft and living or honestly denying their