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The Salem Witch Trials In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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In the tragic historical play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller portrays a more intensified version of the Salem witch trials in the 1600s. In the beginning of the play, Betty Parris pretends to be under the influence of Satan, which by the temptation of Abigail Williams, the niece of Samuel Parris, the other children accuse innocent lives. One such life is John Proctor, a farmer who pleads to save his wife's life using the evidence that the girls are lying. In all this trauma, many citizens have an internal conflict, which destroys their reputation. Miller develops this idea by how Parris seeks his family to be righteous, how Abigail wants to have the feeling of love and trustworthiness, and how Proctor prohibits the viewing of himself as a saint during his hanging. Explaining the conspiracy in the town, the bewitchment of Betty makes Parris’s respect disparaging. Knowing about people wanting to remove him from the church, Parris commands Abigail to explain what the girls were doing in the woods. Parris’s protection of his reputation is on full display during his fervent accusation, “Now tell me true, Abigail. And pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life” (Miller 11). Struggling to find answers from Parris, the citizen’s demeanor raised extremely …show more content…

Bombarding by Parris’s allegations, Abigail refutes the rumor about her and Procter, “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!” (Miller 12). Seeking to gain Procter’s love, Abigail ensues the idea of witchery and accuses many candid people, such as Goody Procter. However, Proctor reproves such lying proclamations, which strengthens his courage to refuse Abigail’s love. Hence, Abigail pursues her purpose to perceive herself as a innocent child harmed by

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In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the antagonist, Abigail Williams, sparks the 1692 witch trails in Salem, Massachusetts. Early on, Abigail has an affair with John Proctor, a local farmer. At first, Abigail had once worked for Proctor as a house maid, but when Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, discovered that her husband was having an affair with the maid, she fires Abigail. In the middle of seeking revenge on Elizabeth for coming between her and Proctor’s “love”, Abigail also brings the entire village down as well. Miller demonstrates that Abigail William’s flaws- mendacity, lust, and spitefulness- led her to be most responsible for the tragedy of the witch-hunt in Salem.

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Reverend Parris is a tentative and hypocritical minister who focuses more on his social rank rather than the well-being of others. Parris stumbled upon a number of Salem girls, including his daughter and niece, dancing in the forest like freethinkers gone wild. Parris told Abigail that “his ministry is at stake” (Lines 112-119). He found his daughter and niece dancing and “conjuring spirits” in the woods, and the thing on his mind is the reputation of his ministry. Also, he says that Abigail is “blackening his name” when she talks about his reputation around Salem.

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Miller introduces Parris as the town's Reverend who is not well liked by everyone, but still wants to keep his reputation spotless. Parris says to Abigail, “ I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people

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