Theme Of Manipulation In The Crucible

“’She makes me drink blood”’ says Abigail (Miller 160). The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller. The play takes place during the Salem Witch Trials, where many people were accused of witchcraft. The accused were either jailed or hanged. In the play many characters are blind to the truth and are changing the path of life. In The Crucible the characters who are blind to the truth, do not realize they are being deceived and they end up deceiving others, which is best illustrated by Judge Danforth, Reverend Parris, and Abigail Williams. Judge Danforth is deceived by Reverend Parris, and intern deceives Herrick, Hathorne, Reverend Parris, and himself. Parris says, “’He’s come to overthrow this court, your Honor”’ (Miller 185). John is

Abigail says,”’ No one was naked”’ (Miller 144). While Abigail and her friends where dancing in the woods one of them gets undressed. Reverend Parris sees the dress and knows one of the girls is naked, but he is convinced otherwise. Parris says,”’ He’s come to overthrow this court, your Honor”’ (Miller 185). Reverend Parris is convincing Judge Danforth, that John Proctor is trying to dismantle the court, but John is only there to save the lives of those on trial. Marlow wrote, “Parris is evident in the stage directions where we first see Parris encounter his niece and are directly informed that she is glamorous and a compulsive liar” (1). Marlow is saying how Reverend Parris knows Abigail is a compulsive liar, but he believes her anyway. This causes a problem because Reverend Parris then spreads the lies. When Reverend Parris realizes he is spreading lies, he keeps it to himself to protect him from his enemies. Abbotson wrote, “By fixating so much on sin, the religious extremists, represented by men like Parris and Danforth, become sinful and turned from God” (1). Abbotson is saying how Reverend Parris has turned his back on God and is a sinner. Reverend Parris is brought to believe cruel and deceitful lies by his niece,

Abigail says, “’John- I am waitin’ for you every night”’ (Miller 149). Abigail loves John Proctor, but John no longer returns the feeling of love. Abigail says, “’ No one was naked”’ (Miller 144). Abigail convinces her uncle, Reverend Parris that there was no one naked in the woods. Marlow wrote, “The Crucible tends to reinforce stereotypical notions of female hysteria being manipulated by Abigail, rather than make more profound reference to local political intervention as a driving force in the courtroom episode” (1). Marlow says how Abigail uses hysteria to manipulate the other women of Salem. Abbotson wrote, “But it is the marriage of John and Elizabeth Proctor that lies at the play's center and the love triangle that Miller creates between Abigail and the Proctors” (1). Abbotson says how Abigail is involved in a love triangle with the Proctors; Abigail loves John, John loves Elizabeth, and Elizabeth despises Abigail, but John had some feelings of love for Abigail. Abigail’s felling for John started the event known as the Salem Witch