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The play The Crucible by Arthur Miller shows the dire and unnerving events that took place in Salem, Massachusetts during seventeenth century. The actions partaken by the Character Abigail Williams which she choose to do was responsible for the mass hysteria in Salem. Abigail demonstrates several reasonable actions such as lying and giving false accusations that give significant evidence that she is the most responsible for the hysteria of Salem. Abigail Williams was left orphaned, and was brought up by her Uncle Parris who was the Reverend of the Parish. Abigails troubled home life also lead way to causing trouble in another family's home, the Proctors. When Abigail falls in love with John Proctor (a married man) she is kicked out by
In The Crucible, Arthur Miller shows that the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials stems from human failings, particularly the need for vengeance, greed, and fear. Abigail Williams is an example of all three. Her fear prompts her to first accuse random women, her need for vengeance directs her toward Elizabeth, and her greed for power affects the lives of everyone around her. Individual flaws, when acted on collectively, inevitably cause the downfall of Salem.
The statement,“The Crucible is essentially about courage, weakness, and truth,” is proven true numerous times, throughout the play. The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller, about the true events that happened in Salem, Massachusetts, between the years 1692 and 1693. The Salem witch trials consisted of many hangings, lies, and complete mass hysteria. The citizens of Salem followed the religion of Puritanism, and the ideas of predestination. The root of the mass hysteria comes from their belief in the sense that in something happens then it must have been planned by God. In Miller’s portrayal of the story, Abigail Williams was the ringleader of the witch trials, and she used the idea of predestination to cover up her own sins. Abigail was a very manipulative girl and ruined many lives. John Proctor, Mary Warren, and Elizabeth Proctor were just a few of the victims in Abby’s game. John, Mary, and Elizabeth exhibit the traits courage, weakness, and truth, whether it was in a positive or negative way.
A motivation can be described as a character having a reason to behave or act in a particular way. Someone or something can be someone's motivation. A child obeys its parents to avoid punishment or a clerk works overtime so that he can afford a better car are examples of motivation. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, characters illustrate several types of motivations. Throughout the play, Abigail is motivated by jealousy, power, and attention.
Abigail Williams the main character in The Crucible by Arthur Miller draws the interest of the reader as she is a wicked, confident girl who lies to get what she wants and defends her name and her life.
What is Abigail Williams' function and purpose in the plot of the play? Abigail Williams is like a ringleader among the girls, she is also there to spread hysteria and huge hype among the villagers. Abigail seems to be
First it started off as a want for boys in salem until one of the girls from Salem tried to turn it into something else by wishing bad things upon a man named Proctor. She wished death upon Proctor’s wife whose name is Elizabeth because she was obsessed with him. After the girls left the woods Abigail williams after being caught Abigail tried to convince the rest of the girls that they were only in the woods dancing as seen on page 148 in lines 353 to 360 which explained that Abigail told the others if anyone ask they were only dancing. So who's to blame? Abigail williams because the lies started with her and because she threatened all the other girls to lie also.
In The Crucible through the moral dilemmas Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, and John Proctor face Arthur Miller conveys that it is more moral to choose one’s integrity over reputation.
“ For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night” (Shakespeare). Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, a town full of outrage and mischief and a belief of such sin to conjuring spirits is the setting for Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. Abigail Williams is 17 years of age, and the niece of the town’s minister. A very lonely and conniving girl participates in an ungodly act. Raising the town’s suspicion and severe consequences, Abigail finds her life in danger. Abigail is strongly motivated by protecting herself from the madness of the town’s with lies, false accusations, and the hanging of innocent people, even the man she loves.
*Elizabeth (Eldridge) Parris deceased four years later after the Salem Witch Trials on July 14th, 1696 at the age of 48.
as we find out that she has no parents. Also, because we are told she
Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's, The Crucible, is at fault for the 1692 witch trials play's outcome. She deserves the blame for the outcome of this play because of her jealous and manipulative actions. Abigail is an extremely effective liar who everyone seemingly believes when they shouldn’t. She blames others, is selfish, and convinces others to follow her devious plan to marry John Proctor. She is the reason for the many witch accusations. She is the one to blame.
In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the 1692 witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail is a mean and vindictive person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Through out the play her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth used to employ Abigail, until Elizabeth found out the affair and threw Abigail out. Although John told Abigail that the affair was over and he would never touch her again, she tried desperately to rekindle their romance. "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again." (Page 23) She claimed that she loved John and that he loved her. Before the play began, Abigail tried to kill Elizabeth with a curse. She thought that if Elizabeth were dead John would marry her. Further into the play, Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. She saw Marry Warren, the Proctor's servant, making a poppet. Mary put a needle into the doll, and Abigail used that for her accusation. She stabbed herself with a needle and claimed that Elizabeth's soul had done it. Although Abigail claimed she loved John, she may have just loved the care and attention he gave her. John cared for her like no one else had. In a way he could be described as somewhat of a father figure to her. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed her parents' brutal murders. "I saw Indians smash my dear parent's heads on the pillow next to mine..." (page 20) After her traumatic experience, she was raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris, who is somewhat of a villain. In the play it was written, "He (Parris) was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them." (Page 3) Parris regarded children as young adults who should be "thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak." (Page 4) Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing.
Abigail Williams is the start of all the hysteria in the town of Salem. She has caused alot of innocent villagers that were accused of witchery killed with her lies. Run from her or avoid eye contact and fear the you may be the next one put in court in front of neighbors and family members and be accused by the screaming children that you sent your soul out to harm them for the devil. The same children that scream at you are hideing the truth that they were caught in the woods dancing by Reverand Paris. Instead of faceing their consequences they lies to defend themselves from receiving small punishments for dancing.
The characters in The Crucible are often viewed as callous and ignorant to their surroundings but such quick judgements can lead a reader to overlook each character's importance and what message they try to convey. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible chaos ensues as accusations of witchcraft fly about turning neighbor upon neighbor and exposing the seedy underbelly of a Puritan New England town. The accusations are lead by a young girl and her devoted followers whose vengeance damns anyone that opposes them. Whether virtuous or wicked the women in The Crucible are strong influences within the community of Salem and the overall effect of the play.
Upholding one’s reputation is a common theme in The Crucible. Abigail Williams and her uncle Reverend Parris seem to be exceptionally careful with what they do to keep the reputation they have. Abigail Williams does a lot so she does not jeopardize her own reputation, even though it puts other’s lives at risk. To begin, Abigail lies about the events that partake in the woods. At first, Abigail said her and the girls were just dancing, but the truth crawled its way out of Abigail eventually. Next, Abigail threatens the girls to keep quiet: