The Crucible Scapegoats Analysis

In the play The Crucible, the use of scapegoats is rampant; the main use is to place blame onto others to deflect blame from themselves or to help reach a goal. Those that don’t agree with the majority or have differing ideas are outcasts and easily made scapegoats. Many of the scapegoats in the play can attribute the blame they receive to the antagonist, Abigail Williams. In the play three people are scapegoats because of Abigail, the Parris’ servant Tituba, the Proctor’s servant Mary Warren, and Elizabeth Proctor the wife of John Proctor.

At the start of the play Reverend Hale and Parris confront Abigail for dancing in the woods. Abigail knows that dancing in the woods is a very critical offense in their society and after being questioned

Mary Warren is in court admitting to the lies she tells earlier in the play, but is very unsure of herself. Furthermore the judge makes it worse by repeatedly asking “ Has he ever threatened you?” (Miller 101) after he hears her unsurety. Upon entering the court Abigail notices the weak state Mary is in. Taking advantage of this Abigail begins to pretend that Mary is performing witchcraft in the courtroom. Abigail begins to see a “bird” being controlled by Mary, yelling “ Oh, please, Mary!” Don’t come down.” (Miller 115). Just as Abigail did to Tituba she notices the effect her performance is having and continues the onslaught “Mary, please don’t hurt me!” (Miller 115) which sways the court more. This convinces the judge, Danforth, that he is witnessing witchcraft and he pleads “Mary Warren! Draw back your spirit out of them!” (Miller 116) to try and stop the madness. While this is going on Mary Warren keeps on attempting to defend herself, “They’re sporting!... Stop it!!” (Miller 116) but to no avail. Becoming overwhelmed by the situation Mary falters just as Tituba did and joins Abigail. This leads to Abigail being able to continue her lying and remain in control without opposition.

Scapegoats have a large part in the plot development in The Crucible. Abigail Williams uses her lies to place blame onto others to help herself. The three that become scapegoats; Tituba, Elizabeth Proctor, and Mary Warren can not help themselves due to them going against the Abigail and those that fall for her