Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Arthur Miller individualises characters through their style of speech

in many ways. Abigail Williams, one of the main characters, is a very

attractive young lady, as portrayed in the text. However, her

personality is bitter spiteful and vengeful. This has been shown by

the way Miller individualises her, through her speech.

Abigail is very bossy and has a lot of authority; "Uncle, the rumour

of witchcraft is all about: I think you'd best go down and deny it

yourself. The parlour's packed with people, sir. I'll sit with her".

She seems to take control in a stressful situation, and hence controls

people through their fear: "I think you'd best go down". Miller uses

this sentence, in order to portray Abigail as a very manipulative and

some-what controlling person.

Miller also exposes the fact that Abigail is very spiteful and

demanding. This is shown when Abigail is having an argument with her

uncle, Parris. "She hates me, uncle; she must, for I would not be her

slave. It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, snivelling woman, and I

will not work for such a woman!" This shows how Abigail puts everyone

down, and tries to make out that she is the innocent victim in all the

chaos.

Another way Miller individualises Abigail, is the way she blames other

people to get her self out of trouble- "Not I, sir- Tituba and Ruth".

This shows how Miller puts across to the audience, the 'real' Abigail.

Yet again, Miller reveals Abigail as being manipulative and

controlling. "I have been hurt, Mr Danforth; I have seen my blood

runnin' out! I have been near to murder every day because I done my

duty pointing out the Devil's people- and this is my reward! To be

mistrusted, denied questioned like a-". This also shows how Abigail is

making everyone else feel sorry for her, as she has been doing the

right thing. This is effective as it again brings out the 'real'

Abigail, a cunning, sly, deceiving person.

Abigail Williams wants to protect herself, and hence confesses, as she

wants the same attention as Tituba, not to suffer, This shows her

selfishness as she doesn't want to get hung and therefore follows

Tituba's lead. "I want to open myself! I want the light of God; I want

the sweet love of Jesus!" Miller uses the word "open" to emphasise the

fact that Abigail doesn't want to just reveal herself, but "open" her.

This then shows the audience how overdramatic Miller makes Abigail.

In conclusion, I feel that Miller has effectively individualised

Abigail, as a self-centred, overdramatic, deceiving woman.

Mr Hale, another one of Miller's characters, however he is not as