Comparison of Elizabeth Proctor with Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

The trials are an opportunity for Ann Putnam to seek vengeance against Rebecca for having healthy children and grandchild... ... middle of paper ... ... life and goes back to these girls who turned on her in an instant. Others even confess to witchcraft because, once accused, it is the only way to get out of being hanged. The confessions and the hangings actually promote the trials because they assure townsfolk that God?s work is being done. Fear for their own lives and for the lives of their loved ones drives the townspeople to say and do anything. 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 is also motivated by a desire of revenge throughout. She is seen as vindictive and doesn’t want to be hung because of these trials. Abigail was a housemaid for John Proctor at one point until John Proctor’s wife fired her. John lusted upon Abby and committed adultery with her because of this she was kicked her out of the house. So she stops at almost nothing to convince the court that Goody Proctor is a witch so she can have John Proctor all to herself.

I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” Abigail stays in stage two throughout the play. Abigail’s motives were clearly seen for the audience and readers. Abigail started her decisions on jealousy and continued to ride through the drama on top, leading the girls and court, and causing unsettlement in the town. Abigail believes John Proctor loves her after their affair, and that getting rid of Elizabeth will give her the opportunity to become Proctor’s wife.

Arthur Miller shows Abigail's not trusted by other people including her uncle. When all of the talk about witchcraft troubles her uncle, Abigail thinks she should be the authority. When she is talking to her uncle she does tell him about the witch craft and she advises him on something that she does, "Uncle, the rumour of witchcraft is all about, I think you'd best go down and deny it yourself," this shows us that she has heard of something about witch craft and is... ... middle of paper ... ...s Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. Her resentment deepens when Proctor tells the court about their affair. Abigail's resentment is apparent through her words and her actions.

Elizabeth is a stand up women. Throughout The Crucible, she seems to be struggling to forgive her husband and let her anger go for his infidelity. Of course her anger towards Abigail is understandable. Elizabeth’s hatred for Abigail is justified because Abigail later in the play tries to murder Elizabeth by framing her of witch craft. Elizabeth is the blameless victim.

There a various examples of how this is true we see how she takes the lead in the court starting off things that the other girls follow. Abigail abhors Elizabeth and visa versa "She hates me uncle, she must and I will not work for such a woman" That's a quote form Abigail, her interactions with Elizabeth is very slight we can see this when she was passing through the house how she kept her head and eyes down to the floor weather she was ashamed or

I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now (Miller I).” She is using her words to manipulate John into loving her. Later in the play, she accuses John’s wife of witchcraft to get back at John. This backfires on her when John dies at the end of the play. Abigail quickly becomes an adversary of John after she harasses his family and his life. Abigail shows her anger towards John Proctor by accusing his wife and eventually hanging

The Witch Trials were a sign of rebellion from the people; it was something to believe in. In the Crucible, the girls were previously God’s representatives in a strict town where there was no other choice but to follow God, but in the presence of the witch trials, these girls are suddenly treated as though they have a direct connection to a divine power. In a political cartoon, it shows a witch on trial saying, “It makes no difference what I say. You’ve already decided I’m guilty.” The man replies with, “Gasp! The witch can read minds!” This example proves how much power the people think the witch obtains, when in reality the witches were just not naïve or oblivious.

One of the main links between the two women is their love for John Proctor. This would create much animosity between the two women and would lead to much strife between the two. While Abigail Williams saw Elizabeth Proctor as an old witch that only wished to blacken her name to the community, Elizabeth saw Abigail as a whore that only wished to steal her husband away. I am convinced that Abigail’s beauty and youth also served to create a hostile atmosphere as Elizabeth is threatened by this. Another reason that Elizabeth is threatened by Abigail is the fact that she believes that Abigail still has feelings for her husband.

Instead Abigail turns the tables on her accusers and, by confessing to witchcraft, she is able to develop a very strong position. At the height of the trial anyone she names as a witch falls immediately under suspicion. Abigail also develops her personal power and influence over the other girls. She does this by using techniques of mass hysteria.