Essay The Crucible and Abigail

Submitted By clarabernardi
Words: 1441
Pages: 6
Open Document
John Proctor and Abigail are alone in the room with Betty. Proctor questions Abigail about Betty's illness, suspecting that responsibility for "this mischief" probably lies with Abigail. Denying any involvement in witchcraft, Abigail states that she and the girls merely danced in the woods. Abigail asks Proctor if he has come to see her, but Proctor denies it. The conversation reveals that approximately seven months earlier, Abigail and Proctor had an affair while Abigail lived and worked in the Proctor household. Goody Proctor subsequently dismissed Abigail. Now Abigail accuses Proctor of still being in love with her, even though he will not admit it to her or himself. Analysis Abigail is the exact opposite of Proctor's morally upright wife, Elizabeth. Abigail represents the repressed desires — sexual, material, or other — possessed by all of the Puritans. The difference between Abigail and the other residents of Salem is that she does not suppress her desires. Abigail gyyoes after what she wants and uses any means to achieve her goal, even manipulation, deception, and seduction. While Abigail lived with the Proctors, Elizabeth was very ill. Abigail's responsibilities expanded and she began to see herself taking Elizabeth's place as Mrs. John Proctor. Not surprisingly, Proctor, lonely and vulnerable, noticed Abigail and became attracted to her. She was more visible in the house and interacted with him more than Elizabeth. However, the key to Proctor's desire for Abigail is her willingness to discard Puritan social restrictions. Whereas another Puritan woman would have concealed her desire for a married man, Abigail instead tempted Proctor and eventually enticed him to sin. Scene 3 performs a pivotal role in the play because it reveals Abigail's only vulnerability: her feelings for John Proctor. Because Betty lies unconscious, Abigail seizes the opportunity to speak with Proctor alone and reaffirm their relationship. Although Proctor remains resolute in his decision not to become involved with Abigail again, she and her blatant impropriety still captivate him. The thought of Abigail and the others dancing in the woods amuses and excites Proctor because society forbids the acts. Abigail interprets Proctor's reaction to her "wicked" behavior as a sign that he still cares for her. When Proctor refuses to admit any feelings for Abigail or to even speak of their affair, Abigail grows angry and blames Elizabeth for his indifference.

Proctor's determination to remain faithful to Elizabeth establishes his character's morals, and provides Abigail with her sole motivation throughout the remainder of the play. Prior to Scene 3, Abigail views Elizabeth as an inconvenience because she is preventing Abigail from being with Proctor. Now, however, Abigail sees Elizabeth as a threat because Proctor no longer acknowledges his feelings for Abigail. Up until this point in the play, Abigail's only concern has been concealing her behavior in the woods and her affair with Proctor.

Miller places the relationship between Abigail Williams and John Proctor at the heart of ‘The Crucible’ to create and intensify tension between characters and to demonstrate how a character’s powerful motivations are enough to tear apart an entire society. Miller’s initial description of Abigail as a ‘strikingly beautiful girl’ strongly contrasts with Parris’ deduction that she is someone whose name is ‘not entirely white’ among the people of Salem, which increases the tension of the play and draws the audience in. The word ‘white’ immediately evokes an idea of purity, innocence and virginity, and so Miller subtly reveals to the audience that Abigail is not entirely as she seems. This initial interaction successfully shapes the audience’s perception of Abigail, reflecting a guilty side to her character.

About half way through Act One, John Proctor’s entrance to the stage causes a ‘leap in fright’ in Mary Warren and Mercy Lewis to become
Show More

Related Documents: Essay The Crucible and Abigail

Abigail In The Crucible

Some people may defend Abigail’s character and claim that she is the victim. When she was young, Abigail witnessed her parents being killed by Native Americans. She was then forced to go live with her abusive uncle, Reverend Parris, who could care less about her. He was a terrible role model for Abigail, and the only thing he was concerned about was upholding his reputation. Although Abigail had a bad past, it shouldn’t be an excuse for her despicable actions. She is directly responsible for…

Words 342 - Pages 2

Abigail In The Crucible

The darkness of Abigail Jealousy will get you nowhere. Abigail has this great darkness in herself. Evil come in many different colors. all I want to say Abigail has a great jealousy in herself. Has this great character in the play. Miller send a great message about Abigail. Miller has a great message about Abigail about her character. The quote “I have seen my blood run in and out” (miller,1205) Abigail has been making strongly lies about people she accused about witchcraft. Abigail has made this disaster…

Words 174 - Pages 1

Abigail The Crucible

In this essay I will explain why I believe Abigail felt the need to leave Salem. In the story “The Crucibles” Written by Arthur Miller the character Abigail Williams is seduced by a main character by the name John Proctor. As the story goes on she is filled with jealousy and vengeance when Proctor is defiant against her feelings and lust towards John. In the first scene of the story she and other girls are caught dancing naked in the woods and silently accused of witchcraft. Although there was suspicion…

Words 217 - Pages 1

Abigail Williams In The Crucible

Ruiz 10/24/17 Period 1 Abigail Williams “The Crucible” is a play by Arthur Miller about witchcraft during the early colonial American period, comparable to the Salem witch trials. While there are characters who are more at fault than others in this play, it seems like there are no characters who are completely without any blame in the play’s events. But, there is one character in “The Crucible” who can be identified as the central villain, Abigail Williams. Abigail William is the niece of Reverend…

Words 579 - Pages 3

The Crucible Abigail Williams

character in the crucible who is in opposition to her society, would be Abigail Williams. The major conflict revolves around the main protagonist who makes absurd lies that trailed many to believe they were true. I will analyze the conflict and the discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. In the play “The Crucible” the main protagonist Abigail Williams make absurd lies to create a conflict that changes the lives of Mr. and Mrs.proctor forever. Abigail: “she made…

Words 353 - Pages 2

Abigail Williams The Crucible

Abigail Williams is probably the most influential and conniving character of “The Crucible,” with her charm, wit, and overall knowledge of how to get things to go her way. However, it is her obsession with John Proctor and their past love affair, not her defining qualities, that cause the events of “The Crucible” to play out the way they did. Her hysteria and desperation to win back what she thinks is rightfully hers leads to an entire village turning on itself and imprisoning innocent members of…

Words 127 - Pages 1

Abigail Williams In The Crucible

multiple characters that show many different themes throughout the play of the cruicible. The crucible is a play in a small puritan town called Salem, that is dealing with who has seen the devil and who has committed witchcraft. A group of girls were caught by the reverend dancing around a fire in the woods naked. Once there are caught by the rev they try to put the blame on other people in the town of Salem. Abigail Williams is the reverends niece and she very vindictive throughout the play. John Proctor…

Words 905 - Pages 4

Abigail William In The Crucible

The Crucible is a play based on deception, unjust law, and young girls manipulating their entire town. Abigail William, the main character, shows that she is a sociopath in her manipulative actions and compulsive lying. Abigail played a major role in convicting and murdering of almost 20 women in her town, and should be held accountable and condemned for her actions. Many claim that she shouldn't be held accountable for her actions due to the fact that she is criminally insane and only child. On…

Words 131 - Pages 1

Abigail In The Crucible

with Winona Ryder about Abigail is not the villain of the story. First, Abigail forces the other girls to go along with her lie that she made up. For instance, she threatened them so other people would believe her because if it was just her then no one else would believe her. Second, Abigail tells the other girls that she would come at them in the night with a knife . But the other girls being scared of Abigail gave her power to make the other people in the town believe Abigail. Third, when the other…

Words 209 - Pages 1

Abigail Williams In The Crucible

play, “The Crucible”, by Arthur Miller, the play is mainly about a small village is Salem, Massachusetts that consists of Puritans. Everyone is living in harmony. Suddenly, a young girl, Betty, is sick and people believe that this is the work of the devil. Many in the town believe that this was the Devil because before she got sick, Betty and her friends were caught dancing in the woods by Reverend Parris. This dancing was the practice of witchcraft. All of the girls, especially Abigail Williams…

Words 669 - Pages 3