Abigail Characterisation
Characterisation: Abigail Williams
The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller, and is set in the fiercely Puritan Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Abigail Williams, above all else, is the least complex. As the antagonist of the play, she’s dominant and clearly puts herself out there as the opposition. Abigail is 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris. She is unmarried, and an orphan, meaning her position on the social ladder is fairly low.
Abigail Williams is a young lady with a vicious and unpredictable nature. She is deceiving, violent and untrustworthy. However in Act 1, we see an array of her personalities. She acts as the authority, focusing on manipulating Parris as it suits her. When she says, “Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it,” she is using her knowledge of her uncle’s job position and distress to her advantage; Parris’ placement as Reverend is on the line because of these allegations hitting Salem.
Abigail's nature is entirely dependent on who she is surrounded by and conversing with. Shortly into the play we discover the secret affair between John Proctor and herself. When Abigail says "How do you call me child!," she is expressing her dissatisfaction of being characterised as a youth, considering her sexual history. John Proctor seems to be the only character that isn't intimidated by Abigail, as he is a strong man confident in his morals; since his betrayal to his wife Elizabeth he grows and adapts to being the husband she'd hoped for. Proctor puts Abigail in her place numerous times, something she is far from used to.
The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller, and is set in the fiercely Puritan Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Abigail Williams, above all else, is the least complex. As the antagonist of the play, she’s dominant and clearly puts herself out there as the opposition. Abigail is 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris. She is unmarried, and an orphan, meaning her position on the social ladder is fairly low.
Abigail Williams is a young lady with a vicious and unpredictable nature. She is deceiving, violent and untrustworthy. However in Act 1, we see an array of her personalities. She acts as the authority, focusing on manipulating Parris as it suits her. When she says, “Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it,” she is using her knowledge of her uncle’s job position and distress to her advantage; Parris’ placement as Reverend is on the line because of these allegations hitting Salem.
Abigail's nature is entirely dependent on who she is surrounded by and conversing with. Shortly into the play we discover the secret affair between John Proctor and herself. When Abigail says "How do you call me child!," she is expressing her dissatisfaction of being characterised as a youth, considering her sexual history. John Proctor seems to be the only character that isn't intimidated by Abigail, as he is a strong man confident in his morals; since his betrayal to his wife Elizabeth he grows and adapts to being the husband she'd hoped for. Proctor puts Abigail in her place numerous times, something she is far from used to.