Abigail Lusts In The Crucible
Abigail is fueled by her lust for John Proctor and her own selfishness, using the “devil” to further her self centered desire for power, and control in Salem, with that desire for John inciting her actions. What started as Abigail's plan to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor, ended in what was bigger than Abigail could have imagined - the Salem witch trials. Abigail is a remorseless girl, who will do anything to get what she wants. Abigail lusts over John Proctor, a married man which turns the town into a witch hunt. Her self-centered, narcissistic ways end up turning the town upside down, with the newfound power she found through the witch trials. As a magnificent liar, she has an almost experienced sense of how to manipulate others to gain control
…show more content…
Abigails combination of being a liar and lust for John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor's husband, was a deadly combination. Abigail had an affair with John when she was his servant, and by committing that act of adultery, false morals were already instilled in Abigail even seven months before the witch trials. Abigail, being still in love with John, wanted to get to him by getting revenge on the woman that got in her way - Elizabeth Proctor. “ABIGAIL: ‘Give me a word, John. A soft word.’ (Her concentrated desire destroys his smile.) PROCTOR: ‘No, no, Abby. That's done with.’” (Act 1, p. 22). Abigail lives in her own mind where she will do anything for what she and John once had. Abigail is very opportunistic, as she will grab any chance that opens to her to grasp her extremely simple-minded desires, like she did the witch craze in Salem to get revenge on Elizabeth.
Abigail is an extremely simple character in her actions and motives. She is the least complex character of the major characters, and yet is the vehicle that drives the play. Using the “devil” to cause uproar in Salem made her powerful, and also made her nothing. Her lust for John Proctor ended up killing him in the end. Although Abigail thought she could simply get what she wanted, the fact is she made things not just worse for her - but for
Abigails combination of being a liar and lust for John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor's husband, was a deadly combination. Abigail had an affair with John when she was his servant, and by committing that act of adultery, false morals were already instilled in Abigail even seven months before the witch trials. Abigail, being still in love with John, wanted to get to him by getting revenge on the woman that got in her way - Elizabeth Proctor. “ABIGAIL: ‘Give me a word, John. A soft word.’ (Her concentrated desire destroys his smile.) PROCTOR: ‘No, no, Abby. That's done with.’” (Act 1, p. 22). Abigail lives in her own mind where she will do anything for what she and John once had. Abigail is very opportunistic, as she will grab any chance that opens to her to grasp her extremely simple-minded desires, like she did the witch craze in Salem to get revenge on Elizabeth.
Abigail is an extremely simple character in her actions and motives. She is the least complex character of the major characters, and yet is the vehicle that drives the play. Using the “devil” to cause uproar in Salem made her powerful, and also made her nothing. Her lust for John Proctor ended up killing him in the end. Although Abigail thought she could simply get what she wanted, the fact is she made things not just worse for her - but for