abigail williams

Abigail Williams is a dominant figure in The Crucible. She is both malicious and manipulative. She is astute and knows how to use power to her own advantage. She is a marvellous antagonist with vengeful desires and she is ruthless for the mass hysteria and death which happens later in the play.
Throughout the first act, we learn that Abigail is dominant and has authority over other characters within the play. “(Betty doesn’t move. She shakes her.) Now stop this! Betty! Sit up now!” The use of the imperative suggests the power that Abigail has over Betty. These short, snappy commands for Betty to ‘sit up now!’ and ‘stop!’ highlight the desperation Abigail has. The use of repeated exclamation marks creates a threatening tone which emphasises the panic Abigail feels because she is afraid that Betty being sick will get her accused of witchcraft.
Abigail manipulates the other girls by making them feel responsible and involving them. “Oh we’ll be whipped!” She takes advantage of the girl’s vulnerability, by putting emphasises on the word “we’ll” to persuade them not to tell any of the things they did. Abigail knows they are afraid of punishment and she knows that this fear makes them desperate to find ways out of the situation. Abigail doesn’t want the other girls acting innocent and putting all the blame on her so she brings them in and makes them feel guilty for dancing. Abigail’s cunning ways makes her feel in control of the girls.
Abigail feels panicked and shows this through her quick reactions. “Now Betty dear, wake up now. It’s Abigail. (She sits Betty up and furiously shakes her.) I’ll beat you, Betty!” A clear mood change is evident as Abigail suddenly changes her tone in how she speaks to Betty. We can see how artificial Abigail can be as she starts off by acting sweet to Betty and abruptly changes her attitude without giving Betty a chance to respond. The use of the verb, “beat” shows us the measures Abigail is willing to take in order to get Betty to stop pretending to be sick which is causing the village to question why she is sick, putting Abigail in danger of getting punished if the truth is found out.
Abigail uses aggressive language towards the other girls. “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you…” The verb ‘shudder’ suggests danger which creates tension for the girls and the audience. The use of long sentences and the metaphor “pointy reckoning” presents her as almost hysteric as she attempts to bend the other girls to her will. She uses the threat of violence, and their belief that she might know some real witchcraft, to keep them in line. The other girls fear Abigail which makes her feel empowered by the anxiety she is able to instil upon them. We are now starting to see Abigail’s true colours as she indicates that she is not afraid of violence in order to protect herself.
Abigail doesn't express one shred of remorse the entire time, making her seem almost inhumanly. However, even though Abigail's actions are ruthless, they are in some ways understandable.

For one, Miller tells us an interesting detail about Abigail's childhood which may explain some of the coldness of Abigail. When she was younger, Abigail watched both of her parents be murdered. She tells the other girls, "I saw Indians smash my dear parents' head on the pillow next to mine.." It's no surprise that a person exposed to such brutality at a young age might eventually act brutally and merciless herself. Although, this creates some sympathy for Abigail, she maliciously uses this to her advantage as it scares the other girls into thinking she will be ruthless with them if they do not do what she says. Miller uses techniques such as violent imagery which provokes the domineering character Abigail is.
Scene two
A key theme in The Crucible is the continued attraction Abigail has for John Proctor. They have had an affair and still feel a strong physical attraction for each other. Although John fends her off, Abigail is persistent and insists he still loves her yet.
Abigail is love-struck by the presence of John Proctor and tries her best to get his love and attention, “Gah! I almost forget how strong you are, John Proctor!” She flatters John without hesitation and Miller demonstrates that by the use of exclamation marks which shows that Abigail is excited and flirtatious without holding back. She attempts to take every opportunity to arouse John and make him want her as much as she wants him. She tries to complement his masculinity to try and win him over.
Abigail is lustful towards John, she expresses her femininity to try and soften John’s mood, “(A trill of expectant laughter escapes her, and she dares to come closer, feverishly looking into his eyes)” This stage direction clearly shows that Abigail is sexually aroused in the presence of John and she is forthright in her expression of her sexuality which would have been shocking in Puritan times. Miller employs an interesting adverb ‘feverishly’ to suggest the overwhelming passion that Abigail feels towards John. However, she is frustrated at not being able to express it as John is not backing down. The noun ‘trill’ relates to the high-pitched elated laugh of Abigail who is trying her best to flirt and impress John.
Abigail attempts to attract John by alluring him in to her. “Give me a word, John. A soft word. (Her concentration desire destroys his smile)”Abigail is pressurising John to flirt with her as she still wants his love. Miller uses the stage direction; ‘concentrated desire’ which emphasises the way in which Abigail tries to attract John. The use of the adjective ‘soft’ shows Abigail is trying to be seductive to win him over. However, this becomes too intense for him and it scares him off.
Abigail begins to get confused when John does not show any interest in her anymore and pretends like nothing had ever happened between them, “(grasping his hand…) John – I am waitin’ for you every night.”
The hyphen used indicates a pause which shows how Abigail may be trying to create sexual tension and trying to seem mysterious to John. Miller uses the stage direction, ‘grasping his hand’ which can relate to the physical relationship Abigail and John once had and Abigail so desperately wants it back, it also shows how forward and forceful Abigail can be.
Abigail clearly feels nostalgic talking about their past experiences together, “…how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion when I come near! Or did I dream that?” She welcomes the warmth and compassion that she had lost so long ago, and she refuses to let it leave her again. Abigail uses an explicit description to explain the physical relationship between her and Proctor which Puritans would have been shocked. Abigail gives off a bitter tone towards John as she uses a rhetorical question, ‘Or did I dream that?’ She knows the physical relationship they once had was real. However, questions whether or not it meant something to John. Abigail tries to get John to let his guard down by bring up how responded when she went near him, ‘sweated like a stallion…’ Miller’s use of a simile and animal imagery shows the physical attraction John has for Abigail. Abigail mentions this in hope that John will open up to her and remember the good times they once had. The exclamation marks show the disbelief she has at john’s rejection.
Abigail starts to feel disheartened, “You are no wintry man. I know you, John. I know you. (she is weeping) I cannot sleep for dreamin’… (she clutched him desperately)” Abigail uses repetition of the words ‘I know’ to try and remind him of how well they used to know each other. Abigail may do this in order to make John feel guilty for dismissing her. Abigail tries to empathise with John and tries to show him that they are perfect for each other. Miller adds in the stage direction, ‘weeping’ this shows that Abigail tries to pour her heart out to him to win him over. She tries to manipulate him by crying, hoping he will take pity on her and she can take advantage of him. Miller uses the adverb ‘desperately’ which explains just how much Abigail needs Johns love and affection.
Abigail has a lot of jealous feeling towards John’s wife Elizabeth. “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to her!” Though Abigail pretends she’s angry at Elizabeth Proctor for damaging her reputation, the more powerful emotion is envy of Elizabeth for her marriage to John Proctor. Here she resorts to petty name-calling in order to cast doubt in John’s mind.
In a final bid to win John over, Abigail pleads with John, “now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes...” Miller’s metaphor highlights how life-changing this affair has been to Abigail. She feels empowered and more comfortable with her true ‘wicked’ self. The reference to ‘light is ambiguous, it may refer to the enlightenment Abigail feels from her first sexual experience. I could also refer to the realisation gained through John that most of the Salem people are hypocrites.