Abigail Williams
Katie Hulbert
Ms. BruewerEnglish IIIA
21 October 2014
Young Girls Gone Wild
A crowd of young girls watched in awe when the lives of people in their town were cut short as they hanged, lifeless and cold their feet dangling just feet above the ground. One young lady was even smirking at the horrid sight as she came to realize her extreme actions had paid off. This young lady was Abigail Williams. Abigail was a 17 year-old girl. Through Abigail Williams a girl in The Crucible, the author, Arthur Miller describes his perception of young females during the time of the Salem Witch Trials making them out to be selfish, attention seeking, and manipulative individuals who are willing to go to great lengths to get what they want. Whether it be dancing around a fire, accusing others of witch craft, or inflicting self-harm, Abigail’s outrageous actions would were a major contribution to the chaos in the town of Salem.
There are many different events in the play that show how teenage girls act during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. But all the chaos in the town of Salem seemed to have started with a few young girls. One particular young lady that comes to mind is Abigail Williams. She went against the rules of the town and was caught dancing and singing in the woods, which was thought to be extremely bad during this time. It all began when Abby cried out “I saw Sara good with the devil! I saw goody Osborn with the devil, I saw Bridget Bishop with the devil!” (Miller 1235). Abby’s claims along with some other odd events sent the town into complete pandemonium. Abby’s questionable actions; dancing, singing, accusing others of witch craft, give the reader room to make assumptions about the characteristics of adolescent girls right from the start of the play. A specific event took place later act in act one. There had always been tension between Abby and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the wife of John Proctor and had been suspicious of the relationship between Abby and John
Ms. BruewerEnglish IIIA
21 October 2014
Young Girls Gone Wild
A crowd of young girls watched in awe when the lives of people in their town were cut short as they hanged, lifeless and cold their feet dangling just feet above the ground. One young lady was even smirking at the horrid sight as she came to realize her extreme actions had paid off. This young lady was Abigail Williams. Abigail was a 17 year-old girl. Through Abigail Williams a girl in The Crucible, the author, Arthur Miller describes his perception of young females during the time of the Salem Witch Trials making them out to be selfish, attention seeking, and manipulative individuals who are willing to go to great lengths to get what they want. Whether it be dancing around a fire, accusing others of witch craft, or inflicting self-harm, Abigail’s outrageous actions would were a major contribution to the chaos in the town of Salem.
There are many different events in the play that show how teenage girls act during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. But all the chaos in the town of Salem seemed to have started with a few young girls. One particular young lady that comes to mind is Abigail Williams. She went against the rules of the town and was caught dancing and singing in the woods, which was thought to be extremely bad during this time. It all began when Abby cried out “I saw Sara good with the devil! I saw goody Osborn with the devil, I saw Bridget Bishop with the devil!” (Miller 1235). Abby’s claims along with some other odd events sent the town into complete pandemonium. Abby’s questionable actions; dancing, singing, accusing others of witch craft, give the reader room to make assumptions about the characteristics of adolescent girls right from the start of the play. A specific event took place later act in act one. There had always been tension between Abby and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the wife of John Proctor and had been suspicious of the relationship between Abby and John