Crucible Characters Essay

The Crucible The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a dramatic play based during the mid-1600s when the Salem Witch Trials took place. A group of young teenage girls accuse many of witchcraft even though it may or may not be true. Their accusations stir up a violent and unexpected outcome. There were definitely no small characters in this story. Specific characters such as Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Mary Warren change the dynamics of this drama to increase dramatic conflict. In The Crucible, Abigail Williams, a seductive teenager, represents the Black Widow character archetype because of her manipulative ways to get the things that she wants. The Black Widow destroys anything she wants. Like Abigail, the Black Widow will lure someone into her web, trapping him or her until they have suffered for her own pleasure. When speaking of their previous affairs, John Proctor, a married farmer, requests that Abigail forgets it and speaks of it no more. But Abigail does not want to. “You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! (Miller 24)” Almost threatening-like, Abigail tells John Proctor he will love her. Abigail and her friends have a secret: They danced in the woods naked while conducting witchcraft, which is a sin. Abigail will do everything in her power to clear her name. Even if that means accusing innocent men and women of witchcraft and being “seen” with the Devil. When Abigail is almost caught for doing what she did, she panics and quickly blames Tituba, Reverend Parris’ slave from Barbados, for forcing her to do these diabolical things. “She sends her spirit on me in church; she makes me laugh at prayer! (Miller 44)” Most of Abby’s accusations force people to confess to witchcraft even if they did not do it because if the didn’t they would be hanged. During the trail of those who were accused, John Proctor uses Mary Warren, Proctor’s timid servant, to prove that Abigail Williams is lying. When Danforth, the judge for the witch