How Does Abigail Obtain Power In The Crucible

In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, it becomes rather easy for the townspeople to lie and deceive one another as fear builds up concerning witchcraft in Salem. Abigail Williams is a jealous, ambitious young woman who manipulatively uses the town’s fear to her advantage and gets what she wants. Abigail’s primary goal is to regain the love of John Proctor, even if it involves accusing his wife, Elizabeth, of being a witch. As the turmoil of the witch trials intensifies, Abigail shifts her methods to include lies and threats to obtain power over others. Through her secretive actions, Abigail has shown that even fear can be manipulated for one’s gain, releasing the true evil of unregulated ambition. In Act 1 of The Crucible, Abigail Williams
She saves herself by accusing others and ultimately creates a panic that floods the town. Her exclamation, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!” (Act 1). This sets an extremely clear example of how she easily controls those in authority, such as Reverend Parris, through their fear and desperation for answers. It is with these tricks that Abigail starts to create chaos and blame that will continue later, covering her own skin while pursuing her goals. As the trials process into Act 2, Abigail uses witchcraft paranoia to her advantage in The Crucible, eliminating anything in the town that prevents her from getting her way. Soon after initiating the witch trials, she intelligently accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft since she wants John Proctor all to herself. Abigail views Elizabeth as the only barrier to the beginning of her affair with John, so she seeks to eliminate her rival. Elizabeth knows exactly what Abigail is after, saying, “She wants me dead; I knew all week it would come to this!” (Act 2). Abigail wields fear wisely, and the town’s panic serves to aid her in making life and death