Crucible Essay In abnormal times or times of hysteria‚ one can easily be tempted to seek out a scapegoat‚ and if a sensible place of blame is not found‚ a somewhat ridiculous idea can be resurrected. These beliefs are held to be true‚ especially by those directly affected by these strange events‚ or those with an ulterior motive. The character of Abigail in The Crucible by Arthur Miller exemplifies this. She is also represented in the poem‚ “Witchcraft was hung‚ in History‚”‚ by Emily Dickinson
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible Salem, Massachusetts
A dynamic antagonist‚ Abigail Williams from Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a great example of how a character can be molded by personal desires and a work’s setting to become a villain. Seemingly innocent‚ orphaned adolescent Abigail ultimately causes hysteria in the town of Salem from her frivolity and selfishness. The reasoning and origins of Abigail’s malice demonstrate the setting’s influence on the inhabitants of Salem during the 1962 witch trials. Abigail is introduced as Parris’ niece
Premium The Crucible Salem witch trials John Proctor
they would be put to death. The Crucible‚ written by Arthur Miller‚ shows how neighbors would accuse each other for revenge. Although many might first blame Abigail Williams‚ Reverend Parris is responsible for the deaths in Salem. In the first act‚ Reverend Parris pushes Abigail‚ his niece‚ to admit to conjuring spirits in the woods. In the beginning‚ he sees Abigail‚ Tituba‚ and other girls in the woods dancing‚ and he assumes that it was witchcraft. He confronts Abigail about the situation‚ and she
Premium Salem witch trials Witchcraft The Crucible
Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail William both heighten the tension of the witch trials in Salem; they are a contrast of each others character‚ and brawl for the desire for one mans love. Arthur Millers hysterical play‚ The Crucible‚ portrays the personalities of 2 exceptionally diverse women. A mother‚ a wife‚ a friend: Abigail wanted to share a family with John Proctor. In some aspects she was jealous of Elizabeth‚ as she had the one thing in the world that Abigail desperately yearned for. “Oh
Premium The Crucible Salem witch trials Elizabeth Proctor
Pope are Arthur Miller’s tragedy‚ The Crucible‚ and the novel‚ To Kill a Mockingbird‚ by Harper Lee. In the play‚ The Crucible‚ by Arthur Miller‚ the author shows how people’s true colors are brought out through difficulties in life‚ through the character Abigail Williams. In the plot of this drama‚ Abigail has to face the challenge of deciding to save herself from punishment‚ or tell the truth‚ and save the town from hysteria. The characterization of when Abigail blames others for witchcraft and claims
Premium Religion Psychology Fiction
"To vice‚ innocence must always seem only a superior kind of chicanery." Ouida (1839-1908) In The Crucible Abigail committed the greatest of crimes. She destroyed the reputations of many and killed many as well. She influenced others to her evil way and killed out of greed. She managed to get away with her life without even a question of guilt‚ and as the hysteria of witchcraft grew in Salem she did not fear anyone. She was in control over the town and ran it with fear of death. Her magic wand’s
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible John Proctor
In the play The Crucible‚ by Arthur Miller‚ Abigail Williams has a major effect on the Salem witch trials. She plays a major role in the development of the plot of the story and is the main antagonist as well. It is learned in Act I that she has had an affair with John Proctor and that she is accusing others‚ later including his wife‚ of witchcraft. Abigail is not only in love and had an affair with a man that is already married‚ she gets innocent people killed with her false accusations and runs
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible John Proctor
The Crucible play takes place in Salem‚ Massachusetts set around the mid to late 1600’s. Inside this peculiar little town most people are very religious and believe in the Puritan religion. For a little background Puritans do not believe or participate in activities like dancing and reading novels. Growing up as a little kid in the Puritan religion could seem like you are being hidden or kept away from activities that would alter your beliefs towards how your religion teaches them. Throughout
Premium The Crucible Salem witch trials John Proctor
of the main characters of the play The Crucible‚ Abigail Williams‚ is the villain of the play‚ even more than Parris or Danforth. In Act One her skills at manipulation are very noticeable. John Proctor‚ who has dumped her after his wife found out about this sinful affair‚ “Abby‚ you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you no more.” Since she was also dismissed from her job at their house‚ Abigail becomes increasingly envious of Elizabeth. Abigail always has a different story from what actually
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible
Power: A Compare and Contrast of Hester Prynne and Abigail Williams Abigail Williams and Hester Prynne were two very different characters in books about the same Puritan religion. The two had many differences and even a few ways they were alike. Their views on society and their reaction on how they reacted to the way they were treated by the Puritans. Hester feared society and thought that it was something to be avoided‚ while Abigail long to be the center of attention. While Hester attracted
Premium The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne Nathaniel Hawthorne