Table of Contents
This is the start
Why Abigail Williams was responsible for the Witch Trials
Ultimately, it can be concluded that…
Citing sources
Beginning
Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible depicts a group teen girls making accusations of people for witchcraft. Abigail Williams, the girl in control, loves the popularity that her accusations generate and will go to any length to protect it. All the girls are made victims of society by their neighbors and friends. Abigail Williams from Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is therefore to blame for these witch trials. As she is not an accomplice of society, it is impossible to excuse her actions. Abigail Williams’ accusation of others is what led to the witch trials. Abigail lies all through The Crucible in an effort to avoid being caught. Mary Warren, one girl, is accused of lying to the other girls. They then turn on Mary Warren. They act as though Mary Warren has sent an evil spirit upon them, and Abigail exclaims that God made their faces. Mary, envy is a terrible sin. Abigail knows well that she will be believed by the adults and court if someone accuses her. Because people believe her, she feels like she is in control of the accusation. Abigail is self-centered and selfish, so she blames others. Judge Danforth agrees with Abigail. He says, “Mary Warren!” – Get your spirit back from them! Abigail and the other girls are at fault for making the victims of others. Abigail isn’t a victim of society, as she started everything. Although she knew it was wrong, her actions were blatantly correct. Abigail finds Reverend Parris her uncle’s “strongbox” and is forced to open it at the end. Parris’s “strongbox” was broken into by Abigail and the girls fled Salem, knowing they would eventually be found out. Abigail was influenced by her past and current experiences, and she is now able to use those experiences to her advantage. Abigail calls for Betty, her cousin, in act 1. Abigail shouts, “I witnessed Indians smash my dear parents on the pillow next mine, and have seen some reddishwork done at night. And I can make it seem like you’ve never seen the sun set!” Abigail is influenced by the deaths of her parents. She is a constant threat to others, urging them to listen to her and to trust her. Her past has had a profound impact on her, but her current experiences have a similar effect. Abigail has an affair with John Proctor, which makes her feel more powerful and makes her believe that John is just as in love with Abigail. Abigail will accuse anyone that is hindering her efforts to get out of her way. Elizabeth Proctor’s widow is accused of being a “singing secret hymn that your wife will hang!”. Abigail Williams’ actions are not excused. She caused chaos and touched hundreds of people’s lives. The witch trials that she started are her fault. Her actions led to many deaths, hundreds of charges, and almost every person’s life being negatively affected. Abigail’s group led to a loss of property and reputation for many people. Abigail and her group’s past and current experiences are what caused the witch trial. The circumstances in which they occurred are to be attributed to Abigail Williams (The Crucible). Her actions were a result of past and current events. She is not to be blamed for her actions and should not be considered a victim of society. Abigail lost her parents and had an affair. She threatened people who were against her will. Despite Abigail’s struggles, she shouldn’t accuse others of being witches. Abigail Williams is manipulative and self-centered. She was only seventeen and yet, she was capable of making righteous, good decisions but chose negative actions. Abigail’s experiences in her life have made her prone to making bad decisions. Why Abigail Williams is at fault for the Witch Trials. Abigail might seem innocent at first, but her actions caused many deaths and made her look like a little devil. Abigail Williams and John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor’s spouse, had an affair which led to the other horrendous events. John Proctor views Elizabeth as an angel, but Abigail is her support and she sees through Elizabeth’s darkest moments. Ms. Williams lies and accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft. John Proctor is threatened by Abigail when she says that she will expose the secret affair. Remember that salem laws were delicate. Proctor had committed adultery, and Abigail had broken it by dancing in the woods. Abigail reveals to Hale that Tituba is causing her mental problems. She also blames others for dancing or communicating with Tituba. Parris first discovers Abigail danced in the forest along with her niece. Abigail claims she was just dancing. However, this is not true and then Parris concerns because her daughter had just committed a crime. “And they will not listen to me. My daughter and my niece were dancing in the forest like heathens. The village suspected that parris’s niece Betty had been involved in witchcraft. It was illegal to dance and feel joy. Abigail attempts to admit, “We danced, Uncle. Let them know and they’ll whip me if necessary.” They’re talking about witchcraft. Betty isn’t witched” After Abigail was seen dancing in a forest, suspicions grew that Betty was practicing witchcraft. This little event triggered a chain reaction. The village was now concerned enough to make it clear that witchcraft was occurring in Salem. Abigail blames Tituba for her fear. She believes Tituba is causing her problems because she seems to have a hint she conjured the spirits. “Don’t lie! She is always there for me, even when I am asleep. Abigail mentions that she has had nightmares since Tituba’s arrival. Abigail mentions then that Tituba made her drink blood. “She makes my blood boil!” These accusations make Tituba very unhappy since Abigail tried to hang Tituba for doing something she didn’t do. Ms. Williams was successful in bringing about the accusation of random people being involved with witchcraft. “I saw Goody Olsburn with Satan!” “I witnessed Bridget Bishop with devil!” “I seen Goody Osburn with devil!” “I see Goody Sibier with devil!” “I have seen Goody Booth with devil!” Abigail started calling out innocent people without any reason, and that caused a lot chaos. Many people were at risk of their lives for doing something they did not do. She was targeting those she most hated. She was trying not to admit the lies that she was telling. ConclusionAbigail is at fault for all this. As well as their livestock and property. Abigail ran away from the scene as everyone started to notice that she was lying. She fled the scene without even realizing what was happening to others, which is quite non-human. Citing
Schissel, W. (1994). Re (discovery) of Arthur Miller’s Witches in The Crucible: A feminist interpretation. Modern Drama published an article that discussed the impact of the pandemic on theatre, with a particular focus on the effects on the medium of modern drama. The article revealed that the pandemic has had a considerable impact on theatre, from the suspension of in-person performances to the increased use of digital platforms. The article also highlighted the challenges faced by theatre practitioners, such as the need for social distancing and financial hardship. The article concluded by noting that modern drama has the potential to adapt to the changing landscape, and that its resilience will be key to its survival in the post-pandemic world. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/499367/summary)
Carson, N., & Carson, N. (1982). The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller that follows the Salem witch trials. Arthur Miller, 60-76. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-16735-7_5)
Morris, H. (2021). Bewitching The Shame: The Crucible’s Legacy of Appropriation. Illinois State University. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/e99ee7995042b2bfc83a2d3a76d7a7b4/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y)
Rodgers, J. (2010). Moral Absolutism in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (Doctoral dissertation) (https://soar.suny.edu/handle/20.500.12648/6296)
Huidrom, S. (2019). Neuroticism and The Crucible. Attention! Attention!, 88. (https://www.academia.edu/download/61329195/Cyber_Lit_Dec_1820191125-126347-6shawh.pdf#page=88)
