Abigail Williams Character Analysis Essay

887 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Puritans salem witch trials

The setting of "The Crucible is in the year 1692, in Salem Massachusetts, where the Salem Witch Trials occurred. Many innocent people were hung due to the actions of one person, Abigail Williams. Abigail had an affair with a married man, John Proctor, and, having fallen in love with him, wanted to get rid of his wife, Elizabeth. Obsessed with John, she was intent on becoming John 's new wife. As part of an attempt to make John fall in love with her, she participated in pagan traditions, with her uncle 's slave, Tituba. When her and the girls were discovered by Revered Parris, Abigail invented the idea of witchcraft afoot in Salem to avoid punishment. Abigail is the ring leader of the teenage girls that live there, and she manipulates them to make the trials more dramatic, and more believable. She does not like being controlled, and instead she insists on being in control and power. She therefore leads a rebellion against adult authority in order to obtain her goals. Unfortunately, however, she fails in obtaining the one thing she desired most: the love of John Proctor. In the process, Abigail is Abigail is willing to go to any length to get rid of Elizabeth, even to the point of having her being hung. Since John will not return her advances, Abigail becomes bitter and builds up more hatred towards Elizabeth. After this, she turns around and says that Elizabeth is "blackening her name in the village! She is telling lies about me." ( ) Just to make sure that Elizabeth will suffer for dismissing her, and that her reputation will be destroyed. Abigail also tries to frame Elizabeth for being a witch, with having Mary Warren give her a poppet. Abigail uses Mary as a pawn to frame Goody Proctor, and get her hung. This accusation ultimately leads to the death of John, all because he is not willing to love her

Show More
Related

  • Pros And Cons Of The Crucible

    504 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Crucible was set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It was set in a little country town full of what everyone thought were good people. When we started reading The Crucible we were introduced to many people from this small town of Salem. There are many pros and cons to living in a small town, but this book shows us many of these pros and cons. The three main characters that we were introduced are Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Reverend Hale. In this story these characters contributed some of the most irrational things that caused most of the problems in this small town.

    Read More

  • How Does Mary Warren Use Lies In The Crucible

    1863 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the Town of Salem Massachusetts, 1692, a group of adolescents are caught dancing in the forest. Among the adolescents in The Crucible, Abigail Williams and Mary Warren. The girls are horrified that they have been caught dancing, a sinful act, therefore they devise a story to evade punishment: they claim to have been bewitched. The first person who they accuse of witchcraft is a the black maid, Tituba. This results in her jail sentence as well as fearful suspicion throughout the town. Arthur Miller demonstrates the impact of lying as the girls recognise and manipulate their power in the town. Lead by Abigail, they go further, claiming countless others guilty and dooming them to exile. Miller demonstrates that there power is so great that even when Mary attempts to stand against her friends, she is quickly overwhelmed and once again plays along with their trickery. As the girls’ conspiracy continues, controversy arise over their truthfulness; people choose sides often lying themselves to support their side, further altering the lives of all involved.

    Read More

  • Who Is The Most Misleading Character In The Crucible

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    She does everything that is physically possible to get rid of her. She drinks a charm to kill Elizabeth, she stabs herself with a needle to accuse Elizabeth of a crime, Abigail also accuses Elizabeth of being a witch. The whole play, those were the only intentions that Abigail had, exterminate Elizabeth Proctor. Even though John decided to attempt to make the court look differently at Abigail and see what she has done to many people in the city of Salem. The misleading trait that Abigail has, helps her get out of a rocky situation without harm. The threatening of the girls, drinking a charm, stabbing herself with a needle, and accusing Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft are all the reasons that Abigail is also an evil individual. Abigail was the most misleading and evil character in the play written by Arthur Miller.

    Read More

  • The Crucible John Proctor Death Analysis

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin with, Abigail’s lust for her ex-employer led to the beginning of the witch trials in Salem. In the beginning of The Crucible, Abigail and some girls from the town are discovered dancing in the woods, which is a forbidden act in the Puritan society. It is then

    Read More

  • The Crucible: Abigail Williams is to Blame

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the 1692 witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail is a mean and vindictive person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Through out the play her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth used to employ Abigail, until Elizabeth found out the affair and threw Abigail out. Although John told Abigail that the affair was over and he would never touch her again, she tried desperately to rekindle their romance. "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again." (Page 23) She claimed that she loved John and that he loved her. Before the play began, Abigail tried to kill Elizabeth with a curse. She thought that if Elizabeth were dead John would marry her. Further into the play, Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. She saw Marry Warren, the Proctor's servant, making a poppet. Mary put a needle into the doll, and Abigail used that for her accusation. She stabbed herself with a needle and claimed that Elizabeth's soul had done it. Although Abigail claimed she loved John, she may have just loved the care and attention he gave her. John cared for her like no one else had. In a way he could be described as somewhat of a father figure to her. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed her parents' brutal murders. "I saw Indians smash my dear parent's heads on the pillow next to mine..." (page 20) After her traumatic experience, she was raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris, who is somewhat of a villain. In the play it was written, "He (Parris) was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them." (Page 3) Parris regarded children as young adults who should be "thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak." (Page 4) Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing.

    Read More

  • Courage, Weakness, And Truth In Arthur Miller's The Crucible

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    The statement,“The Crucible is essentially about courage, weakness, and truth,” is proven true numerous times, throughout the play. The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller, about the true events that happened in Salem, Massachusetts, between the years 1692 and 1693. The Salem witch trials consisted of many hangings, lies, and complete mass hysteria. The citizens of Salem followed the religion of Puritanism, and the ideas of predestination. The root of the mass hysteria comes from their belief in the sense that in something happens then it must have been planned by God. In Miller’s portrayal of the story, Abigail Williams was the ringleader of the witch trials, and she used the idea of predestination to cover up her own sins. Abigail was a very manipulative girl and ruined many lives. John Proctor, Mary Warren, and Elizabeth Proctor were just a few of the victims in Abby’s game. John, Mary, and Elizabeth exhibit the traits courage, weakness, and truth, whether it was in a positive or negative way.

    Read More

  • Comparison of Elizabeth Proctor with Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abigail shows much dislike for Elizabeth in the play and says to John "She is blackening my name in the village!" (Act 1). Once the town hears rumours of this affair they shun Abigail. This disengagement makes Abigail seek vengeance towards them; accusing many people of witchcraft. Abigail is a strong and determined character; she manipulates people to get herself out of her own trouble.

    Read More

  • Who Is Abigail Williams Innocent In The Crucible

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abigail Williams is manipulative and wants everything to go her way. She is the main character and causes trouble everywhere she goes. The Salem Witch Trials is about hearings and prosecutions of people who were accused of witchcraft. In The Crucible Abigail is a no good villain. Abigail first commits adultery with Elizabeth’s husband. Later on Abigail begins to accuse innocent people of doing witchcraft which causes them to die. Abigail Williams uses the Salem Witch Trials to put out all the resentment she has toward everyone.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between The Crucible And Animal Farm

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abigail accuses innocent people of witchcraft, including John’s wife, Elizabeth. She does this so her and John would be together and Elizabeth wouldn’t be in his life, even after John told Abigail he does not love her. He faces this crucible throughout the play and changes his demeanor towards Abigail. John becomes infuriated and he wants to expose Abigail for making false accusations of witchcraft, although it might include his confession of adultery. John eventually confesses his sin of adultery but refuses for it to be made public and posted on the church door, resulting in his

    Read More

  • Free Essays on The Crucible: The Character of Abigail Williams

    557 Words  | 2 Pages

    Her relationship with John Proctor and her animosity to Goody Proctor also interest is as they are reasons why Elizabeth Proctor was accused as a witch and later the death of John. Abigail loved John but John only lusted because of strains in his marriage. When Elizabeth expelled Abigail, John gave up. This is shown when Abigail asked John."Give me a word,John. A soft word." John replies,"I will cut of my hand before I'll ever reach for you again." Abigail cannot have John, this caused bitterness and hatred towards Elizabeth. She says," She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me, She is a cold, snivelling woman..."

    Read More

  • Hysteria In The Crucible Essay

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    The year is 1692 in Salem, a small town in Massachusetts, and the Puritans community is in serious trouble. In the story “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, the Puritans community is in the Salem court where John Proctor admits to committing adultery to Abigail Williams who at the time was very young. Abigail Williams is where the court started after she is involved in the case where John Proctor is accused of committing adultery with her. Abigail also lead the girls and their witchcraft accusations in court. Abigail truly believed that John Proctor still had love for her.

    Read More

  • Arthur Miller's The Crucible

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Crucible is a 1953 play by Arthur Miller. Initially, it was known as The Chronicles of Sarah Good. The Crucible was set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts. It talks of McCarthyism that happened in the late 1600’s whereby the general public and people like Arthur Miller were tried and persecuted. The Crucible exemplifies persecutions during the Salem Witch Trials. The people were convicted and hung without any tangible proof of committing any crime. Persecutions were the order of the day. When a finger was pointed at any individual as a witch, the Deputy Governor Danforth never looked for evidence against them or evidence that incriminated them; he ordered them to be hanged. This can be seen through his words “Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for those, weeps for corruption!” (1273), the people were persecuted aimlessly. The four main characters in the play, John Proctor, Abigail Adams, Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris, are caught in the middle of the witchcraft panic in the religious Salem, Massachusetts in late 1690’s. Persecution is the most important theme in the Crucible, the leaders and citizens of Salem attacks and persecutes one of their own without any tangible evidence against them.

    Read More

  • The Crucible: Life Is Full of Hard Decisions

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we are first introduced to John Proctor, we learn of his affair with Abigail Williams, Abigail's involvement in the accusations of witchcraft, and of John's desire to do what is honorable. Because of John's desire to do what is honorable, he ends the affair with Abigail and begins to attempt to repair his broken marriage. Abigail's jealously of Elizabeth and desire to be John's wife leads to Elizabeth's name being mentioned in court. Abigail's mention of Elizabeth's name in court reveals her attempt to get rid of Elizabeth for she knows Elizabeth will claim innocence and be hung if she does. When word reaches the Proctors, about Abigail's mentioning of Elizabeth's name in court, John concludes that Abigail's motive is to kill Elizabeth. Knowing this information, John is faced with his first difficult decision, save his reputation, keep his affair a secret, and let the accusations continue, or ruin his reputation, tell of his affair, and end the girls' accusations. Not wanting to ruin his good name, John decides to hold his tongue and because of this the trials continue and more accusations are made, some of which lead to his wife's and his friends arrest for witchcraft and bewitchment.

    Read More

  • Abigail Williams Monologue Research Paper

    405 Words  | 1 Pages

    Recently, my client Tituba has been accused of performing the demonic act of witchcraft, more specifically- singing and dancing in her traditional Barbados ways. The accuser? Why, none other than Abigail Williams herself.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Power In The Crucible

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    Not only does Abigail accuse her of witchcraft, by framing her with a needle and poppet, but Elizabeth is pregnant while stuck in the nasty jail with all the other accused. All seems to be lost for Elizabeth. Until suddenly, all of the power in this story is shifted to her shoulders. Judge Hathorne calls her into the meeting room and must answer some simple questions. Without looking at John, Abigail, or anyone else except the judge, she must say why she kicked Abigail out of her home. After saying that she was dissatisfied with Williams’s work, the judge asks if John Proctor is an adulterer. By saying yes, she could end all the madness. Abigail and the afflicted girls would be caught in their lies, she could go home with John and be guilt free, all the other accused could go home, and justice would be served. Instead, Elizabeth goes against everything she has ever stood for. She lies. She says that John did not commit adultery, and Abigail steals all of the power again. Elizabeth and John are left powerless, and Abigail ultimately

    Read More

More about Abigail Williams Character Analysis Essay

Open Document