Character Analysis Of Abigail Williams In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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Today in society a person’s future is often dictated by their past. Traumatic events will in many times create a such a person to behave in an unacceptable behavior. Throughout literature such people are used as characters to further the plot. The term frequently used for this type of character is an antagonist. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the protagonist, Abigail Williams, creates the sole conflict based on her adolescent years. For characters like Abigail, in The Crucible, her early life and relationship with John Proctor contributes to her actions despite some being seen as inexcusable. The introduction of Abigail Williams sets the stage for how she is treated and how damaging her life already is. The author describes her as, “a strikingly beautiful girl, with an endless capacity for dissembling (Miller 8). Although it doesn't give the exact age, by the year of the novel Abigail is an orphan and has already began to conceal her true feelings. Although Abigail finds a home with her uncle, Reverend Parris, in reality the home is quote unwelcoming. An example of Parris’s inability to establish love is shows in act one, “I have given you a …show more content…

Although Abigail came from a harsh background some readers believe that her actions are solely vengeful. To prove such actions often readers point out that Abigail desired to kill Elizabeth from the beginning, “[Betty to Abigail] You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife(Miller 19)! Even though Abigail felt as though Elizabeth was the bane of her existence, she had just cause because from her position, the only man that feels passion for her isn't there and Elizabeth was to blame. Readers must know that at the time of the play Abigail is a mere 17 years and can be easily persuaded into love. Also coming from a background of lost or non existent love it's easy to do anything by all means necessary to regain

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