Abigail William's Arrogance In The Crucible Essay

In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Miller demonstrated that it was Abigail William’s flaws – mendacity, lust, and arrogance – that led her to be responsible the most for the tragedy of the witch hunt in Salem, Massachusetts. Driven by lust, Abigail was able to lie to the Salem community in hopes of covering her and her friends’ deeds and gaining the attention of John Proctor. Her arrogance enabled her t0 advance her deceit.

Abigail’s mendacity is a driving force throughout the play. It becomes clear early on in Act One that Abigail is hiding something. Her reactions to her uncles questioning of her name and reasons for discharge from Goody Proctors service are curious. The stage directions indicate that she answers “with an edge of resentment,” “with ill concealed resentment” and “in a temper.” She defends herself by slandering Goody Proctor. When she and her friends were together and realized that they could be in serious trouble she told them exactly what to say and threatened them if they did otherwise. When pressed with questions about the night of dancing in the woods and drinking blood, she tells blatant lies about Tituba by saying, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!” (1154). This is known to be a lie because earlier when the girls were discussing their alibi, it came out that Abigail drank the bloody charm to kill John Proctor’s wife. Tituba says that

Abigail begged her to conjure and make the charm. In Act Three, Abigail bears false witness against Elizabeth Proctor concerning the poppets by saying, “Goody Proctor always kept poppets” (1201). According to Mary Warren, John Proctor, and Elizabeth, there were no poppets in their house. This was another attempt by Abigail to get rid of Elizabeth. She knew that Mary had made a poppet in court and stored a needle in the doll's belly. Abigail accused Elizabeth of using witchcraft to shove a needle in her stomach. Consequently, Goody Proctor was arrested.

From the minute that John Proctor enters Abigail’s presence it is evident that she lusts after him. The stage directions as well as the dialogue indicate strong attraction. Directions such as “absorbing his presence,” “feverishly looking into his eyes,” and “clutching him desperately,” show how much she desires him. “Gah! I’d almost forgot how strong you are, John Proctor,” (1139) is the first thing Abigail says to him when she sees John. It is said in a flirty manner that attests to the fact that though she has not seen him recently she still desires him. It’s clearly a statement that is meant to flatter him and draw his attention to her, and away from Betty who is lying sick in bed. “I cannot sleep for dreamin’: I cannot dream but I wake and walk about the house as though I’d find you comin’ through some door,” (1140) said through Abigail’s tears is meant to convince John how much she still wants him. Lust for John is one reason they were in the woods that night that began the whole tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials.

The final character flaw that Abigail Williams exhibits is arrogance. Her domineering attitude was first seen in Act One when she told the girls what to say about the incident in the woods. Her manner proved that she had no doubt that the girls would do what she instructed them to do. Also in Act One, when talking with John Proctor, she displayed a certain smugness indicating she was assured of her importance to him. By Act Four, Abigail’s ego has grown profusely. At this point in the play terror is controlling Salem because of what she has put into motion. People have been executed; others are still in jail awaiting trial. Mary Warren, at John Proctor’s urging, confesses to the court that everything the girls have alleged that the citizens have done was not true. Abigail’s response is to become outraged by Deputy Governor Danforth’s questions. She openly threatens the Deputy Governor in the courtroom. “Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it!” (1205). For a woman of this time to speak like that to a man, much less a high ranking court official, is audacious. After John Proctor confesses his adultery to the court, Danforth again questions Abigail. She steps up to the Deputy Governor and says, “What look do you give me? I’ll not have such looks!” (1207), and turns to leave the courtroom. Danforth is speechless. Only someone with supreme confidence in her self-importance could act this way. By responding truthfully to either of these questions from Danforth, further tragedy could have been avoided.

Without the character Abigail Williams, the tragedies in Salem would most likely not have occurred.

She lied to cover up the fact that she had Tituba conjure a charm that would kill the wife of the man she lusted after. She dispassionately intensified the lies that brought distrust to the community. She had several opportunities where she could have prevented the devastation that occurred in Salem. When she finally realized things were going to catch up with her, she stole money from her Uncle Parris and disappeared. She couldn’t even stay to see the destruction that she

caused.