Abigail Williams's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Upholding one’s reputation is a common theme in The Crucible. Abigail Williams and her uncle Reverend Parris seem to be exceptionally careful with what they do to keep the reputation they have. Abigail Williams does a lot so she does not jeopardize her own reputation, even though it puts other’s lives at risk. To begin, Abigail lies about the events that partake in the woods. At first, Abigail said her and the girls were just dancing, but the truth crawled its way out of Abigail eventually. Next, Abigail threatens the girls to keep quiet:

And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you . . . I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! (Miller 1244)

Lastly, Abigail Williams keeps on accusing others for witchcraft to take the eyes off of her. At first, Abigail blames Tituba and said she is the reason she laughs in church and wakes up by the window naked trying to fly. Later on, she blames Elizabeth Proctor and Mary Warren. When Abigail blames other people in Salem, Hale and the judge look at Abigail as she is helpless and it is no longer her fault. Abigail trying to keep the reputation she has, starts driving her crazy. She acts devilish and crazy. All the other girls are afraid to not do what she says because of the threats she has made to them. Reverend Parris is another character that is passionate about his reputation. First, Reverend Parris denies the accusations made about Betty and that she may be