Abigail's Motivation In The Crucible

Self-motivation. Where does it come from? In today’s society, it could be argued that people’s motivation comes from the active pursuit of acceptance from others. Positive reinforcement from peers, colleagues, guardians, and friends when a person does something for attention, even if it is not a morally correct thing to do, sends a message to that person that what they are doing is okay. The real question; however, is did they do it for themselves? Are the actions done with the intent of getting attention from the crowd that is watching like a hawk or is it perhaps second-nature and they do it for the benefit of society? In the Puritan town of Salem in nineteen-sixty-two, the same question remains. Even more so, back then in the small city of Salem, their sinful nature was not something to mess with. It is almost as if that high standard was too high for some and they were aware of that. Ultimately, were the actions of the promiscuous Abigail Williams, the hard-working John Proctor or the wise Goodwife Nurse, or the knowledgeable Reverend Hale selfish or was it for the “greater good” of the society?
When Abigail first started to accuse people in her town of witchcraft, she was trying to protect herself. Blaming other people and

knowing that her word was taken word for word as the pure and holy truth, Abigail was selfishly able to manipulate the judge and the people of her town to be on her side. Her ultimate goal was the attention she thought she would earn from her secret, married lover, John. To her it was life or death, and her morals had been dulled already, so what was a little more destructive behavior to herself and others. Abigail even went so far as to prick herself in the stomach with a needle and then blamed it on John’s wife, Elizabeth. (FIND PAGE) All the while, her hysteria and delusional self (who thought only of herself) genuinely believed that she was doing her beloved community a service.
On the other hand, John Proctor knew that he was in the wrong all along. His affair with Abby shows the reader that he is only thinking of his own desires and not the desires of his wife, his children, and his good, respectable name in his town. Proctor’s behavior starts off with us as the reader’s understanding that he is having a conflict within himself. An internal battle. He knows what his sinful nature wants and he knows what is for the best. So although his colors show of wanting people and objects selfishly: Abigail, his good name although he does not deserve it, his life which he does deserve, but cannot have, his integrity and his wife’s love and forgiveness. Had he achieved the entirety of what he wanted- selfishly for a good reason or not- would he have been content with his life still? John ended up doing what was in fact good for his conscious and his soul and the good of the community. He did the selfless act and chose death over lies. To prove a point but most importantly, to not die in vain.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Goody Nurse was very much concerned with the people of her town. She knew she was innocent, and yet she wanted nothing to do with saving herself. Swearing on the bible, she said she was innocent. (FIND PAGE). When a person stands up for themselves, that might be considered selfish. Is it, though? If Rebecca Nurse never questioned and fought back, the trials would have gone on for longer. Like Proctor, Goodwife Nurse was not going to live a lie and so she refused to confess. Some might consider that act selfish, but how unselfish it is to die for a good purpose and for something you believe in instead of egoistically keeping one’s life by lying. Rebecca Nurse, along with everyone else who denied it, did exactly that.
When Reverend Hale first arrived to the scene, he was there because the town said they needed his help. Alleged witchcraft was not Salem’s forte and an expert was needed. Hale arrived with his books, and his brain full of knowledge, seeking the town to find anything. His mission was simple: Find the devil in Salem. He knew that if he found some and did a job well done, it would be another accomplishment he would have completed. Was it for self-centered reasons or for the benefit of the community that he was desperately trying to accurately accuse people? It is both. A reverend is not supposed to be selfish. But can he help it? Of course not. He is also a human being, just like the rest of the town is. Eventually Hale understood that what was needed was the truth. He, like the accused, stood up against the judge knowing that he was betraying the person he came to serve. Truth overrides position and Hale knew that. Selflessly, his demeanor changed and he knew that his conscious would not be able to handle the blood of all those innocent lives on his hands.
Just like in today’s society, there are situations in which people will be selfish no matter what.

In the twenty-first century, narcissism is something people applaud. When it comes down to it, though, it is impossible to know why a person does the things he or she does. It is only up for assumption what the person’s motives are and it only makes sense that both sides are prevalent behind those person’s actions. Even the most holy of holy people sin and are selfish. It was no different than in a want-to-be utopian society of Puritan people in Salem, Massachusetts. More often than not, the desires of oneself won the battle, but like anywhere in the world, people of integrity stood high for the benefit of their community- ending up

heroes.