Arguments For The Crucible

The witchcraft trials became a significant event in Salem. There were 20 innocent people that died and many more accused. There is a debate on whether who was the main reason for the witchcraft trials and all the deaths of the accused. There are good arguments on about every side. Judge Danforth, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, Elizabeth Proctor and Mary Warren are all the main arguments for the blame. Personally, I believe that Abigail Williams is the main reason why the witchcraft trials came about and that so many people have died and were accused.
The affair that happened between Abigail and Proctor was definitely was the start of all of witchcraft trials. While Abigail was in the woods with the girls from Salem she was wishing John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, dead so that she could be with John. Abby was in love with John and was willing to do whatever she could to be with him. She would “wait for him every night” (Miller 145) hoping that John would leave his wife for her. While in the woods, they were spotted by many people who assumed that the girls were doing witchcraft. At first the

girls denied it, then Abby realized that she could get innocent people accused and hopefully they would die. After that, Abby started accusing people, then finally she accuses Elizabeth Proctor. She couldn’t accuse Elizabeth right off the bat because there were a few people that did know about the affair and it would be too obvious.
Abby became a very manipulative person throughout the play.

She convinced all of the girls of Salem to lie and say that they weren’t doing anything in the woods, when they were actually dancing and wishing Elizabeth Proctor dead. Abby would threaten the girls if they did not lie with her. While the courts were in secession Abby would try to find any little thing to make the witchcraft sound more believable. She would act cold and start mocking Mary Warren to make it look like Mary was a witch and all of the girls would do what she would do. There were a few people who turned to Abby because they did not want to lie or die. Tituba said “..you be me to conjure, she begs me to make charm” (Miller 156) to make it look like Abby was a witch. Mary decides to side with John Proctor because he threatened her, which did not go over smoothly with

Abby.
Judge Danforth was wrapped around Abigail's finger during the witchcraft trials. He believed everything she had to say, no matter how bizarre it was. Once Judge Danforth said “child I do not mistrust you” (Miller 188) it established that Abby could say what she wanted to say and get away with it. Danforth believed that Mary was casting a spell on Abby and the girls of Salem in the courts when other people like John Proctor and Mary Warren knew that she was lying. Once Danforth told Mary to “... draw back your spirits” (Miller 191) Mary as well as John knew that there was nothing else they could really do because the deciding factor of trials was obviously on Abby’s side.
There are definitely other people who made a huge impact on the witchcraft trials. Without Abby and John’s affair, Abby would not have wished Elizabeth died. Which would not have people assume witchcraft and the trials would not have come about and have so many innocent people die.