Deception In The Crucible

I believe that one theme that is clearly displayed in the Crucible is deception. As we look through the text of this play we are shown how falsehood and deception reveal themselves in characters.

Abigail Williams, young and beautiful, swoops into the text with her lies from the very first Act. Only 12 pages into the script we see her lie to her uncle by saying “ She [ Elizabeth Proctor] hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman.” (Miller 12). Abigail’s hate and envy of Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of her ex-lover, brings her to spread lies about her. Abigail loves John Proctor and will do anything to make him love her in return. Consumed by her lust and horrified about her reputation about the town, Abigail throws herself into the pit of deception. After a while, it is evident that she has gone past the point of no return. “ You see sir, she told me that she would stay a night with Mercy Lewis...” (Miller 126). This is takes place in the last act when Reverend Parris is speaking to Judge Danforth. Parris is explaining that Abigail has just run off and stolen all his life savings. Without

We also see it when Abigail continuously lies to save herself from looking like the town prostitute. This theme relates back to Miller’s underlying theme of injustice. Everyone believed Abigail Williams even though they had no reason to, just like most everyone believed the “ whites” in the 60s. There is an unspoken tone and message found in the Crucible that is easy to spot when and if you are looking for it. No matter what age or what time period injustice and inequality has survived and thrived and many people have tried to end it. The question is… Are you going to allow it to continue or are you going to do something about it to make it