During Act I you'll see how one decision brings people to mass hysteria. The one who I find most responsible for the cause of the uproar in Salem is Abigail Williams, Her denying being a part of the conjuring of spirits in the forest and accusing other people on accounts of witchcraft is what spread the issue and made it stem further than it needed to. If Abigail was apprehended by the court sooner Abigail wouldn't have been able to spread her lies and accusations. I choose Abigail because she was the antagonist in this play. In the Crucible Abigail Williams is the sole reason on why salem has gone through mass hysteria. Since Abigails way of protecting herself from being caught by the court was to threaten any witnesses that were apart of …show more content…
Abigail quickly pointed fingers towards the most vulnerable the ones that were least able to defend themselves in court. After many accusations from Abigail it led the court to confusion to apprehend anyone who they thought were a part of witchcraft when it was actually Abigail who should have received punishment from the court. Some evidence that supports my claim is when Abigail denies that she has engaged in acts of witchcraft that took place in the forest, in her attempt to keep her record clean she claims that betty fainted from a shock rather than from witnessing a conjuring of spirits. This way she could lower the suspicion that they had about what happened in the woods. The evidence above supports my claim by showing how Abigail consistently lies to save herself causing a problem that looked to be small into a full scale argument of misunderstanding. Also by threatening all of the girls who witnessed the conjuring with a death that will make them suffer. This in turn caused all of the witnesses to fear for their life and instead of accusing Abigail they begin to accuse others of being seen with the devil. Blaming others who took no part in their witchcraft resulted in innocent people being apprehended and further escalated the problem. “I saw sarah good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” This …show more content…
Since she is from another country before she was transported to Salem she followed different traditions while she lived their. The beliefs she followed were seen as demonic practices of witchcraft to the people of Salem. I believe Tituba could also be responsible for the cause of the witch trials because she was one of the only ones who knew how to conjure spirits through the rituals she learned before she was brought to Salem as a laboring slave. Without her no one would be able to conjure spirits through anyone else in Salem. Because of Tituba's conjuring it was one of the precursors that started the mass hysteria all over Salem. Although this doesn’t rule out the possibilities that their were others who followed the same traditions as Tituba that were also brought to Salem as slaves or had them passed down. On the contrary Abigail was the one who asked Tituba to conjure spirits in the first place and Abigail quickly blames Tituba for working with the devil “Hale: You most certainly do, and you will free her from it now! When did you compact with the Devil?” Tituba then denies the accusation made by Abigail “Tituba: I don’t compact with no Devil!” after Tituba was wiped continuously for denying she was working with the devil she claims that the devil controlled her to do so making her technically
I believe that Abigail Williams is to blame for turning the town of Salem against many people, and I think it is her fault that several people were killed. Abigail Williams sends the town into a state of hysteria by accusing men and women of practicing the satanic art of witchcraft. Abigail’s flaws - her lustful desire for John Proctor, her deceptive habit of lying in order to retain her good name in the town, and her selfishness and obsessive aspiration for power – led her to be ultimately responsible for the catastrophe of the witch hunt in Salem.
In The Crucible, Arthur Miller shows that the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials stems from human failings, particularly the need for vengeance, greed, and fear. Abigail Williams is an example of all three. Her fear prompts her to first accuse random women, her need for vengeance directs her toward Elizabeth, and her greed for power affects the lives of everyone around her. Individual flaws, when acted on collectively, inevitably cause the downfall of Salem.
Her accusations were the reason why the entire witch hunt in Salem came to be. “She comes to me while I sleep; she 's always making me dream corruptions!” This quote from Abigail falsely accusing Tituba of witchcraft is the main reason for the messed up justice in the town of Salem. The good and the innocent start to be accused and convicted by those without integrity. The audience starts to realize the deep problems in Salem. Eventually later on in the book, Abigail comes to realize the power she possesses over the people. She realized that she had the power and control to run the entire town and get what she wanted. This same situation is seen with Corporate America after 9/11. After the attack of 9/11 they saw that people were very paranoid when it came to wanting safety which is why the Bush administration took advantage of Americans by getting them to believe certain laws they wanted were necessary for their safety. Also, the Bush administration tried to get more control of the people by passing a bunch of unneeded laws to Congress. They lied to get what they wanted. The same scenario is shown by Abigail’s followers as they helped lie for her
A motivation can be described as a character having a reason to behave or act in a particular way. Someone or something can be someone's motivation. A child obeys its parents to avoid punishment or a clerk works overtime so that he can afford a better car are examples of motivation. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, characters illustrate several types of motivations. Throughout the play, Abigail is motivated by jealousy, power, and attention.
Abigail is wicked and confident and is not afraid to take control of situations. This is shown when she is with Parris, Abigail is respectful on the surface but she hides her resentment and disrespect. She talks back to defend her name and in Act One, she suggests to Parris," Uncle, the rumour of witchcraft is all about; I think you'd best go down and deny it yourself." She is also aggressive and forceful, the other girls are afraid of her. When Mary Warren suggested that they should confess to dancing in the woods. Abigail threatens them,."..I have seen some reddish work done at night and i can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!"
She is the niece of Reverend Parris and the cousin of Betty Parris; she used to work as a servant for the Proctors, before being sent away by Elizabeth Proctor; she is the ringleader of the “afflicted” girls. Abigail Williams was the initial instigator of the witch hunt in Salem in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. She lied and accused others of witchcraft in order to save herself. During the Salem Witch Trials over 200 people were accused of witchcraft and 20 were executed (Blumberg). Abigail Williams is a member of a strict Puritan society. Witnessing her parents being murdered right in front of her, being forced to live with her selfish inconsiderate uncle, and having a love for a man she
Mass hysteria is when everyone is afraid or feels unsafe about something in a certain community drawn from fear and rumors. Japanese Internment began during World War II because the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. Franklin D. Roosevelt passed Executive Order 9066 and sent Japanese- Americans to ten internment camps on the west coast. The Crucible happened during the 1600’s in Salem because Reverend Parris found girls dancing in the woods and said it was witchcraft. Then the constant allegations of the girls, led by Abigail Williams, set off a mass hysteria in Salem. When one points out that both those accused of witchcraft and those accused of being spy could not prove their innocence, one person called all of the shots, and there were light
Evil can come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Most people believe that only the mean people are seen as evil. I on the other hand disagree because even the nicest looking people can have the darkest soul, such as Abigail Williams. I believe that she has got to be the most despicable and cruel person in “The Crucible”.
In 1692 many people in Salem, Massachusetts were tried and some hung on accusations of witchcraft. The people of Salem are faced with many hardships and turmoil. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible he shows what life was like during these times in the town of Salem. Due to the witch trials and the people of Salem accusing everyone there were many people accused due to hatred. Abigail Williams is Elizabeth Proctor’s foil, meaning they are totally opposite and have a very hateful relationship.
Although she was a smart girl, Abigail was only out for herself and her own reputation. Abigail Williams didn't only lie about witchcraft, but she forced others to join in. She was Reverend Parris's niece and believed she could get away with whatever she wanted. Abigail did not want to have to damage her reputation by having a different testimony as all the other girls, so she forced them to lie as well. While alone with the girls she said, "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. And you know I can do it..." (Miller 1044). Abigail also stuck a needle in herself because she knew Goody Proctor had a poppet at her home with a needle in it. While talking to John Proctor about Abigail, Cheever remarked, "...and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, she draw a needle out. And demandin' of her how she come to be so stabbed, she testify it were your wife's familiar spirit pushed it in," (Miller 1077). Abigail may have been the most prominent person to lay the blame on, but other people were guilty as well.
In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the 1692 witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail is a mean and vindictive person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Through out the play her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth used to employ Abigail, until Elizabeth found out the affair and threw Abigail out. Although John told Abigail that the affair was over and he would never touch her again, she tried desperately to rekindle their romance. "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again." (Page 23) She claimed that she loved John and that he loved her. Before the play began, Abigail tried to kill Elizabeth with a curse. She thought that if Elizabeth were dead John would marry her. Further into the play, Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. She saw Marry Warren, the Proctor's servant, making a poppet. Mary put a needle into the doll, and Abigail used that for her accusation. She stabbed herself with a needle and claimed that Elizabeth's soul had done it. Although Abigail claimed she loved John, she may have just loved the care and attention he gave her. John cared for her like no one else had. In a way he could be described as somewhat of a father figure to her. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed her parents' brutal murders. "I saw Indians smash my dear parent's heads on the pillow next to mine..." (page 20) After her traumatic experience, she was raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris, who is somewhat of a villain. In the play it was written, "He (Parris) was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them." (Page 3) Parris regarded children as young adults who should be "thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak." (Page 4) Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing.
Abigail Williams is accused of witchcraft early on. In order to avoid conviction she confesses to witchcraft, accuses Tituba of forcing her to drink blood and do witchcraft, and accuses Elizabeth Proctor, Sarah Good, Goody Osburn, Bridget Bishop, Goody Sibber, Goody Hawkins, Goody Booth, and countless other innocent people in court. She throws herself down in the court and does other dramatic actions in order to convince the court that a person is in fact a witch. This leads to people being falsely accused of witchcraft and forced to accuse others in order to live. Because of Abigail's growing power in the court, people become fearful of her. One of the most important people who begins to fear her is Elizabeth Proctor. Elizabeth is afraid that Abigail will accuse her of witchcraft. She also gives more insight into Abigail's behavior in court. She states that Abigail will “scream and howl and fall to the floor” when the accused are brought forth (50). The people and the court begin to believe that Abigail can see who the witches are. Her words and actions become the deciding factors in a defendants fate.
Abigail Williams started the witch trials in Salem all because she and a group of her friends wanted some attention from their town. Abigail thinks she is superior to some people, specifically Tituba and has no problem accusing people she feels superior to. "They want slaves, not such as I. Let them send to Barbados for any of them!"(24). Abigail's first victim in her accusation spree was Tituba. Tituba was easy first target because she is a slave and practices voodoo, both things combined make her the easiest target in Salem. "Sometimes I wake and find myself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on my body! I always hear her laughing in my sleep. I hear her singing her Barbados songs and tempting me with-"(27). Abigail targets Tituba first so she can gain so...
Witchcraft is any kind of practice using magic, black magic, or the summoning of spirits. In Salem, Massachusetts, 1602 there was an uncontrolled fear among the puritans about anyone who was suspected of practicing witchcraft. This was the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. Most puritan women during this time were not allowed to show independence. In the play, “The Crucible,” written by A. Miller, Abigail Williams is a misunderstood character because she possesses independent traits, ideas, and shows female empowerment.
Abigail’s struggles come from many of her personal desires that are forbidden in her society, causing her to lie. However, this also creates further social problems, such as the initiation of the witch trials. After Betty is stuck in a coma, Reverend Parris questions Abigail about the night in the woods, because he is suspicious and she denies that it had anything to do with witchcraft. Abigail replies to Parris saying, “ We never conjured spirits” (24). Abigail lies to Parris, denies the statement that witchcraft ever occurred, and says that all they did was danced. Witchcraft and dancing both are sins in the society, and she knows that her reputation is at stake and finds the need to lie to look innocent. Parris wants to be sure and calls Reverend Hale to look further into the issue. Once Reverend Hale comes into town, he questions Abigail about the night, and she once again denies everything he asks her. Abigail is being questioned by Hale, and once Tituba enters she screams, “ She made me do it! She made Betty do it! She makes me drink blood!” (45). Abigail denies every...