How Does Abigail Williams Present Power In The Crucible

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Abigail Williams is a girl in the town of Salem. She lives with her uncle, Reverend Parris. Abigail used to work in the house of John and Elizabeth Proctor as their maid. It has been suggested that she is fond of Ms. Proctor. It has also been claimed that Proctor steered away from his faith towards his wife, Abigail. One night Abigail and some of the girls from the village went out into the woods and met up with a local house slave, Tituba. Tituba is from Barbados and has knowledge of spells and potions from her heritage. The girls came to her to make love potions and hoped their wishes would come true. Abigail wished for Proctor's love. The scene of these girls showed that they were participating in witchcraft. Reverend Parris heard these …show more content…

“Referent power is the result of a person's perceived attractiveness, worthiness and right to others' respect”. In the Crucible, Abigail seems to be the leader of the group of girls. She is the one that comes up with the ideas which the other girls respect and, due to them not wanting to get in trouble, they will follow her. For example,( SIGHT PAGE AND STANZA ) In the Crucible Mary Warren was brought to the court to confess that the girls were lying, only knowing because she was once a part of that group. When Mary Warren confessed to the judges, Abigail instantly denied. After a while, Abigail started to lose the argument. She then resorted to doing the one thing that could save her, crying witch. She pretended to go cold looking up at the ceiling. She cries out, claiming Mary Warren was sending her spirit out on her. After she said that, she looked towards the other girls so they could catch on. Then the other girls started going cold. Mary Warren knew what was happening, so she started pleading for Abigail to stop. Abigail, pretending that she can't see Wary Warren, was still staring into the distance. After a few more pleas, Abigail then claimed that she could hear her but not see her. She starts acting like she is being forced to mimic Mary. After Abigail did so, the other girls started doing so as well. So clearly Abigail is using her influence on the girls to get what she wants to save …show more content…

Legitimate power comes from the belief that a person has the formal right to make demands, and to expect others to be compliant and obedient. For example, a president, prime minister or monarch has legitimate power. So does a CEO, a religious minister, or a fire chief. Electoral mandates, social hierarchies, cultural norms, and organizational structure all provide the basis for legitimate power. Although, in the Crucible, Abigail is slightly higher on the hierarchy in Salem, after she claims to have the knowledge of knowing if a person is a witch or not. It is shown in the movie and is described in the book (STANZA), after a court hearing, when Abigail walks out, the members of the town reach out to her. Give her thanks and praise her for all the “good work” she has been doing in the town. She is also seen as a so-called authority figure in the courtroom. When it comes to her quick thinking and the will to start crying witch, she is seen as a leader and the group of girls are too scared to cross her which causes them to follow her getting her anything she

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