Would you go so far as to get someone executed in order to spend life with a person you love? Some of the main goals in a person’s life is to be able to figure out unknown things. A major mystery might be what really goes on in someone’s mind. Within literature, readers often try to figure out what motivates characters throughout novels. The same goes for Arther Miller’s “The Crucible.” One of the main antagonists, Abigail Williams, is motivated by her true love: John Proctor. To achieve the goal of marrying him, she chooses to be manipulative, persistent, and jealous in pursuit of what she desires. While the actions she takes to achieve this goal may be questionable, she truly believes they will work. This play demonstrates how Abigail Williams …show more content…
After admitting to ‘dancing with the Devil’ Abigail reveals, “I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” (1.481). Abigail chooses to blame others to take the blame off of herself. While she did admit that she danced with the Devil, she also unveils the other girls who danced with her. Through this, we learn she is unfaithful to her friends and fellow civilians. She did not want to face the consequences alone. Elizabeth remarks, “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman…”(1.203). Abigail's attempt to get rid of Elizabeth is to spread the word of her evil ways and to accuse her of witchcraft. This method of manipulation is turning the entire society of Salem against Elizabeth, since eliminating Elizabeth is the key to John Proctor. She spreads lies to make everybody replicate her personal thoughts onto others: miserable and lonely. This demonstrates the manipulative side of Abigail that takes advantage of others throughout the story. By spreading lies about Elizabeth Proctor and betraying other girls, Abigail is proven to be disloyal and has a tendency to betray
When Abigail is being questioned by Parris and Hale she is asked if she saw any one else with the devil and starts throwing out names in society they are low questionable reputation. When Abigail is questioned she says Tituba, Sarah Good Elizabeth Proctor and, Goody Osborn. Even though she has no evidence she starts throwing put names that seem like they would be a witch because
Throughout the book Abigail is a vengeful,lying,scheming girl but in Act I the reader first gets a glimpse of Abigail's dark and evil qualities when she tried to kill Elizabeth so she can take her place to rekindle her “You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill
The truth should have come out, but her dream of wanting John Proctor blinded her from the outrage of the town. Abigail told the judge many false accusations. She is a witch of a person for putting people into jail just because of her actions. Evil shines through Abigail in the play very often. When she is acting in front of the judge trying to convince him that Mary Warren is a witch; Satan is basically coming through her.
Her love drives her to be manipulative and deceitful. She is willing to do anything to get rid of anyone who might come between her and Proctor, even his wife, Elizabeth. Abigail doesn't care about the consequences of her actions because all she wants is Proctor's love. She is determined to eliminate
Abigail displays many times in the story that she is an evil, coniving, and a corrupt person. Abigail states, “I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people --- and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a ---” (Miller 115). Abigail was in a precarious situation in the beginning of the play when herself and a group of girls were thought to be practicing witchcraft, so she developed lies about many other people in the village to save herself and the other girls that took part. She did not care if her lies caused innocent people to be murdered, as long as she kept her significant amount of power, and kept her high position in the village and the court.
Abigail believes that if Elizabeths gone then she would take her place as John Proctor’s wife. Abigail is mischievous in nature and tries whatever she can to keep her supposed innocence in the court. She portrays herself as a victim. She shows this when she says to Judge Dandorth, ““I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people-and this is my reward?
Not only does Abigail put blame on others but she also has an affair with Proctor in
I saw him. I wrote in his book… I saw Sarah Good with the Devil.” Tituba makes a fake confession. Abigail sees it as a way out of her predicament: if she confesses to being a witch, too, it would penalize her for performing spells in the woods with Tituba and her pals. Abigail drives a bogus confession of witchcraft.
But to get what she wanted she’d go to pretty far extents to get what she wanted. This being, to get John Proctor’s wife out of the way so she could replace her. Abigail has been working to get what she wants and her desire to get with John Proctor is what she wants, “I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty poitning out the Devil’s people” (Miller 111). Abigail was speaking to the Judge Danforth, one of the most respected in the town, Abigail could be seen as one who’s in most control in the play. Abigail’s constant lies and deceit has gotten hung for being a “witch” or “working with the devil”, “I--I know not.
She had affairs with John Proctor and loved him, but unfortunately for her he did not feel the same about her and we can see this through their conversation “Abigail: Give me a word John…. Abigail, in tears: I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart….” (22). Abigail Williams is very manipulative and because of this many innocent people were calumny and sentenced to death. It is very clear that Abigail is very vindictive as we can see clearly that she took revenge on Elizabeth for firing her.
For example, Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor who was married to Elizabeth Proctor at the time and got discovered. However, Abigail Williams still “loved” John Proctor and was rejected. Later, she accuses Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft, an action she uses as her revenge. These acts of cruelty ultimately affect all the victims and their families in this play as their consequence is to be hung. The vulnerability and sense of helplessness are all revealed in the victims as they are facing their
She demonstrates her manipulation when she threatened the girls with “ And mark this, let either of you breathe a word or edge of a word about other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shutter you” (miller 19). Abigail was very ruthless from beginning to end to save herself. Friends soon turned on each other. Mary Warren was fearful because John Proctor is now making her tell the Salem courts Abigail and the others are lying. This fear is demonstrated when she says “ I cannot, they’ll turn on me” (Miller 76).
John Proctor also claims in court that “she only pretended to faint” to try to convince that she is being attacked by witches and devils. Abigail Williams evil actions caused lots of people to suffer. Abigail Williams, a static character does not change by the end of the play because she continues to protect her reputation instead of telling the truth. Throughout the play Abigail choose to continue to lie about the witchcraft instead of telling the truth. She is a static charatcer because she had many chances to stop the trails, and tell the truth.
Abigail is willing to accuse any one in her path of witchcraft even if it means taking the lives of those close to her. Abigail Williams’ emotional desire guides her actions even if it conflicts with morality. Abigail williams is driven to do unthinkable things because of her love for John Proctor. Abigail works in the Proctor’s home and while doing so she finds herself attracted to John. Abigail’s obsession with Proctor leads them to have an affair, which they try to keep
Abigail 's heartless attitude is shown in act two when she frames and accuses Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft. She desired and longed for this revenge on poor Proctors innocent wife, aiming for her through out the play. Later on in Act Three she seems to lose her last attachment of society by destroying John Proctor, who she claims to love with all her heart. When John attempts and threatens to expose Abigail’s wrong doings, she skillfully manages to turn the whole problem around on him, sending him off