Abigail's Motivation In The Crucible

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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

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