Abigail Williams Personality

The Split Personality of Abigail Williams

The idea of a perfect woman evolves and retrogress constantly. Abigail Williams, a real puritan young woman, known for her character in The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, expresses many traits during her time in Salem. She is the main cause of the Salem WItch Trials, and the major antagonist of the story. When with her uncle, Reverend Parris, she behaves sweetly and innocently. When with John Proctor, her secret lover, she acts frivolous and desperate. When with the few girls around her age in Salem, she shows her manipulative and psychotic characteristics. During her time, Abigail appeared as the “perfect puritan woman” from far away. The closer one would get, the more her complicated and

In the play, Abigail was questioned by her uncle about her recent rebellious activities and if she is known to be good and well-behaved. She then replies, “Why, I am sure it is, sir. There be no blush about my name.”(page 12) This quote means that she is known to be a “good girl” and is setting a good reputation for herself and her family. In this scene, at the beginning of the play, I was under the impression that Abigail was a good-natured young girl, who was being wrongfully questioned. In this side of her personality, or front, she would be the perfect, ideal puritan young woman. Only speaking when needed, respectful, and strong in her religion are characteristics she is praised with by her uncle and few

During their argument in Act one, Abigail overrexpresses her admiration for Procter using quotes such as, “Gah! I’d almost forgot how strong you are, John Procter!”(page 21) or the infamous quote, “I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream that? It’s she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now!”(page 22) In this quote she is not only using highly improper language, she is also manipulating Procter. When around him, Abigail Williams has proven that when she feels extreme emotions, she will not hold back on expressing them. Even though this kind of behavior is unacceptable in Puritain times, John Procter still fell for her and her rebellious side. This says a lot about Abigail, she was capable of turning a godly man, who loves his wife and children, to a man guilty of adultery. The way Abigail interacts and treats Proctor, shows her manipulative and lustful characteristics, which is highly discouraged in the Puritain