Rumors of witchcrafter flows throughout the town. Blame is being put on Abigail, saying she is a reason why Betty is unconscious. To get all of the towns people off Abigail's back she tells the girls to admit nothing and blame it on random people. Abigail still wants Proctor after their affair , but he warns her off and tells her to stop. As soon as Betty awakes she begins to scream.
Now because of the poor choice of dancing naked in the woods, one of her good friends are very sick. (Can Reverend Hale help them before it gets too late?) In Salem, witchcraft is blamed upon Betty’s illness. When all is said and done, Salem seems to be a very dangerous home for the people living there. Now it is all up to Reverend Hale to fix this terrible act.
There is a murdering witch among us, bound to keep herself in the dark. Parris turns to Betty, a frantic terror rising in him. Let your enemies make of it what they will, you cannot blink it more. Parris, to Abigail: Then you were conjuring spirits last night. Abigail, whispering: Not I, sir - Tituba and Ruth” (Miller 16).
The audience learns early in the play that Abigail, Betty, Mercy, and Mary Warren are witches trying to cover their tracks by accusing others of witchery. At one point when Betty is ill in bed, all of the girls are in the same room and are discussing what happened. They all went out at night and danced around a fire, Tituba charmed blood, and Abigail drank it- hoping to kill Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of her love interest. When they meet in the house, the girls plan to admit to dancing, but nothing more (Miller 18-20). At the end of the act, they start accusing nearly everyone of being a witch to get themselves out of trouble (48).
Reverend Parris begins to question Abigail about what they were doing in the woods. Betty still could not wake so Reverend Parris sent for Hale. Hale specializes witchcraft things. Hale believe that there is something supernaturally wrong with Betty. When Reverend Parris questions Abigail it he brings up that Abigail was let go by the Proctors and has been re-hired in months.
But they’re speakin’ of witch-craft. Betty’s not witched. Parris: Abigail, I cannot go before the congregation when I know you have not opened with me. What did you do with her in the forest?
A static character is someone whose personality does not change as a story developes. An example of a static character is Abigail Williams from Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. Abigail keeps the same goals and motives as the play develops. Throughout the play Abigail is manipulative of others around her and lies to benefit herself. The first two acts of the play show how Abigail manipulates others and lies to prevent getting in trouble for what she did.
“Inside each of us there is the seed of both good and evil. It’s a constant struggle as to which one will win. And on cannot exist without the other”. (Eric Burdon) In Miller’s play The Crucible Abigail and Elizabeth both had to choose between good and evil.
Reverend Parris, worried for his own job, explains to Abigail that her “punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” Even the idea of witchcraft in Reverend Parris’s house could ruin his reputation in the town and therefore risk his job. By Betty being ‘afflicted’, she is holding power over her own father and his position in the town. She knows that the longer she is asleep, the more desperate her father is going to be blame someone for the witchcraft who is not her.
He contacts Reverend Hale, a witchcraft expert, to determine if Betty is bewitched or not. Abigail is a former slave to the Proctor’s, Elizabeth and John. Elizabeth begins to stop attending church. When she stops attending Church the town thinks it is because she does not want to be in contact with Abigail. Elizabeth demonstrates strength, commitment, and tolerance during the numerous dreadful endurances with the witchcraft trials.
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 forces the girls of Salem to dance in the woods with her to help conjure spirits and make the charm to kill Goody Proctor. Abigail threatens the girls right after Betty took fright by saying, “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.” (Miller, 144). Later on as the trials prolong Mary Warren turns on Abby and is telling the court that she lied. When Abigail then accuses Mary of witchcraft she turns back to Abby and obeys her once again.
Abigail The Victim In the Crucible many are to blame for the events that occurred, but one of the one’s who seems to take blame the most is Abigail Williams. She holds most of the responsibility because she was to blame for the girls meeting with Tituba in the woods. When Parris located the girls in the woods, Abigail tries to hide her behavior because she fears that it will uncover her affair with Proctor if she confesses that she attempted to cast a spell on his wife, Elizabeth. Abigail also lies to avoid being punished for witchcraft.
Nicole Schaefer Mr. Becker American Literature October 29, 2014 Two Women for Two Different Worlds In the novel the crucible, Elizabeth, wife of John Proctor, and Abigail Williams, mistress of John Proctor are two main roles. Elizabeth, a woman who is loyal and true, or manipulative and ruthless liar, Abigail. She pretends to see spirits and commands the other girls to pretend as well.
But they’re speakin’ of witchcraft. Betty’s not witched.” (Miller 462). Abigail feels it would be better to confess to dancing and be whipped than be accused of witchcraft.
