The Motivation Of Abigail Williams In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.”(Philippians 2:3) The hysteria that menacingly plagues the citizen’s minds is predominantly responsible for the cataclysmic events in Salem. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, demonstrates these incidents in an engaging fashion, using Historical Fiction to depict the numerous complications of rapacious cupidity, and greedy misconducts. The suppressed motives relating to personal ambitions is what upsurges the vehement hysteria in Salem.

One specific antagonist, Abigail, generally displays relentlessly selfish behavior, which plays a significant factor towards augmentation Salem’s rampant hysteria. Abigail Williams, from the root of the

Reverend Parris demonstrates rapaciously greedy traits by sustaining high concerns relating to fortifying his reputation. His repetitive demonstrations of excessively selfish behaviors are prominent when he stands upon his ill daughter’s bedside, but is rather concerned with his reputation instead of his daughter’s health. He experiences trepidation that the citizens will suspect witchcraft maliciously consumes his household. This circumstance could result in a loss of his high position, therefore he furiously refuses to acknowledge the slightest potential of Witchcraft within his home. In the court, he continues to display his deceitful principles by intentionally lying about Abigail dancing in the woods. Parris gives weak justifications, nor denies any of the ongoing witchcraft accusations, which is evident specifically in court when Proctor inquires how dubious the claims relating to the women are,”‘I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.’”(Miller III.131) Reverend Parris consecutively denies the potential of the women’s enduringly favorable reputations in the community being related to the accusations, by stating that a highly unreliable counter reason, that the Devil is disingenuous. The novel thoroughly exposes Reverend Parris as a misleadingly selfish individual, who is motivated by his avarice to amplify the hysteric