What Role Did Abigail Williams Play In The Crucible

What role did repressing women play in creating the Salem Witch Trials in Puritan society? Repression of women by the church in Puritan society lead to the women wanting power. The church was the powerhouse of the Puritan society, so if you were to get in trouble with the church you would be banished or hanged. Also, getting in trouble with the church could cost you your spot in heaven. Keeping women and young girls from the bulk of society and power made them seek power and rebellion.
The girls of the Salem witch trials lie to the society as to not get in trouble. Abigail leads them all in their lies by telling Mercy, “...listen now;if they be questioning us, tell them we danced- I told him as much already...He knows Tituba conjured Ruth’s sisters to come out of the grave...” (Miller 174). Abigail is covering for herself and Mercy by telling everyone all they were doing was dancing in the forest and Tituba was responsible for the rest. By blaming Tituba they are not in trouble because they blame others of witchcraft and forcing them to do so. If she were to tell them they were dancing, singing, and that Mercy was naked they would then be hanged for the devil to take their soul.
Rebellion

Abigail Williams was taken away from John Proctor by his wife, Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail then only wishes to be back with John and she fights for him. Her way of getting him back is to put Elizabeth in jail due to “stabbing” Abigail in the stomach with a voodoo doll. Proctor shows the court what type of girl Abigail really is when he calls out, “I have known her, sir. I have known her.”(Miller 220) confessing to lechery with Abigail Williams. Abigail Williams tries to deny knowing John Proctor, until a deleted scene from the play when Abigail says, “...your wife, your sniveling, envious wife!”(Miller 50) showing the reader Abigail is wanting Proctor’s wife to be gone, calling Elizabeth envious of