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Analysis Of Abigail In The Crucible

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Give me a word, John. A soft word” (Miller 22), says Abigail as she ponders her lustful intentions. In the play, The Crucible, Abigail is an antagonist who causes strife that is not fortuitous. She uses her imagination and the situation she is in to make herself appear superior and to achieve a higher status. There are also many factors that contribute to the trouble Abigail causes, such as, the Puritan society, her past, and her wits. These childish behaviors and deceitful actions cause great upheaval throughout the text. Therefore, Abigail is very much to blame for the turmoil in the play, yet she acts as if she is entitled to be pardoned from her actions. Abigail and the Puritan society of Salem are to blame for the anxiety amongst …show more content…

This immature behavior of Abigail is her using her past as an excuse. Persistently, Abigail attempts to make herself the victim in every situation, and she blatantly states her backstory in the quote, “I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!” (Miller 20). Abigail is able to use this story to convince the town’s officials she is telling the truth. Sympathy is purely what Abigail is searching for at this point, because she knows that is she can get that then everyone will listen. Knowingly, Abigail achieves her goal of not being blamed since she places it on others, and by giving everyone the idea that she can’t help her actions. Correspondingly, this quote makes it prevalent to how she attaches herself to John Proctor, “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot!” (Miller 24). Notably, Abigail exploits John Proctor’s character with her deception. Surely enough, John Proctor is gullible enough to get himself into this situation which is irreversible. Likewise, Abigail is capable of making everyone believe outside factors

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