Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, is a tragic play with a significant message that is carried out through the actions and behaviors of a variety of characters ranging from heroic martyrs to malicious calumniators. On the side of the victimized heroes there are over two dozen innocent people who were put to death. Some of these wrongfully killed characters are principals in the play, such as John and Elizabeth Proctor. Conversely, on the malevolent, pernicious side of the story there is a group of people determined to destroy or take the lives of others. Anew, some of those malignant characters are principals in the play. The quintessence of these abhorrent characters is Abigail Williams. The most despicable character in The Crucible, is Abigail, who is Miller’s embodiment of greed and selfishness; Abigail’s behaviors throughout the play such as being unremorseful and defiant make her the most detrimental character Miller conjured.
Selfishness is a recurring theme in The Crucible, as one's own reputation and place in society acceded all other priorities. Abigail was one of the first characters to display this soon to be unforgivable trait. Abigail took her own interests into consideration and nothing more; she was obsessed with self-preservation, revenge, being accepted, and getting what she wanted. Abigail was willing to do anything, even lie and take the lives of others to get what she desired. One of those desires was an older, married man, John Proctor. Right from the start
It’s important to note why and how Abigail inherited her selfish behavior in the first place, and what caused her to act a certain way. Abigail claims that she is in love with John Proctor, and the two characters were discovered to have an affair with each other. John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, finds out about the affair and
In Arthur Miller 's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, Abigail Williams remained a static character throughout the book. Abigail is a mean, deceitful and manipulative person who always wants her way; she has no remorse about who she hurts along her journey to get her want she wants.
Within today’s society, an individual’s morals determines how one is scrutinized, judged, and reprimanded. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Abigail Williams is a character with compelling moral principles. Abigail’s disoriented moral constitution allows the theme, the detrimental effects of mass hysteria, to be constantly reassured throughout the play. Through the egotistical, manipulative, and deceitful rhetoric of Abigail Williams, Arthur Miller is successful in conveying how the spread of misinformation can tear apart a small town.
In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible Abigail Williams, an unmarried orphan in the Massachusetts town of Salem, incessantly grows more jealous, her desire for vengeance only grows stronger, and her selfishness escalates. She repeatedly lies to save herself by denying her involvement in witchcraft. Abigail's Jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor intensifies in attempt to realize her desire for Elizabeth's husband John Proctor. In order to save herself she accuses the innocent, without any sense of ethical violation. Abigail proves to be a selfish antagonist in The Crucible that shows no sense of right and wrong.
Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, focuses on the inconsistencies and injustice of the 1692 witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts. The restrictive Puritan society of Salem in the 17th century was based upon religious intolerance, where faith was demonstrated through physical labour and by strict adherence to religious doctrine. Material, physical and sexual desires were considered the Devil’s work and a threat to the very fabric of society. In summary, it is said that Puritanism discouraged individualism on all levels. The literal way in which the Bible was interpreted by the Puritans, provides a paradox within the play. This is because although the Bible says “thou shalt not kill,” the people of Salem are willing to sentence innocent
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible presents Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams who serve important roles through their unique characteristics and thinking. John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, has two defining characteristics that show throughout this play: she not only lives to please everyone around her and behaves passively, but she lacks the assertiveness to confront what lies directly under her nose. However, Abigail, the girl John Proctor commits the crime of adultery with, manipulates those around her. She is keen to act upon an opportunity when one arises and feels a determination to get her way. While Elizabeth and Abigail are similar in their love for John Proctor, Elizabeth differs from Abigail through her tendency to try to please everyone and keep her own emotions bottled up, while Abigail believes the world revolves around her and works to make things go her own way.
Her actions killed the man she once loved. She contradicted love for herself and love for another. Threatening the lives of others for her benefit. This manipulative girl that has an affair with a respectable and honest man. The deceptive girl, Abigail is the cause of a major incident in salem. “The Crucible” written by Arthur Miller tells the story of how theocracy in courts failed the innocent people. Abigails true nature is shown in the play, while trying to show her love proctor.
The sins of deceit and lust have plagued the human race since the dawn of time. These feelings and wishes can make people do some of the worst things known man. In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, these two sins are applied to many characters one of which is Abigail Williams. The play revolves around the Abigail and her friends attempting to cover up their past transgressions against the Salem community while Abigail attempts to get together with John Proctor. Abigail suffers from the sins of lust and deceit most chronically which she uses to fulfill her agenda throughout the play. Due to Abigail's lust for John and her constant utility of untruths lead the people to fear for their lives leading them to hurt innocent people making Abigail the main transgressor of the Salem condition.
To start with, selfishness causes drama throughout the town in The Crucible; often drama can lead to relationship ending or fatal situations. In the past, John Proctor and Abigail Williams had an affair. After the affair, Abigail Williams would continue trying to seduce John Proctor; it was not working. Proctor was trying to earn his wife, Elizabeth Proctors, trust
Paranoia and the fear of the unknown often serve as motives of characters in literature. These characters do whatever they deem necessary, no matter how unjust their actions may be when they feel threatened. In times of distress, some of these actions can become questionable. The author of The Crucible, Arthur Miller, emphasizes people’s boundless reactions to anxiety and questions the morality of their rationale. In The Crucible, Miller makes desperation and fear the motivations for Abigail Williams’s action to illustrate how depraved people can become when protecting themselves.
American playwright, Arthur Miller, in his play The Crucible, implies that witch hunts still exist in American society. Miller supports this claim by drawing parallels between the Salem Witch Trials and the Senator Joseph Mccarthy Trials. His purpose is to warn his readers of the dangers of mass hysteria. He uses emotional appeals and logic to convince the reader that mass “hunts” are still a danger to Americans today. The central way, however, that Miller achieves his topmost goal of displaying the hazards of Individuality vs. Ideology is through the expressive characterization of Reverend John Hale. John hale is an example of outward conformity because he believes in the devil in the beginning, he sees that the girls are
The second flawed characteristic of humanity seen in “The Crucible” is survival. Miller portrays this in his play by using dramatization. Throughout the play, many people were driven by the need to survive, jeopardizing other people’s reputation and safety to ensure their own survival. This would make several scenes in the play very dramatic. There is no character that better exemplifies this then Abigail, possibly the most dramatic character in “The Crucible.” She exhibits this behavior early on in the story. When Paris confronts her about her and the other girls dancing in the woods, she immediately turns and blames Tituba, calling her a witch and a devil worshipper (12). She even accuses Tituba of conjuring spirits to ensure that she would
The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller uses acts of cruelty to expose how human nature is used to save one’s self. Cruelty functions through deception and confusion and reveals that Abigail Williams is a sociopath that had sadistic tendencies.
In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, numerous characters are blinded by their goals to take into account of the others around them. Reverend Parris is a man who is afraid of being rejected by society but secretly weighs his opinions above others. On the other hand, Governor Danforth believes his words are crucial, and no one shall judge his words. However, the true character that plays a vital part in the story is the manipulative Abigail Williams. All three characters are villains of this tragic play that rebels against the structure of society.
Imagine the year is 1692. In a small Massachusetts town a culture of highly religious folk live in peace. Salem. It´s late January and the reverendś young niece Abigail and only daughter begin to act strangely. Rumors of witchcraft fly through town and fear runs rampant.In around a year 200 people are unjustifiably accused and 20 sentenced to capital punishment. Who is next? The strange widow down the road? The Coreys? In a time of obscured justice, line were crossed and innocent lives lost. In his breakthrough play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller spins a tale not far from the truth.Letting his readers explore a gruesome tale of blind hatred. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Abigail Williams embodies the wrongdoings of the Salem Witch Trials.