What Is The Literary Criticism Of The Crucible

In 1692, when the Salem Witch Trials thrived, everyone feared a common enemy, witches. Abigail Williams, the niece of the powerful Reverend Parris, begins accusing women of being witches after she herself is accused of conversing with the devil. “...I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!”(45) The people of Salem originally had nothing to fear until Abigail William’s wild accusations. These claims led to the majority fearing that anyone was capable was witchcraft. This turned friends and even family members against each other. John Proctor, a seemingly innocent man, had been accused of participating in dark magic. Reverend John Hale is conversing with his wife to convince her to persuade her husband to confess to his sins.

The Crucible is a complex and intriguing novel with events, characters and themes comparable to almost every period of human history. It is common for humans to fear change and what is unknown, in the play The Crucible this is witchcraft and the devil, in more recent times it can be seen in post World War Two and Cold War United States, through McCarthyism. The themes in the crucible are as important to people in the 21st century as in Salem in 1692. These include justice, reputation, hysteria, intolerance and empowerment. All of these are common themes throughout human history. The characters in The Crucible are also important to people of the 21st century as they can teach us a little bit about people around us and their reactions when

Then, i will tell you what i believe caused the salem community to respond in such a cruel and violent way. The first theory is that a disease could have caused the accusations. There was a disease going around in the village called ergot. It’s a very poisonous disease that can also be formed as fungus.

Abigail is not only a liar she is selfish. She tells lies that hurt others in order to help herself and she is devious. In the court room she announces, "I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil, I saw him, I wrote in his book, I go back to Jesus, I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah

personality and is one of the main focus on the story .Abigail's attention grabbing personality

To begin, Abigail’s background story must be explained for anybody to truly understand her character. Abigail is an orphan who witnessed her parents’ brutal murder as a young child and was taken in by her uncle Reverend Parris (148). Abigail has grown up without a proper mother and father figure to guide her through the trials of life. When Abigail is first introduced into the scene, the narrator uses an intriguing choice of words to describe her. Some literary analysts may argue that Abigail’s childhood living situation is the reason that she behaves the way she does; however this is not the case. Abigail has a tendency to victimize herself to gain and receive attention whenever she pleases. Throughout acts I and II, Abigail has made herself the victim in a multitude of different ways. For example, Reverend Parris accuses Abigail of having a blemished reputation around the town of Salem. She denies this statement; however, when Parris calls her bluff, she blames the

Since Abigail is the Reverends niece and grew up with a pastor in the household it seems as if she should be very humble and a good person but her human nature took a toll making her greedy therefore making her dishonest and deceptive. She is afraid that people won’t agree with her, that motivates her to get people on her side. She then falsely accuses others of witchcraft and her being the victim. Witchcraft was taken very seriously back then and it ended up ripping apart the town and caused non stop fighting by almost everyone. Abigail’s main motive is John Proctor so she tries to lie to John about his wife to get him to fall for her “She is blackening my name in the village she is telling lies about me she’s a cold swiveling

Abigail's characteristics are a factor in her actions and reactions during the play. She is an extremely manipulative, power hungry and controlling person. In

Abigail undoubtedly displays hysterical qualities, without them her imagination alone could not have capacitated such a dramatic ploy. This is shown particularly in Act 3. For example her being in 'genuine conversation' with the 'bird', 'But god made my face; you cannot want to tear my face.' The stage directions often dictate that she is 'transfixed', 'open mouthed', 'frightened eyes' creating the sense that she truly believes what is 'happening' to her. Abigail is a powerful girl, clever and even 'manipulative'.

During this essay I will introduce the main points involved in answering the proposed question. I will explore the certain aspects of Abigail’s personality and how it is an important role in portraying her reasons for her actions. I will also analyse the ways in which Abigail’s personality changes through the progression of the play. I will sum up which points have a bigger effect on her intentions and motivations and the effect she has on the characters of the play. I will support my reasons with quotations to justify its relevance.

If people didn’t attend church they would also be accused of being a witch. Sarah good was a beggar who everyone thought was mean and grumpy to people even if they gave her money or food. She was accused of witchcraft. Other people in the village was accused because people didn't like them. When people were accused of being a witch and found guilty they would be hung.

She was the book The Crucible and is easily one of the most hated characters all year. Abigail Williams is a ruthless teenage girl, who was caught having an affair with a man named John Proctor. She was used to be the maid at his house until his wife Elizabeth Proctor kicked her out. Abigail wanted to get revenge so she started to act like there were witches in the town that were attacking her and her friends. She accused many people wrongfully and they were hung by the townspeople. Abigail wanted John to be her lover, but he turned her down so she accused him and his wife of witchcraft. By Act 3 many people have died because of Abigail Williams false accusations. Abigail is a deceptive liar who will get what she wants no matter what and this makes her a ruthless

Abigail is one of the main characters in the book, The Crucible. She is an evil character who is rather selfish and is inconsiderate of other people. And because of her personality, she has conflicts with many characters in the book. Best example, she has conflicts with John and Elizabeth Proctor. She is a wicked child who would do anything to get what she wants and knows how to manipulate people and the situation to get to where she wants to be. Her conflicts began with a little desire to take John Proctor away from his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, and own him to herself and only herself.

Abigail’s use of revenge is the main cause of this towns mass fear. Abigail’s vengeful acts of accusing people she envy’s starting a series of accusations that made lower class people, such as the girls, have the power to bring others to

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an interpretation of the Salem witch trials of 1692 in Puritan Massachusetts in which religion, self- preservation and self-dignity play a vital role. The three factors I listed played a huge role in John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, Danforth and many other lives. Many other characters such as, Abigail Williams and her friends can be characterized by being greedy, bitter, and selfish. In the play, Miller reveals how people can go against their own morals, therefore they can protect themselves. In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, he reveals to readers how fear escalated in Salem because of people's desire for personal gain.