preview

How Is Abigail Presented In The Crucible

Good Essays

Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible Throughout the play “the Crucible,” we see the many different sides of Abigail Williams’ character. Arthur Miller has created an interesting and complex character with various personality traits, and her controlling and manipulative nature becomes evident for the audience during the very first scene. Abigail is first introduced as “seventeen, a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan…”, already the audience is made to feel sorry for her as we find out that she has no parents. Also, because we are told she is full of “apprehension and worry,” leads us to like her because she appears genuinely concerned for the well-being of her cousin. Already, …show more content…

Parris then asks her why she was “discharged from Goody Proctor’s house”, which leads the audience to believe she may have done something wrong, such as had an affair with Goody Proctor’s husband. Again, Abigail denies these claims and condemns Goody Proctor as a “gossiping liar”. She soon manages to turn these allegations around, and asks her uncle, “Do you begrudge my bed?” Here we are seeing the manipulative side of her character, and her ability to influence what those around her think and do. As an audience, at this stage we have a mixed opinion of Abigail, and are unsure whether to like or dislike her. We still feel sorry for her because of her background, but at the same time we see the effects that her controlling and dominating nature can have on those around her. In the next scene, we see the complete control that Abigail has over her peers and the other girls her age in Salem. She is threatening towards Mary Warren and Mercy Lewis, “I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down…” which shows her ability to bully the others into not telling the truth, she also makes them feel intimidated because she commands them to obey her, “tell them we danced….no more” her authority is clearly outlined here, the others are scared since they are aware that if they refuse, they will suffer dire consequences. This Scene is important

Get Access