Character Analysis: Abigail Williams
In the play The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, Abigail Williams is a very
manipulative, jealous, and selfish person. She is constantly caught up in a lie or
is in the presence of trying to manipulate a person or a group of people. She is accused
in the Salem witch trials of being a witch herself, along with many other women and
men. Most of the women and men that were accused of witchcraft had Abigail to thank.
Although her lies can be persuasive at times, it does not get her where she wants to be.
Throughout the entire play, Abigail’s credibility helped herself to manipulate
the people of the village. The question of Abigail’s truthfulness never arose until late in
the play. The first time Abigail admitted to having danced for the Devil, she states many
names of women whom she said were affiliated with the Devil. Abigail’s credibility in
Salem not only easily persuaded the gullible townspeople, but also allowed her to be
believed when naming “guilty” parties.
Looking further, Abigail’s jealousy warped her mind into doing whatever
necessary to take John Proctor away from Goody Proctor. Before the setting of the
play, Abigail worked as a servant to the Proctors. After time, Goody Proctor started
to mistrust Abigail and even her own husband because of rumors of an affair they were
having together. Later, Goody proctor fired Abigail, which made her furious because
she could not be with John. After realizing she had the power to accuse anyone Abigail
accused Goody Proctor. John, who no longer wanted to have anything to do with
Abigail, was enraged when the marshal came to get his wife. In trying to accuse her
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ex-lover’s wife, Abigail shows extreme jealousy towards Goody Proctor.
Lastly, Abigail’s selfishness caused her to make many immoral decisions.
Throughout the Salem Witch Trials many innocent people died. Many...