The Crucible
Question #2
Ryley McAtee
In The Crucible, Abigail is a big part to blame for the events that took place. She is the source of everything that goes wrong in the play and her attempts to defend herself from the consequences of her own actions ruin many people's lives. In the beginning of the play, Abigail has a relationship with John Proctor before the play begins, which really affects her behavior towards John Proctor and other people in the story. The play shows Abigail's rise to power and influence. At the beginning of the action she is a young orphan girl with no work and by the end Abigail develops her personal power and influence over the other girls to develop a strong position in the court.
In my opinion, she should be excused or pardoned by outside forces because Abigail is responsible for her own actions. No one forced her to accuse people of witchcraft or lie in court. I don't think that she should be excused for accusing people and ruining their reputation. Abigail may have been influenced by her surroundings, but she made her own choices.
In her society, she’s very much so a victim. She is a victim of her society because she has to live without parents. John Proctor sleeping with her makes her believe in love. She falls deep and fast and begins to do evil things as a result of wanting to be loved. Also, being a young woman of no money or family, she has no power at all, so she creates dramatics that make everyone pay attention to her.