In the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the character Abigail Williams plays a very strong role in the witch trials. Her motive for everything is to gain the love of John Proctor but she only ends up hurting him and many people around her while accusing various townspeople of witchcraft. Throughout The Crucible, Abigail gains power through deception and manipulation of the citizens of salem and court, becoming the most influential voice in The Salem Witch Trials. Abigail manipulates the townspeople and court into believing her lies, making her a town icon. She builds her name by first, victimizing herself. When she is questioned, she starts to point fingers at others, making herself seem innocent. “She makes me drink blood!” (Miller 41)
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She pulls guilt out of the court by making a statement that creates the illusion that they are not taking her seriously but instead are disregarding her concerns. “I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this is my reward? To be misunderstood, denied, questioned like a-” (Miller 100) After Abigail complains about her voice not being heard, Danforth makes a point to console her and make sure her words are being acknowledged in the court. Through this deception, Abigail gains the ears of the court, achieving what she wants. She continues to reach for attention, doing anything to put Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife, at risk of conviction. She ends up going as far as injuring herself physically to cause people to question Elizabeth. “Without word nor warnin’ she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and stuck two inches into the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out.” (Miller 71) Abigail stabs herself in the stomach and blames it on Elizabeth. She attempts to get her convicted hoping that without her in the picture, John would love her but the deception only causes Elizabeth trouble. Abigail fails to win John’s heart but her manipulation of the court gives her the power to create a case to get Elizabeth convicted of
She pulls guilt out of the court by making a statement that creates the illusion that they are not taking her seriously but instead are disregarding her concerns. “I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this is my reward? To be misunderstood, denied, questioned like a-” (Miller 100) After Abigail complains about her voice not being heard, Danforth makes a point to console her and make sure her words are being acknowledged in the court. Through this deception, Abigail gains the ears of the court, achieving what she wants. She continues to reach for attention, doing anything to put Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife, at risk of conviction. She ends up going as far as injuring herself physically to cause people to question Elizabeth. “Without word nor warnin’ she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and stuck two inches into the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out.” (Miller 71) Abigail stabs herself in the stomach and blames it on Elizabeth. She attempts to get her convicted hoping that without her in the picture, John would love her but the deception only causes Elizabeth trouble. Abigail fails to win John’s heart but her manipulation of the court gives her the power to create a case to get Elizabeth convicted of