MadisonJana

Mr.Waters
English3
28October2014
AbigailWilliams
Theplay,TheCrucible,wassettobeinatheocraticsocietyinSalem,Massachusetts
1692.ItallstartedwithAbigailWilliamsandhergroupoffriendsassuminglydancingand
practicingwitchcraftinthewoods.Sincethevillageforbidswitchcraft,theystarttopointfingers
atthegirlsafterfindingoutthatlittleBettyandRuthhadbeendiagnosedwithasickness
unheardof.Wellofcourse,inatheocraticsocietywithstrongpuritanbeliefs,thissituationhad
tohavecomefromSatan.SowhatdidAbigailWilliamsdotokeephersecret?Wasshe
practicingwitchcraftfortherebellionrush?Ordidshehavedeeperanddarkermotivesfordoing
so?
AbigailWilliams(17)wasReverendParrissniece,aservant,andaswellasanorphan.
Abigailhadahardlife....Iwillbringareckoningthatwillshutteryou.AndyouknowicandoitI
sawindianssmashmydearparentsheadsnexttomine(MillerActone).Abigailhadtolive
throughseeingherparentsdeathrightinfrontofherface.Thereisasenseofhurtand
lonelinessinAbigailscharacter.Youcanonlyimaginegrowingupwithoutparents,andthen
gettingpassedtoarandomfamilytobeaservant.Notonlywasitjustarandomfamily,butit
wastheProctorsthattookAbigailinatfirst.
JohnProctor,asuccessfullandowner,hadtakenAbigailinasaservant.DuetoAbigails
longingfortruelove,JohnfailstokeephismarriagefaithfulwithElizabeth.Abigailhadgotten
angryatJohnfortherealizationofhismistake.Shelovedhim,butthefeelingwasnotmutual.

AbigailwaswillingtogotoextremelevelstogetJohntoherself,andsoshedid.Abigailslove
forJohnmotivatedhertogetElizabethkilled.
MostofAbigailslifeshehasfeltbeloweveryoneelse,shebecomeshungryforrespect,
powerandidentity.Beingaservantandhatedbythetownreallyputherdown.Shewasvery
stubbornandwaswillingtogetherwayforanythingshedesired.Whichinthiscase,isJohn
Proctor.Eventhoughthegirlspretendedtoseespiritsandactasthevictims,Abigail(beingthe
leader)didnotcarewhomgotaccusedorkilled.Intheend,Abigailwasselfishandjustwanted
tosaveherself.
Sowhatwereherdeeperanddarkermotivesforcommittingwitchcraft?Hermainmotive
waslove.Sure,therecouldhavebeenotherreasonsfordoingso,likenothavingamoral
compassandgrowingupwithsuchhorriblefamilysituations.ButJohnProctorwasAbigails
mainmotiveforgettinginvolvedwithwitchcraft.Thereweremultipledeaths,(includingJohns)
andthetownhadbeenimpactedgreatlybecauseofAbigailsdecision.Puritanbeliefsdidnot
tolerateactionslikeAbigails,butshedidnotcareaslongasshegotwhatshewanted.Inthe
end,thisstoryshowseveryonestruecharacter.Itrevealshowextremecasescangetwhen
someonemakesonebaddecisionforaselfishdesire.InAbigailscase,shedesiredJohn
Proctor(loveandbelonging),respect,powerandidentity.Andallshewaswillingtodowas
saveherself.