The Crucible

“The Crucible”

Arthur Miller's “The Crucible” is a play based on the events and hysteria of the Salem witch trials. Miller portrays a society whose misfortunes are caused by deception and accusations. The accusations throughout the play build on lie after lie from characters trying to protect their own name or trying to get revenge which thus causes the small town of Salem chaos. The most fundamental deception in the play comes from the main character, Abigail Williams, who lies in order to protect herself from punishment after being caught dancing naked in the woods at night. Her evasion of punishment leads to a cycle of lies that sends many to their death. (5)

We are introduced to Abigail Williams in the first scene as “a seventeen...strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan with an endless capacity for dissembling.” (Act 1, pg. 8) Abigail has the ability to manipulate and deceive people into believing her. This characteristic is demonstrated when she lies about what exactly happened in the woods. Within the space of one act, Abigail changes her story from “we were just dancing” to “Tituba sent her spirit on me and bewitched us” and everyone believes her. She does not want anyone to find out what she was doing in the woods so she threatens Betty Parris and Mary Warren not to say anything, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word... I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down.” (Act 1, pg. 20) (5)

Abigail is able to manipulate and gain control over the girls with fear. When Abigail is almost accused of witchcraft, she artfully manages to convince everyone that she is innocent and blames the whole thing on Tituba. Tituba, out of the sheer fear of being hung, confesses to witchcraft. This young girl does not simply accuse one or two people but countless. She is the direct and indirect cause of many deaths. One of the most important accusations and the root of Abigail's deception is the accusation of Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail accuses Elizabeth of being a witch because of her past relationship with Elizabeth's husband, John Proctor. Abigail had an affair with John and wishes Elizabeth dead so she can have John for herself. (8)