Moreover, when Reverend Parris confronts Abigail about being fired by Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail denies any wrongdoings. She accuses Elizabeth as “a lying, cold, sniveling women” who spreads rumor about to degrade her social status. Abigail’s motivation in the witchcraft is thus revealed, which is jealousy towards Elizabeth. As Abigail successfully frames other people for being responsible about the witchcraft, she further imposes her domination over the other girls. Her domination is demonstrated physically and verbally.
A local doctor diagnosed the girls as being possessed by the devil. This led to a massive witch hunt. Hundreds were falsely accused. And so, the witch trials began. How It All Began Susannah Sheldon, Elizabeth Hubbard, and Mary Warren became very sick but no one knew why.
Is Abigail Williams a Victim or Villain? We have been studying the text The Crucible by Author Miller and I am going to study in detail weather Abigail Williams is a victim, or truly the villain. Abby is the villain and some may put it down to some of the "reddish work" she has seen but is it? In Act One Abigail is willing to lie to everyone to save her own, Abby is certain "[they] danced" and nothing else, even though we know that is not all they did. Abby threatens the girls, forcing them to tell the story according to the way which incriminates her the least.
The Salem Witch Trials were a result of mass hysteria fueled by the accusations of Abigail Williams and her friends. During the Salem Witch Trials those suspected of witchcraft were jailed and given a trial. During the trial the accused was dogged for a confession and even names of other wishes. The incentive was if they confessed, God would forgive them and they could live, but of course no one was really a witch so most plead innocent and were hung anyways, simply because of a suspicion. The whole event of the Salem Witch Trials is viewed as unjust because after the accusations spread, many townspeople simply accused their neighbors of being a witch to gain revenge, money, land, or something similar.
Due to the fact that Elizabethans were afraid of evil, the odd people in communities started being accused of witchcraft. Witchcraft had a great impact of the daily and social lives of the Elizabethans. Soon neighbors slung accusations at each other and started ruckus all over England. Children rolled on the floor having convulsions and blaming random people for hexing or possessing them (Saintives). Anyone with odd names, weird looks, or were found mumbling chants, were accused of witchcraft and were put to death.
- Speaks to Macbeth and tries to manipulate him into acting a certain way- Goes back to being the strong one and even says she will kill herself| “come thick night and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell.”“Bear welcome in your eye……be the serpent under’t”“Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the deadAre but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood.”| Speech| She wants Macbeth to kill. She is ambitious and determined.-She has a whatever attitude and wants to kill Duncan | “Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirts into thine ear.”“A little water clears us of this deed:How easy is it then!.”| Thoughts| | | Interactions| Lady Macbeth is more determined and devoted to this murder than Macbeth is| “And live a coward in thine own esteem”| Macbeth |Observations|Text Support| Looks| | | Actions| -Macbeth goes back to being the weak one| “I'll go no more:I am afraid to think what I have done;Look on't again I dare not.”| Speech|-He is still struggling with the fact he has to murder Duncan saying the blood can not be washed from their hands| “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this bloodClean from my hand? No.”| Thoughts| -Thinks that the crime he is about to commit to become king will come back unto him-a dagger appears and he thinks it’s a figment of his imagination| “To plague the inventor: this even-handed justiceCommends the ingredients of our poison'd chaliceTo our own lips.”“false creation/proceeding from the heat oppressed brain”-the| Interactions| -the way he speaks to lady Macbeth shows
Wherever there is a blaming there is punishment. During the 1690’s there was a mass hysteria going on in Salem. Witches were the new scare and anyone and everyone was one. In the Crucible it explains the madness going on and how big of an impact it became. Although the Salem witch trials happened over 300 years ago, the lack or difference in punishment can help provide lessons that the United States are still leaning from today.
Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it” (20). This quote really shows Abigail’s personality. She threatens her own friends just so her life is safe. Throughout the
In fact, as soon as she is alone with Betty and Mary Warren she fiercely warns them, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Abigail pg. 20); “Betty you never say that again!You will never—”(Abigail pg.19), her powerful intimidation strikes fear in the hearts of these Puritan girls by threatening them with bodily violence. Abigail uses these bullying tactics(pathos) in order to manipulate the girls into keeping her secret about drinking blood to kill Goody Proctor.Thus, her power over the girls continues to escalate though
One must then ask what caused these horrific events, in other words, what caused the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692? There are many ways to analyze this question, for example, religion plays a big role in the hysteria surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. Another way to look at this is through fear, many felt fear of what they couldn’t control and ultimately the unknown. Town gossip was also to blame for the chaos that ended the lives of many innocent people. In short, religion, fear, and town gossip were three major factors that led to the Salem Witch Trial Hysteria of 1692.