“Only a corrupted society brings out corrupted people” Is that so?
What’s the first thing that came into your mind when Abigail Williams is mentioned? Witty? Unscrupulous? Vindictive?
All of the above?
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Abigail Williams was alleged of witchcraft. However, she utilized her manipulative and articulate abilities and played the victim in court.
ABIGAIL. 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 mistrusted, denied, questioned like a-
DANFORTH, weakening. Child, I do not mistrust you– (Miller 100).
By using rhetorical questions, Abigail played the victim as she accused the court of mistrusting her. This allowed her to gain sympathy from the authorities. However, shall we rewind a bit to reveal who she really was? But first, let’s hear what John Proctor said himself.
PROCTOR, his voice about to break, and his shame great. In the proper place–where my beasts are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. (Miller 102)
As Proctor had confessed adultery himself, there was really no other way to prove Abigail innocent. (Yes–I thought so too!) However, in spite of being contended with witchcraft and lechery, Abigail was a born-actress who refused to answer questions and pretended that Mary Warren was the one conjuring spirits. She succeeded–she escaped from death, and Proctor took all the blame, including the blame on Mary Warren.
“Oh Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God work I do.” – Abigail Williams (Miller 107)
Abigail Williams concocted several lies to get away from adverse consequences. Was she to blame for the hangings? Tracing back to the origins–Abigail’s jealousy, she was indeed vengeful and desired for Proctor’s love. While Salem was indeed a corrupted society, Abigail’s actions were acted upon for her own desire for love. Society didn’t push her to become so.
two-four-six-o-one.
Abigail’s plausible performance in court reminded me of the 24601–not because of the same nature, but because of who he actually was: a convicted victim. Inspector Javert had been on his pursuit of capturing Jean Valjean since his release. Valjean, prisoner 24601, was imprisoned for 19 years for a loaf of bread he stole to feed his sister’s children during the economic depression.
“In October, 1815, he was released; he had entered there in 1796, for having broken a pane of glass and taken a loaf of bread” (Hugo 152-153).
Forced by society, Valjean was driven to make his choices–not because of selfish desires, but the will to survive. Being nearly the opposite of Abigail, Valjean was convicted as a thief, but was, at the same time, a victim of a corrupted society unable to fulfill their physiological needs.
Works Cited
Hugo, Victor. Les Miserables. “CHAPTER VI: WHO GUARDED HIS HOUSE FOR HIM.” Les Miserables, translated by Isabel F. Hapgood, Planet eBook, pp. 152-153.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts. New York: Penguin Books, 2003. Print.
Hello Sunny!
I see the point you are making with the connection of both Abigail and Jean Valjean. They had make poor choices because they desired to live and not to be punished. I disagree with the part that Abigail was not selfish though. Jean Valjean was falsely imprisoned and came out a hardened criminal and reacts those around in an corse and scorned way but found a way to become honest again. I understand that what happened to him was unfair and not right and I do not think he is selfish; just abused.
Abigail wanted Elizabeth dead and to replace her; that is selfish. Wile she had a poor childhood, that kind of love in my opinion is selfish and not honest because she is targeting and trying to destroy someone else and take what they have. Abigail could have left her accusation at Tituba but she kept going, trying to get all those who oppose and those she doesn’t like dead. While she wanted John’s love (which was never technically hers), she went too far and was using new power for a selfish purpose, in my opinion. What do you think about her motives and whether her actions were justified?
I really enjoyed your post and thought it was well written and your points laid out really well. I thought the connection was very different but fit very well for what you were trying to say.
Have a good day, Claire.
Hey Sunny!
First of all, I love your interpretation of Abigail’s character! Throughout the story, I only see her as an intelligent and sneaky teen who plans everything specifically in her way in order to keep her lies. I never really thought about what the society had done upon her. Through your interpretation and further analysis, I now see Abigail in a different point of view! However, is it possible (if the society of Salem, as you said, was not as corrupted) that Abigail would admit her lies in the end? I believe that eventually, Abigail would feel the guilt of lying to herself, and confess the truth. But she never ended up doing so due to the hangings and other punishments decided by the society. If the villagers didn’t threaten to hang those who don’t confess, maybe Abigail would soften down and explain the truth someday, somehow? I personally had experiences with this similar situation, where due to the surrounding’s pressure, I refused to speak the truth. That day, I accidentally broke one of my mom’s favourite plate. She questioned me and my siblings with extreme anger. I was so afraid to get in trouble so I blamed on my sisters, who returned the blame to me. My mom then said whoever was discovered lying would be grounded and banned from watching TV as well as video games. Because of this, I had to do anything I can to blame shift this responsibility to my either of my sisters. Here, I believe my action was exactly the same as Abigail’s, for we both direct the blame to others due to extreme pressure by the environment. If the environment didn’t have threaten us with the consequences, both Abigail and I may had done otherwise and revealed the truth.
Overall, I think you did a fantastic job, Sunny! Not only did you have an organized format, your interpretation impressed me, and led me to think the other way. Thank you!
– Agnes