Preview

Abigail's Perceptions In The Crucible

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
590 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Abigail's Perceptions In The Crucible
As Junior expresses his awareness of his new classmate’s perception of him, it becomes clear that those perceptions overshadows Junior’s reality. These boys’ relationship with Junior is simultaneously aggressive and hesitant. They are comfortable verbally abusing him, though they draw a line at physical violence out of their fear of him, or rather what they think he is and what they think he could be. Their perception fuels their apprehension and overrides how they can see with their own eyes that Junior is not threatening or harmful by convincing them that due to the fact that he is Indian he is unpredictable and could become violent. In reality however, both Junior and all who know him are aware of how defenseless and weak he actually is …show more content…
The court perceives their town leader, the head of the church, Reverend Parris, as undoubtedly innocent because of his position as a man of God. In essence, through the implied promise of strict adherence to the word of God, he is absolved of the possibility of reasonable doubt in the face of crime. The court perceives Abigail’s innocence through her premise of purifying the town, that her actions are all in the interest of a greater good, and so by using her experiences and actions and distorting them to achieve martyrdom, she becomes so holy to the town of Salem, they refuse to believe she would be at fault. John Proctor calls attention to this hypocrisy by reminding the court essentially that is always true that all humans can and do sin, and that neither Parris nor Abigail are exempt from that truth, and so, refusing to hold an unbiased trial for those accused of witchcraft, they are handing to much power to the unbalanced biases a court of justice is expected to …show more content…
He had arrived in Salem to do the Lord’s holy work, and he brought with him only the best and purest ideals of the religion he preaches in order to save the townspeople, yet those gifts he was confident in caused death and the wrongful spilling of blood. In confessing that he caused the tragic outcomes because he advocated for the presence of the Devil in Salem while he remained silent and willfully ignorant of the plausible doubt of the accused's guilt, he called for the evil within himself and the members of the town to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Another reason a person would die for their beliefs would be to prove a point that something had been handled wrongly. Hales reaction to Abigail’s nonsense is a good example of this; Hale exclaims “Excellency, this child’s gone wild!”. Many people were frustrated with how just one little girl could point her finger at anyone, and immediately they were accused of witchcraft. The way that the people accused had to lie to get out of trouble is wrong, and they were mistreated. Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, Martha Corey, and many others were put to death rather than lying to prove a point. That point being that they way they were treated was unfair and unjust, they did not even have a chance to prove themselves. Hale was not one of the…

    • 168 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Salem Witch Trials can be described as a set prosecutions of people who were charged with witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts despite a lack of evidence. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, portrays the catastrophic events that occurred in Salem and their impact on their society. In the play, Abigail Williams is dismissed as the servant of the Proctors due to her affair with the husband, John. Proctor wants to move on after the affair as he states, ‘I may think of you softly from time to time, but I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again (1270)”.…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    throughout the crucible there were many trials within the salem witch trials, these determined the fate and dignity of several citizens in Salem. As always, there are many actions that costed innocent lives to be taken away from them.The dramatic effect that deceitfulness has on Salem is costly only to the ones trialed. On a personal viewpoint, it can be justified that the following three charachters are responsible: Abigail, Danforth and Tituba. The real lesson to be learned even after hundreds of years after the Witch Trials, is that ignorance is a main cause of the disintegration of society…

    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The character of Abigail is often accused of being one-dimensional. She doesn't express one shred of remorse the entire time, making her seem almost inhumanly diabolical. However, even though Abigail's actions are ruthless, they are in some ways understandable.…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Crucible is a very complex story with several interlocking themes. It is so diverse that it can connect to modern day issues and give an accurate parallel to current events. Out of all the themes in the book, there are some that are very prominent and can easily connect to the other smaller themes. The focus of will be on how Abigail's manipulation and deceit took advantage of others willingness to conform causing mass hysteria.…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1692 the Salem witch trials ruined everybody’s lives and ignited all because of Abigail Williams. In the play the “Crucible” which is also known as a severe test, the town of Salem was considered a Crucible. The town was put through hard and controversial times. Abigail’s attachment to John Proctor makes her try to get rid of his wife Elizabeth throughout the entire play. Abigail also even threatens and lies multiple times to people to get what she wants. Abigail is a mean and selfish person that always wants her way no matter who she hurts.…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953. He wrote it because he wanted to get his message across. In the 1950’s Arthur Miller was summoned by the House of Committee on un-american activities. He was accused of being a communist. Miller was trying to get his message that the society has turned into a hypocritical society. During the 1950’s the U.S senator John McCarthy was accusing everyone who would be a threat as a communist. Since Arthur Miller was a political advocate who was against the inequalities of race in America and his vocal support of labor and the unions made him a target to John McCarthy. His basic need to respond to a phenomenon which, with only small exaggeration, one could say paralysed a whole generation and in short time dried up the habits of trust and toleration in public discourse. Arthur Miller admitted that The…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the act, Hale begins to realize some hypocrisy and corruption on the court’s part. It can be observed throughout this act that Hale is actively trying to suggest that those accused of witchcraft have a chance to defend themselves, yet is cut off by the likes of Reverend Parris, Salem’s local minister, at one point. Hale goes as far as to make an argument to the judge, Danforth, that “it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it,” “it” being witchcraft. Danforth proceeds to shoot down Hale’s arguments with arguments of his own telling him “No uncorrupted man may fear this court.” Time and time again, Hale attempts to suggest that those accused have a chance to defend themselves yet has his suggestions shot down by Judge Danforth. As John Proctor is falsely accused and taken to jail near the end of the Act, Hale “denounces the proceedings” and quits the court. It is clear that he doubted Abigail William’s testimony as shown in his outcries and even explicitly stating that “This girl has always struck me false!” in reference to Abigail. It is shown in him quitting the court that he longer believes those convicted, and accused, are…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion is strict in this society, moral laws and state laws are the same. In Salem you are either with God or side with the Devil. Everyone in the town has to be devoted to the Ten Commandments, an important one was broken in this case, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”. John Proctor had sexual relations with Abigail while he was married, Abigail is still in love with him even though he doesn't want her. Abigail is confused when John doesn’t want her, “Why do you call me child?”, but Proctor said that being with you was the worst mistake (Miller 22). Her wish to be with Proctor becomes a rebellion to the community when she makes reckless choices. Elizabeth, Proctor’s wife is a very kind lady but hated the fact her husband cheated on her, they had small arguments about how Abigail and he…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many authors use themes in order to develop the key concepts in their literature. Arthur Miller uses character motivation in developing the plot of his play, The Crucible. Abigail Williams is one of the key characters in this play. She is a dramatic, greedy young girl who claims innocence during the time of the Salem Witch Trials in Miller’s play. She is driven by her hunger for power, her love for John Proctor and her hatred of Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife. Her motivations and her actions caused by her motives, in the long run, caused turmoil in the lives of John, Elizabeth and Mary Warren.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Character of Abigail

    • 567 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “The Crucible” by Authur Miller, created many villainous images, likes Abigail Williams. She is the main character; Authur Miller draws the interest of his readers as she is a wicked confident girl who lies to get what she wants and defends her name and her life.…

    • 567 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller, it was published January 22nd 1953. The play took place during 1692 to 1693 in Salem Massachusetts. For the most part of this play it was all based on lies, you had people accusing others to keep themselves out of trouble and everyone would believe them. Other than John Proctor who knew what was happening but he couldn't convince the others to believe him. So whoever Abigail or one of the girls would accuse they would either confess something that wasn't true or they would be hung. The entire town of Salem was blinded by the truth and believed anything Abigail and the other girls would say. All the girls acted as if the devil was around during court to get the people they claim contacting the devil to be hung.…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abigail, Crucible

    • 1468 Words
    • 6 Pages

    she is referred to by parris as a child. she is 17 and she is an adolescent girl. she is a young woman, having passions and desires. but she is thought of as a child, which causes tension.…

    • 1468 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the main characters of the play The Crucible, Abigail Williams, is the most spiteful and least complex character throughout the entire play. She is the villain of the play, even more than Parris or Danforth. She is on the lower end of the social hierarchy; the only people below her were slaves like Tituba. Abigail Williams possess wicked character traits that give her a negative perception. She is a jezebel figure who lacks feelings, an immoral character who lacks ethics and a manipulative person who lacks a conscience.…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abigail Williams is a very spiteful and bitter woman, but she has the biggest influence on the play with all the lies she tells about people being witches which are believed and cost some people their lives. Abigail is one of the most misunderstood characters because she is so good at lying that it almost seems like she is telling the truth.…

    • 1529 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays