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Arthur Miller the Crucible

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Arthur Miller the Crucible
Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams are two main characters in Arthur Miller’s novel The Crucible. Abigail Williams was once the servant for Proctor however Elizabeth Proctor fires her after she learns about Abigail and her husband’s affair. Both women are same in some ways but they have different motives.

One of the similarities they have is that both love John Proctor but in different ways. Elizabeth loves him truly and for all the right reasons. He is her husband and they share their lives. However Abigail loves him for the lust. After Elizabeth learns about their affair, John Proctor chooses to stay with his wife. This is something Abigail can’t stand for. Her love is not real and she loves him just because she knows she cannot have him. This also shows us that Abigail is a selfish girl. She also blames lots of people of witchcraft and never felt guilt.

One of other major differences they have is that Elizabeth is a religious Puritan and Abigail does several things that are not proper for Puritans. Abigail dances in the forest, she lies in the court. However Elizabeth is a conservative woman who only lied once in order to save his husband in the court. Abigail lies in the court just to get John back. Again we can see Abigail loves him for the lust.

Being revengeful is another difference they have. Although John cheats on Elizabeth she forgives him. She could have easily ruined his reputation but she chooses not to. However Abigail is a revengeful girl who tells in the court that Elizabeth is a witch in order to get John back.

To conclude my words, both women are different in some ways and have different roles in the book. Their dominant characters leap out throughout the novel. Their only similarity is that they love John, but their love forms are different

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