Abigail Williams in The Crucible Analysis

The crucible took place in 1692 in a small village in Massachusetts. This village faced an appalling event, 16 innocent people were killed after being accused of messing with the devil. This event all started because a group of girls led by Abigail danced around a fire which was not allowed. They were then caught by Reverend Parris who just happened to be Abigail's uncle. After being caught Abigail led the group of girls to create a  series of lies which got many people killed. Abigail manipulated many people in the village to get what she wanted, which was a married man named John Proctor. This shows how it only takes one lie to kill.

Abigail Williams is one of the most manipulative people in the play. She gets what she wants because she threatens a group of girls to the point they do what she says. For example, Abigail says “I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down” (175). Abigail uses deception to scare the group of girls that way they won't confess to dancing in the woods. Abigail then takes advantage of the fact that the girls listen to what she says that way she can get what she wants. For example, when Mary Warren is trying to confess what happened,  She states she saw a bird in the rafters and that it was Mary Warren's spirit, and then the girls all chime in and act like they see the bird also. This makes the judge think Mary Warren has been touched by the devil. If Abigail had not manipulated the girls she probably would not have been as believable when she made all the lies about the innocent people of the village. Her soul goal in her lie is to mess up John and Elizabeth’s marriage. 

Abigail will go to any extent to get to John Proctor without thinking of her actions. All of this started because Abigail danced around a fire with a group of girls so the girls could get the guys they wanted. Abigail and John had an affair when she worked for John and his wife Elizabeth and was then fired by Elizabeth. For example, Abigail near the end was trying to get John to run away with her so they could be together. She says “I never dreamed of any of this for you.” What she means by this is that when dancing around the fire and making all of these lies she had no clue it would lead to him at the risk of death. Abigail will say anything to hurt John and Elizabeth's marriage because when they are fighting she feels good about herself. After all, it makes her think she is getting closer to getting John. While talking to John Proctor, Cheever says “Abigail Williams... how she came to be so stabbed.. testified it was your wife's spirit.”(203) This creates tension in the court which she strives for so she can feel empowered. Abigail goes through all of this just to lose John in the end.

Abigail's deception never got her anywhere. All she has done is lost the innocent people of Salem, her friends, and the man she loves. Abigail has taken advantage of the fact that the people of Salem are good and want to expect the best in people. For example, Rebecca Nurse when about to be hung says “ Why it is a lie, It is a lie, how may Damn me, I cannot, I cannot”(237) In the very end, 3 people are hung(Martha, john, and Rebecca) because they refuse to confess to a sin they didn't do. Since Abigail couldn't get John she decided to run from what she had done since people are starting to catch on to what she has done, so Abigail and Mercy Lewis go to Barbados and aren't seen again. In general, Abigail never gained anything she just lost. The people who were standing for the truth were stronger and better than her deception so she ran from the disaster she has caused. 

Abigail is a master manipulator and doesn't care about others. We learn from this play that messing up many people’s lives for one person is not alright. Throughout the whole play, all Abigail has done is bad; she has taken lives and ruined families. I don't agree with anything Abigail chose to do. Abigail's motive was to break apart Proctor and Elizabeth just because she couldn't have her husband.