Addictive Personality Disorder In The Crucible Literary Analysis Example

A shopaholic who can’t walk into a store without buying an item, those who work out at the gym twice every day, an adrenaline seeker who puts their life on the line constantly to feel that rush. Each of these depicts one afflicted with Addictive Personality Disorder. In The Crucible, one character can fit all of the traits of the personality disorder, and that points directly at Abigail Williams. Abigail Williams takes the center stage in the play and takes the root of the play's large number of problems. An Addictive Personality Disorder is displayed in Abigail through her traumatic triggers, failed relationship with John Proctor, and actions of impulsivity. 

When a person has an Addictive Personality it is triggered by several factors, some of those being genetics, exposure, and finally trauma. Within an article by UnityRehab, common triggers to “addictions are… traumatic experiences” (UnityRehab).  Abigail mentions the fact that she saw “Indians smash my dear parents’ heads” which happened in her youth (Miller 20). Not only does Abigail open up about the loss of her parents, but she also claims to have seen “some reddish work done at night” (Miller 20). Abigail has seen an unspeakable event at such a young age that when looking for a trigger, it is not a lengthy search. A traumatic event such as seeing one’s parents die at a young age can afflict one into the future. Abigail’s affliction caused by the traumatic event causes the development of an addictive personality. 

After the triggers of the disorder come the symptoms. One of these is a plethora of unsuccessful relations with people whether it be platonic or romantic. The large number of symptoms that follow an addictive personality disorder contribute to “failed relationships” (Unityrehab). Abigail constantly pursues John Proctor after their alleged affair. When Proctor claims that they “never touched” Abigail takes time in responding with “aye, but we did” (Miller 23). Abigail’s need for John Proctor’s attention and the denying of that attention brings to life another one of the signs of an addictive personality. Even though the main obstacle that held John away from Abigail was his tie to his wife, Abigail’s obsessiveness and symptoms of the disorder contributed to the ultimate downfall of their “relationship”. 

On top of triggering traumatic events and failed relationships, impulsivity takes a huge role in the symptoms of an addictive personality. Those who have an addictive personality tend to “make quick decisions without thinking about the long-term consequences” (UnityRehab).  When the accusations first began, Abigail starts the accusations by listing off names whom she claims have been seen with the devil. Abigail claims that she “saw Sarah Good with the devil” among others (Miller 48). Without thinking about how those accused in Salem will be affected, Abigail lists off name after name of those in the village that had taken part in witchcraft. This causes the rest of the girls to join in on the “ecstatic” chanting of the many women’s names who became accused (Miller 48). The impulsivity of the situation proves Abigail’s absent-mindedness of the consequences of her actions which directly relates to the symptoms of an Addictive Personality Disorder. 

As the main character of the play, The Crucible, Abigail Williams displays the many characteristics of Addictive Personality Disorder. She has a triggering traumatic event that happened in her youth, a failed and obsessive relationship with John Proctor, and impulsive actions at the expense of the other villagers and their lives. Therefore, her character is one with an addictive personality. An addictive personality causes harm to not only the one suffering with it but the other surrounding them too. As vile as the disorder may be, Abigail wouldn’t be who she was without it.