The Antagonist Character Analysis of The Crucible

Abigail is a very manipulative character who holds and controls a lot of power over people throughout the story of The Crucible. She endures attention by constantly needing to get things done her way by lying and persuading others through her tricks which makes her the overall antagonist of the play.

Throughout the play, Abigail constantly lies to get out of trouble and avoids any consequences that could come her way if she actually tells others the truth about what she does and who she really is. At the beginning of the play in Act 1, her uncle asked what she was doing in the woods and she lied by saying, "Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it - and I’ll be whipped if I must be. But they’re speaking of witch-craft. Bettys not witched," (page 10). They really were dancing naked and conjuring with different types of spirits. The reason that Abigail and the girls were dancing in the woods naked is that they were committing witchcraft and rituals/spirits with Tituba. This is what causes Betty to think that Abagail had planned to murder John Proctor’s wife by drinking a spell which would be considered a crime in Salem and would get Abigail in serious trouble if she didn’t lie about it. Overall, Abigail uses her Legitimate power to manipulate others into believing her throughout the story but by her doing this also puts other people’s lives at risk.

Later on, Abigail had tried to hide the affair that she had with John Proctor to avoid getting any charges that could ruin or possibly end her life with witchcraft, while also shaming Elizabeth and trying to persuade John that he’s still in love with her. After the reveal of Abigail’s and John's affair Abigail proceeds to have him admit his feelings by saying, “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart. I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!” (page 24). Abigail proceeds her outburst because she knows the power she holds and how she can easily get people on her side, while also talking bad about Elizabeth. This is showing how Abigail snapped when Reverend Parris questioned her about what she’s been up to with John Proctor and with Salem. She ends up blaming Elizabeth for her problems because she doesn’t like her obviously (because she’s John Proctors' wife). Abigail just wants her out of the picture so she can have John Proctor all to herself with her out of the way. This causes Abigail to express her feeling towards John Proctor and how she feels and takes it out on Elizabeth even though she did nothing wrong to her.

Throughout the crucible Abigail’s power kept constantly increases through her lies and manipulation that people had fallen for, she was at fault for many innocent lives that shouldn’t have been punished. 19 people in Salem had taken the fall for her actions. By constantly pushing people around she stated, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things and I, will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you." (page 20) This was only one of the threats that she had pressured against people and it shows how much control she has over others and the overall town of Salem. She craves attention but doesn’t want any false or negative attention to be on her after seeing Tituba's confession. This explains how easily she can mess with people and get in their heads by lying. No one has the guts to stand up to Abigail because they don’t see the bad manipulative side of her. As long as she has a good reputation and has the attention on her she will keep using others to get her way. Overall, Abigail is was one of the most powerful characters in The Crucible and is also portrayed as the antagonist which allows her to easily get away with things even if it meant people being hung or murdered, she didn’t care at all.

In conclusion, Abigail was the overall antagonist of the play all though she wasn’t known as “the bad guy” all the things she did that caused an enormous amount of destruction and numerous deaths led up to her being disliked by everyone, by somehow getting away and portraying herself as an “innocent” little girl who thinks does nothing wrong. She did everything in her power to protect her reputation and to make sure to not let anyone get in her way of ruining it all.