Beraud 1 Chad Beraud Lisa Lynch 5th Hour 10-12-11 Abigail Williams: The Leader of Chaos The Crucible

was a play written by Arthur Miller. It focused on a time in Salem when witchcraft trials controlled the town. Salem was in chaps and many people lost their families, homes, and lives. At the forefront of all this chaos, Abigail Williams was a leader who used lying and her dramatic ways to get what she wanted. Abigail Williams turns to lying to stay out of trouble, but it ultimately costs others their lives, family, and homes. She condemns others to be witches to take the bounty off her head, keep her secrets, and to get John Proctor for herself. Abigail states, She [Elizabeth Proctor] hates me uncle, she must for I would not be her slave. Its a bitter woman, and I will not work for such a woman! to keep her secret of fornicating with John Proctor from her uncle, Reverend Parris (140). Abigail lies while in the court with Mary Warren to get revenge and prove her accusations false. Mar says that all of the girls accusations were pretense in the court. Abigail suggests Mary is lying and working for the devil and then, to falsely prove her point, says, Oh Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; its Gods work I do! (191). Later on, while talking to John in the woods, Abigail confesses to what Mary has said. Abigail and John are arguing about Elizabeths false condemning when Abigail tells John, Oh how hard it is when pretense falls! But it falls (143). Abigail admits to her

Beraud 2 pretending, but it does not stop her. She continues to condemn others, until finally, the love of her life, John Proctor, loses his life due to her accusations. Abigail takes the roll as leader among this group of girls. She uses scare tactics and intimidates the girls (to keep her out of trouble) by saying, Now look you. All of you, we danced and Tituba conjured Ruth Putnams dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this let either of you breather a word I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you (144). Also proving her leadership, in the court with Mary Warren, as Abigail does something, the girls will follow. After Abigail sees a yellow bird in the rafters, Mary Warren yells, She sees nothing! Mary Warren pleads, Abby, you musnt! and because Abigail mimics Mary the first time, the girls follow up with, Abby, you musnt! causing Abigail and the girls to seem possessed by Mary Warren (191). Also, in order to act like a spirit has entered the courtroom Abigail says, a cold wind has come, following Abigails lead, Mercy Lewis says, Your Honor, I freeze! and Susanna Walcott also follows along with, I freeze, I freeze! (188). As any reader with common sense can tell, the girls look up to Abigail as a leader out of fear, allowing Abigail to have control over them. On top of being a liar and leader, Abigail adds drama to the situations. To prove her point in court, Abigail acts overly dramatic. When acting like a spirit is in the room, Abigail loudly states, Oh Heavenly Father take away this Shadow! (189). Judge Hathorne tends to blindly believe her. He believes her to the extent that even when she threatens to leave because of an unwanted question by saying, If I must answer that I will leave and never come back again! he begs her to stay and allows her not to answer (189). In any other case, with any other person, Judge Hathorne would have forced them to answer the question or else accused them of witchcraft. Abigail even uses her dramatic nature to turn on her friend, Mary Warren. While in

Beraud 3 the courtroom, attempting to prosecute Mary, Abigail dramatically says, Why-? Why do you come, yellow bird? (191). Her trait of being dramatic adds to her ability to be a good liar. It causes Judge Hathorne to be intimidated and people to become scared. Abigail Williams, in the play The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, was a terrible person, using her leadership abilities to lie and act dramatic to get her way. She was the biggest antagonist of the play, and the whole reason Salem went into chaos and turmoil. Abigail was portrayed as a harlot and evil human being. Her dramatic acts, lying, and leadership were the biggest reasons Salem lost control. If there was somebody to blame, it would be Abigail Williams.