Theme Of Bravery In The Crucible

People can often be fooled into thinking their weaknesses are what empowers them. Their minds convince them that the things they use as crutches are the only thing that enables them to stand. In Arthur Millers the Crucible, he communicates through the characters that false self-righteous portrayals lead to an overall struggle of facing the truth. The theme of cowardice versus bravery is consistently evident through characters such as Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Danforth. It is presented in Hale’s undying faith that life’s problems may be answered through books, Abigail and her ability to bully and utilize manipulation to its finest degree, and lastly, Danforth in his strong sense of justice and conviction. These major traits in these …show more content…
Abigail is fairly sadistic and misguided young girl, who effectively uses the people around her for her own benefit. As she is a character with a self-preservation mentality her goal becomes to not only to eliminate Elizabeth Proctor, but to maintain her lie and prevent anyone from finding out that she ever deceived them. When accusations are being thrown at Abigail in court and the truth is slightly visible she insistently denies it and states, “Abigail: I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this I my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a—“(108). Due to Abigail’s impeccable ability to lie and manipulate, she easily overcomes the judge’s inquiry but highlights the indisputable fact that she is terrified at people discovering the truth. Though these characteristics are also what portray her as a strong character, they are represented in a situation that makes her seem very brittle, and overall cowardly. Her use of lying keeps her safe from the one thing that scares her, owning up to the truth. However, When Abigail practices these characteristics as strengths she is able to mentally torment and manipulate her peers into lying for her. She appears brave and sturdy and imposes a wave of fear among them, “Abigail: Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam’s dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this. 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.” (20). Due to the fear she instills in the heart of the other girls, Abigail is deemed the leader and convinces the girls to participate in her mission in condemning everyone but the