Some people will do anything to get what they want, no matter the circumstances. Some people portray it as a good thing, in some cases it is a bad thing. It is even worse when someone has to die for the thing the person want. Abigail Williams is one of these people. She believes that she and John Proctor are meant to be and will do anything, in her will, to be with him. In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, he uses both direct and indirect characterization to develop Abigail Williams into a flat as well as a static character.
Miller wastes little time in telling the audience directly that Abigail is largely defined by her illimitable capacity of dissembling. In the background information that begins in Act I, Miller uses direct characterization …show more content…
Throughout the whole play, from the beginning to the end, Abigail stays the same and has one single important trait. Her single important trait throughout The Crucible is selfishness. An example from the play that shows Abigail’s selfishness is when she tells John Proctor, “... you loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! John, pity me, pity me…” (Miller, 1140). She implores him to feel sorry for her. Selfish people seek this in others. Abigail is asking him to give up his family to be with her. Another act of Abigail’s selfishness, is when she tells the group of girls that, “...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…” (Miller, 1137). This threat demonstrates that Abigail will go to any length, even abuse or murder to ensure that she alone is safe. She will not let her friends tell the truth, lest she gets caught for what they did. After telling the group of girls she was going to hurt them if they told the truth and telling John Proctor to give up his family for her, Abigail shows her “true colors” throughout Act
Miller wastes little time in telling the audience directly that Abigail is largely defined by her illimitable capacity of dissembling. In the background information that begins in Act I, Miller uses direct characterization …show more content…
Throughout the whole play, from the beginning to the end, Abigail stays the same and has one single important trait. Her single important trait throughout The Crucible is selfishness. An example from the play that shows Abigail’s selfishness is when she tells John Proctor, “... you loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! John, pity me, pity me…” (Miller, 1140). She implores him to feel sorry for her. Selfish people seek this in others. Abigail is asking him to give up his family to be with her. Another act of Abigail’s selfishness, is when she tells the group of girls that, “...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…” (Miller, 1137). This threat demonstrates that Abigail will go to any length, even abuse or murder to ensure that she alone is safe. She will not let her friends tell the truth, lest she gets caught for what they did. After telling the group of girls she was going to hurt them if they told the truth and telling John Proctor to give up his family for her, Abigail shows her “true colors” throughout Act