Humans have primitive survival instincts and are naturally selfish and power hungry. However, overtime civilization and moral laws have suppressed the constant need for control. Nonetheless, when society begins to deteriorate, humans’ natural instinct for power begins to surface and take control. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a play about the Salem witch trials, doubling as an allegory for the McCarthy era. The actions of a group of girls causes the whole community to believe there is witchcraft in Salem. The people begin to make absurd accusations against neighbors they have known for years. The whole village descends into chaos, and characters are forced to make decisions for personal survival. As witchcraft takes over Salem, the character’s
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Abigail feels resentful towards Elizabeth, for firing her and breaking her relationship with John. She is under the impression John still has romantic feelings for her, so she drinks blood in the woods as an attempt to kill Elizabeth, in hopes of taking her place with John. Abigail’s actions in the woods first fuel the suspicions of witchcraft and the hysteria to come. Abigail’s resentment for Elizabeth also causes her to pretend Elizabeth’s spirit stabbed her and she accuses her of witchcraft. Abigail's accusation drags John into the witchcraft situation, which only escalates the hysteria, since John has previous conflicts with several others that will be used against him. Abigail is resentful towards John and Mary when they come to court and attempt to accuse her of murder, which causes her to pretend Mary’s spirit is attacking her. Abigail’s “face turns, looking into the air above” and she begins to scream hysterically (Miller. 3. 100). The other girls join in and the whole court erupts into chaos and tumult. Abigail’s resentment drives her to start the suspicions of witchcraft and as she accuses more people, she becomes one of the main driving forces behind the
Abigail feels resentful towards Elizabeth, for firing her and breaking her relationship with John. She is under the impression John still has romantic feelings for her, so she drinks blood in the woods as an attempt to kill Elizabeth, in hopes of taking her place with John. Abigail’s actions in the woods first fuel the suspicions of witchcraft and the hysteria to come. Abigail’s resentment for Elizabeth also causes her to pretend Elizabeth’s spirit stabbed her and she accuses her of witchcraft. Abigail's accusation drags John into the witchcraft situation, which only escalates the hysteria, since John has previous conflicts with several others that will be used against him. Abigail is resentful towards John and Mary when they come to court and attempt to accuse her of murder, which causes her to pretend Mary’s spirit is attacking her. Abigail’s “face turns, looking into the air above” and she begins to scream hysterically (Miller. 3. 100). The other girls join in and the whole court erupts into chaos and tumult. Abigail’s resentment drives her to start the suspicions of witchcraft and as she accuses more people, she becomes one of the main driving forces behind the