Firstly, Abigail is one figure that gains power, and her actions throughout the play show how she abuses it. "'You are charging Abigail Williams with a marvelous cool plot to murder, do you understand that?' 'I do, sir. I believe she means to murder.' 'This child would murder your wife?'" (Miller 104). Abigail uses the towns hysteria and her newfound power to her advantage. She is in love with John Proctor and wants him all to herself. She accuses Elizabeth of being a witch to get her killed. Abigail is willing to get an innocent woman killed to get what she wants. Most of the people in the courtroom believe Abigail and her witch claims. She realizes this and therefore, uses this as an opportunity to get rid of Elizabeth. Proctor knows all
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Elizabeth is not a witch, but simply an obstacle in Abigail's path of being with Proctor. "Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strongbox is broken into." (Miller 126). This quote proves how Abigail is a fraud. She leaves Salem not because she is afraid of witchcraft, but because she is afraid that people may realize her true intentions behind the witch claims. She doesn't want to be proven as a fraud and get hanged. If Abigail was innocent and did nothing wrong, it wouldn't make sense for her to leave. Nobody was trying to harm her and the "witches" were getting their punishments. The real reason she leaves is because she abused her power to try to get Elizabeth killed and have proctor to herself. John Proctor and Hale are on to her, and Abigail leaves before others suspect her as well. She also steals from Parris which is an unnecessary act, but proves that she is in a state of desperation and needs to get out before it is too late for …show more content…
"'Mr. Parris you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house -' 'Man! Don't a minister deserve a house to live in?' 'To live in, yes. But to as ownership is like you shall own the meeting house itself.'" (Miller 30). Parris is a man that only cares about possessions. He uses his power and role as minister to get the deed to the house that he wants. He is selfish in that he uses a sacred role such as minister, as leverage to get what he wants. Most preachers care about preaching God and his teachings, but Parris is more concerned about getting a house than preaching God. He embodies the corruption of Salem. " I want a mark of confidence, is all! I am your third preacher in seven years. I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels the whim. There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!" (Miller 30). Parris is desperate to keep the power that he has gained in Salem. He wants to be important and have the respect of the people. He implies that he is the church, and if you are not with him, you are against the church. He doesn't care if he is disgracing the church and the religion, as long as he keeps his power. Parris is a fear monger in that he scares people to coming back to church. He preaches more about Hell than God. By keeping his power he is able to have the things that he wants, such as the deed to the house. He
Elizabeth is not a witch, but simply an obstacle in Abigail's path of being with Proctor. "Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strongbox is broken into." (Miller 126). This quote proves how Abigail is a fraud. She leaves Salem not because she is afraid of witchcraft, but because she is afraid that people may realize her true intentions behind the witch claims. She doesn't want to be proven as a fraud and get hanged. If Abigail was innocent and did nothing wrong, it wouldn't make sense for her to leave. Nobody was trying to harm her and the "witches" were getting their punishments. The real reason she leaves is because she abused her power to try to get Elizabeth killed and have proctor to herself. John Proctor and Hale are on to her, and Abigail leaves before others suspect her as well. She also steals from Parris which is an unnecessary act, but proves that she is in a state of desperation and needs to get out before it is too late for …show more content…
"'Mr. Parris you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house -' 'Man! Don't a minister deserve a house to live in?' 'To live in, yes. But to as ownership is like you shall own the meeting house itself.'" (Miller 30). Parris is a man that only cares about possessions. He uses his power and role as minister to get the deed to the house that he wants. He is selfish in that he uses a sacred role such as minister, as leverage to get what he wants. Most preachers care about preaching God and his teachings, but Parris is more concerned about getting a house than preaching God. He embodies the corruption of Salem. " I want a mark of confidence, is all! I am your third preacher in seven years. I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels the whim. There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!" (Miller 30). Parris is desperate to keep the power that he has gained in Salem. He wants to be important and have the respect of the people. He implies that he is the church, and if you are not with him, you are against the church. He doesn't care if he is disgracing the church and the religion, as long as he keeps his power. Parris is a fear monger in that he scares people to coming back to church. He preaches more about Hell than God. By keeping his power he is able to have the things that he wants, such as the deed to the house. He