Throughout any piece of literature one or more themes are presented in the story. A theme is a topic or an underlying message throughout the text. Authors, like Arthur Miller, present themes through major characters' actions, their thoughts, dialogue, and character motivations. Stories have a theme to help the readers relate and to connect to their characters and to maintain the story's soul. One of the thematic ideas of The Crucible is that intimidation, dishonesty, and revenge can lead to false accusations and injustice. Intimidation, being one part of this theme, and Abigail Williams is a good example as how intimidation can lead to false accusations and injustice. In Act One, Abigail and the other girls who were dancing in the woods, are
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Consequently, revenge is a powerful action that can have poor outcomes. In Act One of the crucible John rejects Abigail and she's bitter about it. John says, "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby."(23) Wanting payback Abigail accuses John Proctor's wife so she can have John all to herself. In Act Two you find out, that it was indeed Abigail who accused Elizabeth, from Cheever, who tells Proctor, "Why, Abigail Williams charged her."(73) since John rejected Abigail she wanted revenge and falsely accused Elizabeth of Being a witch. Jealous of Rebecca Nurse because she had 11 children and even more grandchildren, Mrs. Putnam, only had one surviving child out of eight, believed Rebecca had something to do with her babies' deaths. Rebecca Nurse had been a midwife for Mrs. Putnam and when the cry of witchcraft spread through Salem Mrs. Putnam sought her chance for revenge for seven dead babies. Uncomprehending what's going on, Francis Nurse tells Proctor in Act Two that Rebecca has been arrested. "For murder, she's charged! "For the marvelous and supernatural murder of
Consequently, revenge is a powerful action that can have poor outcomes. In Act One of the crucible John rejects Abigail and she's bitter about it. John says, "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby."(23) Wanting payback Abigail accuses John Proctor's wife so she can have John all to herself. In Act Two you find out, that it was indeed Abigail who accused Elizabeth, from Cheever, who tells Proctor, "Why, Abigail Williams charged her."(73) since John rejected Abigail she wanted revenge and falsely accused Elizabeth of Being a witch. Jealous of Rebecca Nurse because she had 11 children and even more grandchildren, Mrs. Putnam, only had one surviving child out of eight, believed Rebecca had something to do with her babies' deaths. Rebecca Nurse had been a midwife for Mrs. Putnam and when the cry of witchcraft spread through Salem Mrs. Putnam sought her chance for revenge for seven dead babies. Uncomprehending what's going on, Francis Nurse tells Proctor in Act Two that Rebecca has been arrested. "For murder, she's charged! "For the marvelous and supernatural murder of