Revenge: Never the Best Answer If one group in the community were to gain all of the power in the area, how severe would the consequences be? The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play written about Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. The play starts off with a group of girls dancing in the woods around a cauldron. The reverend finds them, and accusations from the town and the girls go wild. The tides turn, and instead of the reverend having control, the group of girls have all the power. One of the girls, Abigail Williams, struggles with the theme seeking revenge can destroy many relationships by testing and ruining her chance of a relationship with John Proctor, her respect in the community, and her ability to stay in Salem. Abigail Williams first
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While Abigail tries to defend herself in court, she changes her story many times. Her story starts out as pure fun in the woods with silly dancing. This lie, though, does not last long: “I want to open myself! I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand” (Miller 1262). Abby did not admit to witchcraft without a reason, she sees Tituba getting away with impunity and changes her story. This seems surprising to the community because of her willingness to lie earlier. Abigail then seeks revenge on Tituba for desolate reasons, which gets Tituba killed in the end. Later on, Abigail and the court accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. This infuriates John Proctor: “I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance!” (Miller 1283). He demonstrates the control given to Abigail and the girls, and also opens the door for new opinions of the residents in Salem. Reverend Hale and some of the community members no longer see Abigail as an innocent girl plagued by the witchcraft in her town, but a girl who comes up with her own lies and condemns honest people. Not only does Abigail turn herself away …show more content…
Abigail soon begins to believe that she is invulnerable and that she can cry witchcraft upon whomever she wishes. One day, she attempts to blame Reverend Hale’s wife of witchcraft. Danforth and the other representatives of the court are appalled. They all conclude that a reverend’s wife would not do such a thing (The Crucible). Abigail seeks revenge on Reverend Hale for simply returning back to Salem because she sees him as a threat. This backfires on Abigail because it alienates her from the court and they become skeptical of her and her actions. She soon realizes that she cannot stay in Salem after this accusation, and makes plans to leave. Reverend Parris experiences the same kind of hate from Abigail: “I cannot think they would run off except they fear to keep in Salem any more. Mark it, sir, Abigail had close knowledge of the town” (Miller 1322). Abigail realizes her possible future issues within the town, and makes it a priority to get out as soon as possible. On her way out, she takes advantage and gets revenge on Reverend Parris for judging her by stealing all of his money. With all of her past actions, Abigail has no choice but to
While Abigail tries to defend herself in court, she changes her story many times. Her story starts out as pure fun in the woods with silly dancing. This lie, though, does not last long: “I want to open myself! I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand” (Miller 1262). Abby did not admit to witchcraft without a reason, she sees Tituba getting away with impunity and changes her story. This seems surprising to the community because of her willingness to lie earlier. Abigail then seeks revenge on Tituba for desolate reasons, which gets Tituba killed in the end. Later on, Abigail and the court accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. This infuriates John Proctor: “I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance!” (Miller 1283). He demonstrates the control given to Abigail and the girls, and also opens the door for new opinions of the residents in Salem. Reverend Hale and some of the community members no longer see Abigail as an innocent girl plagued by the witchcraft in her town, but a girl who comes up with her own lies and condemns honest people. Not only does Abigail turn herself away …show more content…
Abigail soon begins to believe that she is invulnerable and that she can cry witchcraft upon whomever she wishes. One day, she attempts to blame Reverend Hale’s wife of witchcraft. Danforth and the other representatives of the court are appalled. They all conclude that a reverend’s wife would not do such a thing (The Crucible). Abigail seeks revenge on Reverend Hale for simply returning back to Salem because she sees him as a threat. This backfires on Abigail because it alienates her from the court and they become skeptical of her and her actions. She soon realizes that she cannot stay in Salem after this accusation, and makes plans to leave. Reverend Parris experiences the same kind of hate from Abigail: “I cannot think they would run off except they fear to keep in Salem any more. Mark it, sir, Abigail had close knowledge of the town” (Miller 1322). Abigail realizes her possible future issues within the town, and makes it a priority to get out as soon as possible. On her way out, she takes advantage and gets revenge on Reverend Parris for judging her by stealing all of his money. With all of her past actions, Abigail has no choice but to