Just as the Puritans viewed themselves as a “beacon of righteousness”, the Crucible’s Abigail Williams displayed an arrogance throughout the drama that assists this idea. Throughout the drama, Abigail Williams begins to recognize her influence in the town as the dire situation involving witchcraft unfolds. She has great power, which she wields with her words and sharp tongue, that can send anyone to their grave. Her violent intimidation is even shown as she “ smashes [Betty] across the face: Shut it! Now shut it!” (Miller, Act 1). This power suddenly gives her this importance in the town that she always craved throughout her life, and her words matter much more as the play progresses. This motif of “empowerment” is clearly present in Abigail
