|
|
The words jealousy or lies could be Abigail Williams’ middle name. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Abigail Williams’ principle weakness is her jealousy for the things she cannot have in her life and her habit of lying to get what she wants. These two vices combined helped to create a chaos in Salem that the colony of Massachusetts had never seen before. Abigail’s jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor, and the lies she told, ultimately broke up a family and caused the death of the only man she ever wanted. Abigail Williams’ insane jealousy has no boundaries. She will do whatever she feels necessary to get what she wants. Betty Parris reminds Abby, “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!” (I, 1, 18). Abigail immediately lashes out at Betty for saying this, which only proves that Abigail really does want Elizabeth Proctor dead so that she can have John for herself. Abigail’s habit of lying can be seen by almost every conversation she has.
|
