The Crucible Classwork
Abigail is a mean and vindictive person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Through out Act I her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. Parris discovered them dancing in the wood and questioned Abigail about it as his young daughter, Betty would not wake, Abigail claimed that it was just “sport” and that Betty just fainted. Parris was only interested in keeping his name clear of witchcraft. Parris is angry at Abigail because he thinks she’s not telling him all that happened in the woods, he says, "I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake my ministry and perhaps your cousins life!". Parris’s job as a minister is in jeopardy, he needs to know what happened in the woods and he is angry that Abigail isn’t telling the whole story. Abigail is not telling him the whole story because she is afraid of what might happen to her. Where as Parris needs to know the whole story because he is afraid of what will happen to him, they are both very selfish characters. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed her parents' brutal murders. "I saw Indians smash my dear parent's heads on the pillow next to mine...” This event evidentially desensitized her from causing pain and watching others receive it. After her traumatic experience, her uncle, Reverend Parris, who is somewhat of a villain, raised her. In the play it was written, "He (Parris) was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them." Parris regarded children as young adults who should be "thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak." Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing. She also was without any real mother or father figures. Abigail grew up to be deceitful and treacherous, lacking trustworthiness. On account of the fear for her life, Abigail began to accuse the townspeople of witchcraft, when it was only herself how actually carried it out. Also if this attitude towards the way children behave was shared by all of the community, the children would love the chance to accuse people and dance in woods because it would be the first time in there lives possibly, that they would be experiencing fun, it would be the first time an adult has ever paid any attention to anything they had to say.
