Twentieth Century Drama Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

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Twentieth Century Drama Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

The Crucible is a play set in 1692. It follows the story of the Salem Witch Trials and focuses on the fate of some of those caught up in the persecution.. I have chosen to write about the character of Abigail, as she is the one who is most interesting to me.

Act 1: Miller introduces Abigail in his notes as a character "with an endless capacity for dissembling”, a sly master of deception. For almost the entirety of Act I, she denies any evil associations. In response to her uncle's accusations of performing "abominations," she asserts, "It were sport, uncle”. Tituba confesses, is forgiven, and she is subjected to no further punishment. Immediately afterwards, Abigail does a complete reversal, confessing to fraternisation with the Devil, realising a confession won't harm her. She decides she "want[s] the light of God ... I danced for the Devil ... I go back to Jesus". Then Betty awakens and it is assumed that this has something to do with Abigail's break from the Devil. Abigail becomes the eye of God and whoever she accuses of witchcraft, is as good as guilty.

She has the ability to make people break down. At the beginning of Act 1, she seems concerned and worried but we have reason to doubt the sincerity of it. Abigail immediately grasps control of the situation and demonstrates her power and control over herself and her uncle, as it is she who warns Susanna not to talk in the village about what has happened. She has a deep hatred for Elizabeth Proctor and was dismissed from the Proctors service where she was a maid. Her uncle is curious to know why, only to be faced with an angry backlash. Abigail is resentful and spiteful and this is shown during many areas of Act 1.

(with an edge of resentment) Why I am sure it is sir. There be no blush about my name!

It’s a bitter woman, a lying cold, snivelling woman, and I will not work for such a woman.

I will not black my face for any of them (with ill concealed resentment) Do you begrudge my bed, uncle?

(in a temper) My name is good in the village…Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!

She also resorts to violence when words fail to do any thing

Abigail smashes her [Betty] across the face

(starting for Mary) I say shut it Mary Warren!

How does she secure her position as the "voice of Heaven”? She bends the girls to her will by instilling fear in them using half-truths and lies:

"We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam's dead sisters. And that is all ... Let either of you breathe a word ... about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine ... I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down."

        

The Abigail/Proctor relationship

John Proctor is a man in his mid thirties. He is in the prime of his life and good looks. He owns a farm and has sons by his wife Elizabeth. A few months ago, Abigail was working for the Proctors until John had an affair with her and Elizabeth dismissed her. As soon as Proctor’s character enters the scene, we as the audience sense a complete change in the atmosphere. Mary Warren becomes more frightened and nervous than usual, Mercy Lewis seems to want to get out of the room as quickly as possible and Abigail becomes very sexually provocative. Her character is still giving off a sense of power, but it is an entirely different type of power. When Mercy and Mary leave, we begin to understand the full extent of what is happening. The stage direction indicate that Abigail is somewhat awed by Proctor’s presence as she is “standing on tiptoe, absorbing his presence wide-eyed”.  There is clearly some bond between them and their dialogue becomes openly flirtatious with stage directions supporting it. The stage directions help to show the feelings between them even if the text seems completely innocent. “faintest suggestion of a knowing smile on his face”

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“Winningly…comes a little closer, with a confidential, wicked air”

“A trill of expectant laughter”

“feverishly looking into his eyes”

All of these directions if performed correctly help the audience to begin to understand that mixed emotions flowing between these two characters. One might assume that they are in love with each other until “her concentrated desire destroys his smile” and we, the audience, see that all is not what it seems to be. Abigail obviously had and still does have feelings of lust and passion for Proctor and refuses to disregard the fact that Proctor believes he has made an unforgivable ...

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