The Crucible
In the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, Miller displays how easily people can be
fooled by the innocence of youth. He also exposes the gullibility of common people, even
people such as Danforth and Hathorne, who play the role of the "wise" judges. A single
girl, Abigail, causes the downfall of the whole society. Abigail scares the younger part
of the society into submission. The people who must decide the fate of the rest of the
society, see only her innocence and truthfulness.
Abigail seeks the affection of John Proctor, a farmer who is respected and feared by
most of the townspeople. Proctor makes a foolish mistake when he has an affair with
Abigail. Later on he regrets having this affair, and he wants Abigail to forget that it
ever happened. Abigail does not want to let him go, she wants him to decide between his
wife, Elizabeth Proctor or her, Abigail. Abigail is deprived of attention and she seeks
it from the community.
Abigail's parents were killed when she was younger, and her uncle, Reverend Parris, does
not pay very much attention to her. She attempts to give people the impression that she
is a very tough person. John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor know what she is really like
and wants to have nothing to do with her. In Act One she says, "I saw Indians smash my
dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at
night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down." From this we get the
impression that she might be a little bit mentally disturbed. The way that she acts in
front of John Proctor reveals that she is not as sure of herself as she would like us to
believe.
Mary Warren decides to confess to the fact that they are all lying, and that she never
saw any spirits. In front Abigail, however, she breaks down and returns to her side. When
Judge Danforth calls for Abigail to be summoned to court he is told that she has stolen
her uncle's money and left the town. Despite this fact Judge Danforth does not think ill
of it. Judge Danforth feels so secure in his position that he will not accept the fact
that he can be wrong. During the trial Danforth is completely sure that he
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