Abigail Vs. Elizabeth
Essay by Rcisse • February 26, 2013 • Essay • 740 Words (3 Pages) • 1,922 Views
Abigail vs. Elizabeth
What would you do if someone was willing to take everything away from you, even your life, to get something you have? A lying, jealous, and vindictive Abigail Williams will do anything to get the love of a married man, even if it means accusing the man's loving, honest, and forgiving wife , Elizabeth Proctor, of witchcraft. Abigail has once had an affair with Elizabeth's husband while she acted as the housemaid. Once Elizabeth found out, she naturally fired Abigail. John Proctor, Elizabeth's husband, is forgiven by his wife after he confesses to his lechery. Abigail cannot come to terms with John not wanting her anymore, so she mischievously plots to have Elizabeth jailed. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible truly shows the evil nature of people who will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if it hurts innocent people in the process.
Vengeance drives people to do crazy things. In this story, Abigail is so blinded by jealousy that she ruins other people's lives and has them hanged because she accuses them of witchcraft. She is determined to get rid of Elizabeth so that she can have John all to herself. She tries to tempt John into coming back to her, but he refuses. She even stabs herself so that it looks as if Elizabeth's used her witch powers to send her "spirit" to hurt Abigail. By contrast, Elizabeth is the complete opposite. She finds about her husband's infidelity and truly tries to forgive him for his indiscretions. She even at one point blames herself for being cheated on because she thinks that she that she is not a good wife to him. She even tries to forgive Abigail at one point for doing what she did.
Abigail is an immature, cowardly adolescent who does not fully comprehend how her childish games and accusations affect people's lives. Elizabeth is a God fearing and brave woman who will do anything for her family and friends. Abigail is a coward because she lies to her uncle and blames the innocent slave, Tituba, of being a witch and casting spells to save herself from getting into trouble. She tries to blame everyone but herself for everything that happens in the play. To keep from being accused of being a witch, she bullies her friends and cousins into keeping their mouths shut about their escapades and forbidden dancing in the woods by telling them "Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shutter you. And you know I can do it." she does this so she won't get blamed for the illnesses that strike some of the children in town. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is brave because she willingly goes to jail after being accused of witchcraft by Abigail. Elizabeth does this so that she will not cause a scene. She calmly instructs her house maid on the duties
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