Abigail Williams Character Analysis Essay

Words: 1047
Pages: 5

The Salem witch trials started in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, which had lasted for many years. During these years many innocent puritans were hung or pressed for being charged with witchery. At this time “the Salem folk believed that the virgin forest was the Devil’s last preserve, his home base and the citadel of his final stand.” (Applebee et al. 167) So when Reverend Parris found girls from Salem dancing in the woods late one night it caused panic throughout the town, nevertheless this is what started the Salem Witch Trials. An analysis of Abigail Williams shows that she was an afflicted, naive teenage girl trying to win the heart of John Proctor. In the play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, Abigail Williams is said to be seventeen years old, and an orphan. “I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine…” (Applebee et al. 175) She lives with her uncle, Reverend Parris and helps take care of Betty, his daughter when she becomes ill the morning after the incident in the woods. Abby does not have a job working for anyone that we know of. When she used to work for the Proctors, she was subservient until they kicked her out. Throughout the story Abby is hated more and more by the people of the town. The Puritans were very religious …show more content…
We know this because when Mr. Hale arrives in Salem, the girls start yelling “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil.” “I saw Sarah Good with the Devil.” “I saw Sarah Osburn with the Devil.” (Applebee et al. 189) They were trying to blame others for their acts in the woods with Tituba. Most of those who were accused were innocent people. They called Martha Corey a witch because a pig of hers that she sold to someone died a couple days afterward. Innocent people being accused and put to death by naive members of the Salem community happened for a couple of years in the late sixteen