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The Crucible

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The Crucible
The Crucible A prime example of someone who has gained power through accusations and manipulation is Abigail Williams. She had the most power throughout the whole book and one person she had power over was Elizabeth Proctor. On page 80, Cheever states “… And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he drew a needle out. And demandin’ her of how she come to be so stabbed, she testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit pushed it in.” Cheever is explaining to Hale and Mr. Proctor that Elizabeth had something to do with Abigail being mysteriously stabbed during dinner. Since Hale and Cheever found the poppet Mary Warren had sewn and gave to Elizabeth, they saw this as hard evidence and Elizabeth was arrested and taken to court. This all started when Abigail saw Mary Warren sewing the doll for Mrs. Proctor and took this to her advantage. She came up with the idea to pretend the Elizabeth was causing harm to her through the poppet and this is how she was able to get Elizabeth arrested and on trial. Another way Abigail has power over Elizabeth is through her own husband.

On page 60, Elizabeth says “John, if it were not Abigail that you must go hurt, would you falter now? I think not.” This means that John wouldn’t hesitate to go up and testify against anyone else but when it comes to Abigail he isn’t as sure. Elizabeth knows this is true because Abigail and John Proctor had an affair; that’s the whole reason that Abigail wants Elizabeth dead. If Elizabeth is taken out of the picture Abigail thinks that she will be able to take her spot as John’s

wife. The reason John is so hesitant is because he doesn’t want the town of Salem to know of his affair with Abigail. In a Puritan society adultery is very frowned upon and it would shatter his reputation. His faltering could’ve caused Elizabeth to go to jail, and his faltering was caused by Abigail.

The Crucible
In the book The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, young woman especially
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