In the course of human history the theme of unknown has always been of the greatest interest for people. However, it is in human nature to be afraid of everything unknown and to attribute unknown things to magical powers. People who were somehow connected with witchcraft aroused intense emotions and reactions of the rest of society. If we add love and jealousy to the theme of witchcraft, we will get the main idea of the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Williams, based on “the Salem witch-hunt” (Bllom 3). The whole ominous action is provoked and unfolds because of the opposition of three characters: John Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Proctor. John may be considered the protagonist of the play, however, the interrelation of the two main female characters of the play are, certainly, of great use for the development of the action and realization of the main themes of the play.
It is evident that Abigail Williams is the villain of “The Crucible”, for she is the person who has given a stimulus to the chain of horrible events, which lead to the deaths of innocent people accused of witchcraft (MacBain 16). At the first sight, her character may seem simple, guided by passion and immaturity, but this point of view is false. From the very first pages the reader gets acquainted with Abigail as a “strikingly beautiful girl” (Miller and Blakesley 6). At the same time, the author immediately states that the young beauty possesses “endless capacity for dissembling” (Miller and Blakesley 6). This quality is the key trait of Abigail’s character. We cannot but admit that the villain of the play is a strikingly charismatic person who is, by all means, a born manipulator. Due to her endless slyness she manages to delude everyone, it is easy for her to make an impression of “all worry and apprehension and propriety”, hiding her real nature and feelings under masterfully created disguise (Miller and Blakesley 6). Just as every other character of the play, Abigail Williams has her own crucible, the burden of isolation and solitude. The personal crucible of the second woman, Elizabeth Proctor, is her husband’s love affair with the young servant, Abigail. Thus, two women become connected by means of “their” man. The author positions these two characters as absolute opposites, like two poles. While Abigail is passionate and “has a questionable reputation for wildness” (Johnson and Johnson 3), Elizabeth is introduced to the audience as a “cold” Puritan woman, as described by Abigail: “a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling, woman, and I will not work for such a woman” (Miller and Blakesley 9). However, when the reader meets her for the first time, she makes completely different impression. She is reserved, dutiful and faithful to her husband. Still, her soul is tortured by his adultery. Probably, it is her weakness, her enduring self-imposed pain, which is ruinous for her own soul and for her married life. This may be vividly observed in the abstract describing the dinner that consisted of rabbit, when the pronoun “she” was continuously used instead of “it”: “I took care …She’s tender?” (Miller and Blakesley 48). Thus, just as the character of Abigail is not entirely negative, for the end of the play reveals that she is a child deep in her soul, the character of Elizabeth is not entirely good, as jealousy is also a sin, though not so awful as adultery. Besides, Elizabeth is accused by Abigail for blackening her reputation that causes absence of work place after her discharge from the Proctors’ house. We will never know if this is true or not, but the possibility of spreading rumors is possible.
Speaking about the motives that guided the actions of the women, the common motive may be defined: both wanted one man. However, the motives collided, as they needed the same man: Abigail wanted to have her first and, probably, the only man, who showed the seventeen-year-old girl the nature of physical relationship of a man and a woman, while Elizabeth desperately tried to save her family. However, the actions of Abigail cannot be considered as caused by egoism, lust, and immaturity only. John Proctor says that Abigail “hopes to dance with me upon my wife’s grave” (Miller and Blakesley 100). This is true, but this is not the only motive of the heroine. It should be taken into account that her “family [was] killed in King Philip’s War” (Johnson and Johnson 10). Abigail was an orphan, and she had no right and influence in society. When she discovered that she had an ability to manipulate the post influential people of the town, it was like a dream for her, the dream where her power was boundless.
If we consider the relationship of the two women with other characters of the play, we should concentrate our attention on the relationship with John again, as this is the most important relationship for both women. The relationship between a husband, a wife, and former mistress builds up an eternal triangle. However, Abigail is turned out of it, as John has ended their love affair. Unfortunately, for Elizabeth the mistress virtually remains present, and this is the cause of her pain and suffering. In the course of the action a puritan woman, with the truth as the supreme virtue, resorts to lie during the trial, which shows that her love for husband is the most important thing for her: “God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride” (Miller and Blakesley 120). What is more, final acceptance of John’s decision characterizes his wife as strong and deep personality: “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Miller and Blakesley 132).
Drawing a conclusion, it should be mentioned that the creation of two bright and strong female characters is the evident sign of “insistent literary pulse” of Arthur Miller (Bottoms 222). The opposing characters successfully interact in the course of the play and vividly supplement each other. The women have principal opposite features but they also possess common features, motives, and desires.
Works Cited
Bottoms, Stephen. “Arthur Miller: A Critical Study.” The Modern Language Review 102.1 (2007): 222.
Johnson, Claudia Durst, and Vernon E. Johnson. Understanding the Crucible A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998.
MacBain, Jenny. The Salem Witch Trials: A Primary Source of the Witchcraft Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.
Miller, Arthur & Blakesley, Maureen. The Crucible. Oxon: Heinemann, 1992.
The Crucible. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1999.
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