The Crucible Character Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
December 17, 2009
Character Analysis: Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams is a selfish and conniving girl who casts blame on others in order to avoid the consequences of her actions.
Abigail’s goal is to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor so that she may continue her lustful relationship with John Proctor. She goes about pursuing this goal by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft, despite the fact that Abigail is a witch, herself. All of Abigail’s evil deeds are done out of self-interest. When Mary Warren, a follower of Abigail, admits that neither she nor any other girls had seen any spirits, Abigail immediately acts as though Mary was hexing her: “Abigail, looking about the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold: "I--I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come. Her eyes fall on Mary Warren (Miller 108). Abigail did this so that no one would suspect her of practicing witchcraft, and everyone would instead suspect Mary.
Abigail behaves like an opossum. Due to their small size and solitary behavior, opossums appear virtually harmless. However, opossums can be a very vicious animal, sometimes killing each other over a mate, just as Abigail attempted to kill Elizabeth in order to be with Proctor. Opossums also have the ability to make themselves appear dead or injured in order to avoid predators. In Abigail’s case, the “predator” was a noose.
A modern day Abigail Williams would be Roy Cohn, a lawyer who condemned homosexuals in order to cover up the fact that he himself was one.