Word Count: 365In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller,Miller displays how easily people can be fooled by theinnocence of youth. He also exposes the gullibility ofcommon people, even people such as Danforth andHathorne, who play the role of the “wise” judges. A singlegirl, Abigail, causes the downfall of the whole society.
Abigail scares the younger part of the society intosubmission. The people who must decide the fate of the restof the society, see only her innocence and truthfulness.
Abigail seeks the affection of John Proctor, a farmer who isrespected and feared by most of the townspeople. Proctormakes a foolish mistake when he has an affair with Abigail.
Later on he regrets having this affair, and he wants Abigail toforget that it ever happened. Abigail does not want to let himgo, she wants him to decide between his wife, ElizabethProctor or her, Abigail. Abigail is deprived of attention andshe seeks it from the community. Abigail’s parents werekilled when she was younger, and her uncle, ReverendParris, does not pay very much attention to her. Sheattempts to give people the impression that she is a verytough person. John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor knowwhat she is really like and wants to have nothing to do withher. In Act One she says, “I saw Indians smash my dearparents’ heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seensome reddish work done at night, and I can make you wishyou had never seen the sun go down.” From this we get theimpression that she might be a little bit mentally disturbed.
The way that she acts in front of John Proctor reveals thatshe is not as sure of herself as she would like us to believe.
Mary Warren decides to confess to the fact that they are alllying, and that she never saw any spirits. In front Abigail,however, she breaks down and returns to her side. WhenJudge Danforth calls for Abigail to be summoned to court heis told that she has stolen her uncle’s money and left thetown. Despite this fact Judge Danforth does not think ill of it.
Judge Danforth feels so secure in his position that he will notaccept the fact that he can be wrong. During the trialDanforth is completely sure that he
