The Crucible Character Analysis free essay sample

The Ultimate Schemer One of the main characters of the play The Crucible, Abigail Williams, is the most spiteful and least complex character throughout the entire play. She is the villain of the play, even more than Parris or Danforth. She is on the lower end of the social hierarchy; the only people below her were slaves like Tituba. Abigail Williams possess wicked character traits that give her a negative perception. She is a jezebel figure who lacks feelings, an immoral character who lacks ethics and a manipulative person who lacks a conscience. Abigail’s counterpart is a jezebel figure. A jezebel figure is commonly associated with a woman who is regarded as evil and scheming. Abigail’s evil can be seen through her interactions with the other women of the play. For example, she threatens Betty and Mary Warren by saying, â€Å"Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word about the other things and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and i will a pointy reckoning that will shudder you† (The Crucible, Act 1). We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible Character Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In addition she is scheming because she crafts a plot that send 19 innocent people to their deaths. Her evil and scheming ways undermines the future of the other characters and is only for her selfish gain. Abigail posses an immoral persona and many of her actions are unethical. She wants one thing and one thing only, John Proctor, a married man. She participates in infidelity and constructs a web of lies. She knows that it is a sin to have sex with a married man but continues to proclaim her love for him, â€Å"I will not, i cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is you love me yet! † (The Crucible, Act 1). In connection with the infidelity she lies on Elizabeth, Proctor’s wife, and says her spirit stabbed her when in reality she stabbed herself. Similar to her lack of emotions it proves how immoral, unethical, and selfish she really is. Abigail shows a lack of remorse and a conscience because instead of confessing she continues to lie. Moreover she convinces the other girls to lie along with her. She uses her cunning speech and threats to influence the others. For example in the woods she says, â€Å"I want to open myself I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss his hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil! † (The Crucible, Act 2). She said this to leave an impression on the others. The others follow her because they are intimidated by her. Abigail never shows any remorse about negatively influencing the others. Abigail’s callous nature stems partially from past trauma; she is an orphan who watched her parents get murdered by Indians. This is still no excuse for her iniquitous actions. Unethical, immoral, and manipulative are perfect adjectives to describe Abigail’s character and in the end she gains nothing. She does not have John Proctor because he is executed and 19 innocent people have died. There are other characters in the play that can be considered villains but she is by far the most evil. She is the ultimate schemer.