4. Why do you think Abigail leaves Salem and steals her uncle’s money? Why
doesn't she stay to see the result of the court’s work?
ANS: In my opinion, I believe that the main reason why Abigail steals her uncle’s
31 pounds from his strong box is to escape the ‘hysteria’ which has been caused
because of a lie by Abigail and the girls. Abigail knows what the consequences of
having any relation to any unnatural causes are, and thus escapes. We as readers
can understand this when Parris is dubious about this in act one and puts her on
guard by saying “Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time”
Needless to say, this may have thrown Abigail into a panic.
Besides, her uncle, Reverend Samuel Parris is the ‘Town Minister’ of Salem and
hence, may have pretty good knowledge about what the consequences are. She
knows for a fact that she may be hanged if she is accused by Proctor or Mary.
In conclusion, both Parris and Mercy are afraid for their lives and run away on a
boat. This is noticeable in Act four when Parris is dissolved into tears and says “I
think they be aboard a ship”. Besides, Betty tells her father that she overheard
Abby and Mercy’s conversation about fleeing from Salem due to the
circumstances.
5. Do you have any sympathy for Abigail? Give evidence for your opinion.
ANS: In my point of view I don't have much sympathy for Abigail Williams. A
reason for this is because she is a ‘manipulative’ character who is ‘impulsive’ and
has an ‘endless capacity for dissembling’. We as an audience can already
understand that she is an impressive storyteller.
Firstly, in act two she tries to frame Elizabeth by implying false accusations on
her by claiming that Elizabeth was the one who gifted her the poppet stabbed
with a needle. A reason for this is that she still desperately wants her ex-lover,
John, and therefore wants to replace his wife, Elizabeth. This could also suggest
that she is remarkable jealous of Elizabeth.
Abigail is also considered as a manipulative character who at first takes help of
Tituba to perform charms to kill Elizbeth Proctor only to gain her true love, John.
, But later turns against her by putting the accusation on Tituba that she was in a
compact with the Devil. Her false accusations lead to the death of 91 people.
We as readers can also understand that Abigail is stubborn and wants everything
to go according to her wish.
However, I could still sense pity for her as a character at the beginning of the play
when Miller portrays her as a ‘seventeen-year-old’ and an ‘orphan’. In act 2, we as
readers know that she has dealt through a lot in her life when she threateningly
explains how she saw her parents being brutally killed at night and had seen
‘some reddish work done at night’ suggesting bloodshed.
In addition, another reason why I sympathise Abby is because she is a woman.
Around 1692 women woman weren't considered equal to men, and couldn't stand
up for themselves. Nevertheless, Abigail Williams portrays these qualities.
6. Do you think Abigail was responsible for the Salem witch-trials or did the
blame lie with other people or situations?
ANS: After reading ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, it doesn't seem like Abigial
was solely responsible and was to be accused and held responsible for the witch
trials. However, I believe that Abigail is the main antagonist in the play who
drives the play.
A reason why I think that Abigail Williams is partly responsible for the Salem
witch-trials is because of her ‘endless capacity for dissembling’. When Abigail is
asked, by Parris if she was discovered doing some unnatural causes in the forest,
she bluntly denies it. However, Parris suspicion did come out to be true that the
girls were “dancing in the forest like heathens”. What’s more, Abigail drank
chicken blood as a charm to kill goody proctor. In addition, in act 3 she gains
power and makes Danforth, and Parris believes that Mary is the ‘yellow bird’ and
has a compact with the Devil. This suggests her heartless attitude.
In contrast, Abigail Williams cannot be exclusively blamed for the trials. A
reason is because of the fact that she is an orphan just at seventeen years old and
had seen some ‘reddish work done at night’ i.e she has seen her parents being
doesn't she stay to see the result of the court’s work?
ANS: In my opinion, I believe that the main reason why Abigail steals her uncle’s
31 pounds from his strong box is to escape the ‘hysteria’ which has been caused
because of a lie by Abigail and the girls. Abigail knows what the consequences of
having any relation to any unnatural causes are, and thus escapes. We as readers
can understand this when Parris is dubious about this in act one and puts her on
guard by saying “Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time”
Needless to say, this may have thrown Abigail into a panic.
Besides, her uncle, Reverend Samuel Parris is the ‘Town Minister’ of Salem and
hence, may have pretty good knowledge about what the consequences are. She
knows for a fact that she may be hanged if she is accused by Proctor or Mary.
In conclusion, both Parris and Mercy are afraid for their lives and run away on a
boat. This is noticeable in Act four when Parris is dissolved into tears and says “I
think they be aboard a ship”. Besides, Betty tells her father that she overheard
Abby and Mercy’s conversation about fleeing from Salem due to the
circumstances.
5. Do you have any sympathy for Abigail? Give evidence for your opinion.
ANS: In my point of view I don't have much sympathy for Abigail Williams. A
reason for this is because she is a ‘manipulative’ character who is ‘impulsive’ and
has an ‘endless capacity for dissembling’. We as an audience can already
understand that she is an impressive storyteller.
Firstly, in act two she tries to frame Elizabeth by implying false accusations on
her by claiming that Elizabeth was the one who gifted her the poppet stabbed
with a needle. A reason for this is that she still desperately wants her ex-lover,
John, and therefore wants to replace his wife, Elizabeth. This could also suggest
that she is remarkable jealous of Elizabeth.
Abigail is also considered as a manipulative character who at first takes help of
Tituba to perform charms to kill Elizbeth Proctor only to gain her true love, John.
, But later turns against her by putting the accusation on Tituba that she was in a
compact with the Devil. Her false accusations lead to the death of 91 people.
We as readers can also understand that Abigail is stubborn and wants everything
to go according to her wish.
However, I could still sense pity for her as a character at the beginning of the play
when Miller portrays her as a ‘seventeen-year-old’ and an ‘orphan’. In act 2, we as
readers know that she has dealt through a lot in her life when she threateningly
explains how she saw her parents being brutally killed at night and had seen
‘some reddish work done at night’ suggesting bloodshed.
In addition, another reason why I sympathise Abby is because she is a woman.
Around 1692 women woman weren't considered equal to men, and couldn't stand
up for themselves. Nevertheless, Abigail Williams portrays these qualities.
6. Do you think Abigail was responsible for the Salem witch-trials or did the
blame lie with other people or situations?
ANS: After reading ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, it doesn't seem like Abigial
was solely responsible and was to be accused and held responsible for the witch
trials. However, I believe that Abigail is the main antagonist in the play who
drives the play.
A reason why I think that Abigail Williams is partly responsible for the Salem
witch-trials is because of her ‘endless capacity for dissembling’. When Abigail is
asked, by Parris if she was discovered doing some unnatural causes in the forest,
she bluntly denies it. However, Parris suspicion did come out to be true that the
girls were “dancing in the forest like heathens”. What’s more, Abigail drank
chicken blood as a charm to kill goody proctor. In addition, in act 3 she gains
power and makes Danforth, and Parris believes that Mary is the ‘yellow bird’ and
has a compact with the Devil. This suggests her heartless attitude.
In contrast, Abigail Williams cannot be exclusively blamed for the trials. A
reason is because of the fact that she is an orphan just at seventeen years old and
had seen some ‘reddish work done at night’ i.e she has seen her parents being
