Abigail Williams V. Elizabeth Proctor
Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor from the 1953 play The Crucible could not be more different. Elizabeth is an honest, caring, religious woman, who cares deeply about her husband and sons. Abigail is a lying, mean, revenge-driven woman, who only has her own self interests at heart. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible takes place in 1692, in the village of Salem. It is about a well-respected farmer, John Proctor, who had an affair with a seventeen-year girl, Abigail Williams. Abigail then goes on to accuse Elizabeth, John’s wife, of witchcraft, to have her imprisoned and hanged. From their personality, to their values, to their feelings, Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor are polar opposites. In a village of sinners, Elizabeth Proctor is a true saint. According to her husband, she has never told a lie. “There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep—my wife cannot lie.” (Miller 520). She is also so kind-hearted and caring, that she refuses to be angry at her husband, despite that fact that he had an affair with another woman. (Miller 489) “with a smile to keep her dignity”. Lastly, she only believes in doing what is right. She refuses to …show more content…
She cares nothing about others, and will do whatever it takes to get her way, even if it means killing those in her way. She wants Elizabeth Proctor dead, so she can marry John Proctor, “She wants me dead.” (Miller 492). She is also incredibly disrespectful and mean to her “friends” and family. She threatens to beat her cousin, “I’ll beat you, Betty!” (Miller 468). She is so worried about the corruption of her reputation, that she accused hundreds of people of being witches, just to save her own name. She loves to accuse others, “She is enraptured, as though in a pearly light.” (Miller 484). Abigail Williams is a truly evil, selfish, arrogant person who cares nothing about who her actions