Title Comparing and contrasting between two characters of two unique novels cannot be more profoundly illustrated than comparing that of the character of Lady Macbeth authored by William Shakespeare within the book Macbeth to that character of Abigail authored by Arthur Miller within the book the Crucible. ..........
The act of manipulation overwhelms the mindset of Lady Macbeth and Abigail. Although, how they choose to react to such a feeling is where individuality from one another occurs. The concept of Macbeth revolves around Lady Macbeth corrupting her husband’s mental stability and convincing him to commit a murder. She does so by questioning his manhood and referring to him as a coward. “[He] is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (I.ii.16). Lady Macbeth is worried that he is not strong enough to perform such a task, so she manipulates him by telling Macbeth how far she will go if it is necessary. “While [the baby] was smiling in my face, / have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums/ and dash’d the brains out” (I.VII.56-58). With such ideas of murdering someone and manipulating someone else, only for self gain, does not come without the feeling of remorse. “What need we fear who/ knows it, when none can call our power to account? / yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (V.i.36-39). The manipulation of Lady Macbeth’s husband leaves her feeling guilty to a point where it leads her to her own demise. Abigail also manipulates others for her own personal gain, as she is in a great deal of trouble if she does not. Abigail and her friends are caught dancing in a forsaken forest where it is said that they performed witchcraft. In order for Abigail to salvage what’s left of her pride and integrity after being caught, she manipulates her friends into lying about what exactly happened in the forest. It is Abigail’s personality to naturally manipulate them with a threat. “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, or I will come to you in the black of night and i will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller, 20). Her message to the girls was successful and now she is on another attempt to manipulate a situation where the outcome is positive for her. Abigail manipulates the guilt that John has from the affair between them and uses it to her advantage. She seeks revenge on Mrs. Proctor for winning, so she lies and accuses her of witchcraft. “Abigail plants a poppet on Elizabeth with a needle in it and explains that Mrs. Proctor is a witch. She says that Elizabeth made the poppet resembling her and performed witchcraft on it” (73, 74). The manipulation of Macbeth leads Lady Macbeth to an unkindly death, where as Abigail thrives from the manipulation of others and will continue to do so.
The position of authority is long desired by Lady Macbeth and Abigail. How far one is willing to go for such a title is what divides the women into their distinct character. Both women want a certain image and they both want to obtain the highest hierarchy available. Lady Macbeth strives for the recognition to be Queen. This is put in place when she has knowledge about her husband’s prophecy to be king. QUOTE HERE?!?!?!?! By becoming queen Lady Macbeth feels that she is finally getting what she deserves. After attaining the position of such high ranking authority, Lady Macbeth is still not satisfied. She feels the position of queen is not very secure, and it worries Lady Macbeth that it is too good to be true. While Macbeth, her husband, starts to act out from guilt of murdering the king, Lady Macbeth ignores the duties as a queen and acts selfish in making sure she stays at the top. Lady Macbeth is willing to lie to her people if it meant her position at the throne was protected. “Sit, worthy friends, my lord is often this way, / And has been from his youth. I beg you, stay seated. / The fit is momentary; in a minute/ He will again be well. If pay attention to him / you shall offend him” (III. IV. 53-57). She does not want the people to know that they took lives in order to be in the position that they are in. Abigail is in a similar situation, in the sense that she wishes to have a certain position of authority but it is unattainable due to the secrets it revolves around. Abigail’s position of authority is high ranking in its time, which is a woman. She thinks that if people think of her as a woman than she is worthy enough to marry John. “Give me a word, John. A soft word. I am waitin’ for you every night. You are surely sportin’ with me” (22). She is in love with a man that will not look her way. She thinks that being a woman and being taken seriously will get his attention. Unfortunately, Abigail later discovers that john will never be with her and so she changes her attention to the public. She seeks out the acceptance of being an authoritative individual throughout her community. In order for this desire to be reality, Abigail accuses others of witchcraft and other felonies to show that she has the power to be an adult and to be taken seriously. QUOTE GOES HERE???!?!?!?!!? Such positions of authority that the women wish to concur always come with many challenges. As Lady Macbeth desires to keep her position and not live in fear, Abigail desires to be thought of as an authoritative person and will not quit until she is.