The Crucible
... the reason why the talk of witchcraft first begins. The rumors of Abigail and John’s affair is no secret, yet no one seems to realize that her accusations are no more than a concealment to hide her passion for John Proctor. As for John, he states “I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you [Abigail] again” (23), but later confesses of thinking of her from time to time. These words only add fuel to Abigail’s fire and result in her motivation to falsely incriminate others’ of witchcraft until she receives what she desires. As stated before, Abigail is an orphan and to add an unmarried woman. These two qualities are reason enough place her at the low end of the Salem Puritan social ladder. In Puritan society, men and ministers are seen as God’s earthly representatives who have wisdom and authority from above. The trails, in which Abigail and the girls are allowed to act as though they have direct connection to God, empower the previously powerless Abigail. “Abigail brings the other girls into the court, and where she walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel” (50). The respectable townspeople who used to scorn her for the rumors of hers and John’s affairs now stand at her mercy. A mere accusation from Abigail or one of the girls is enough to convict and hang even the most well respected citizens of Salem. Abigail now has the opportunity to accuse them of the worst sin of all, devil worship. Without the sexual longing Abigail feels for John Proctor it is most certain that the other girls would have no incentive to terrorize the ...