Crucible Essay #2

Aristotle famously stated, “Man perfected by society is the best of all animals; he is the most terrible of all when he lives without law and without justice.” Abigail Williams had no sense of justice, making her a despicable human being. Abigail was guilty of performing an endless number of crimes, one right after the other. Never once did she learn from her mistakes, apologize for them, or regret doing them. Abigail’s lust, fear, insecurity, and jealousy influenced her decision to lie and manipulate others; this led up to her treacherous fall.

If Abigail and Proctor initially engaged in the same crime, what makes Abigail more detestable? It is because Abigail continued committing crimes and felt no remorse for her actions. Proctor was “a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct” (Miller 20). He was not living up to his own standards, which meant he would suffer. Proctor was so ashamed of his actions he could not die with the townspeople because he would be dying like a saint, “They think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their names” (141). Even though Abigail committed more serious crimes than Proctor, in her eyes, she did nothing wrong. In Salem there was “no ritual for the washing away of the sins” (20). If this was the case, there was nothing Abigail could do about her sins because they did not matter. Abigail, unlike Proctor, failed to confess and was responsible for more crimes; therefore, Abigail is the most detestable.

If the justice system we have today was present in 1692, Abigail would have committed several felonies. Now, engaging in criminal activity requires the criminal to pay a heavy fine and a sentence in jail. Abigail Williams committed perjury; this cost innocent people their lives. When Danforth relied on her to tell the truth, she insisted it other people were incorrect, “It is a lie, sir” (103). Abigail is guilty of fraud, which is a deception made for personal gain to damage another individual. It is clear Abigail is responsible of this when she accuses different girls of being witches, “I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the devil” (48). Abigail’s only intention was to shift the blame off herself. This leads to the crime of attempted murder. Abigail is guilty of this because she had the full intent to commit murder, but was not willing to carry out the act. Next, Abigail stole thirty-one pounds from her uncle, “Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless” (126). Perjury, fraud, attempted murder, and robbery, are all criminal offenses. Anyone who commits a criminal offense deserves to be punished.

Abigail used the right people at the right time, for her bad purposes. Good intentions turned into fatal mistakes. Being a kind person, Mary Warren made a doll for the woman she worked for, Elizabeth Proctor. Since Abigail sat right next to Mary Warren, she saw her place a needle in the poppet. The only purpose was for safekeeping, and nothing else. If Abigail was going to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, she was going to need sufficient evidence. If Abigail was to be stabbed in the stomach, conveniently, the doll in Elizabeth’s home would have a needle in it. If this was the case, Elizabeth must be practicing witchcraft. Abigail had Cheever enter and search the Proctor’s home for this doll; this is going against the Constitution. The U.S. Constitution has been the successful supreme law system in America for over two hundred years. The Fourth Amendment states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized” (www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am4). Cheever had no warrant; therefore, he had no right to search their home. If the U.S. Constitution was in effect in 1692, Abigail would not have gotten away with this and Elizabeth would still be innocent. When compared to the foundation of our justice system, Abigail’s treachery is unparallel.

Maybe it is unfair to judge Abigail by the justice system of our time. Instead, she should be judged by the justice system of her time, the Ten Commandments. Since Salem was a theocratic society, religion should have controlled every aspect of Abigail’s life. Through breaking almost all of the Ten Commandments, Abigail epitomizes a sinner. Abigail first broke the commandment, you shall not commit adultery, when she had an affair with John Proctor. Abigail’s desire for Proctor, led her to break another Commandment, you shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. Through practicing witchcraft, Abigail was worshipping false gods. The combination of lying in court and blaming others, as well as stealing from her uncle, Abigail broke two more commandments, you shall not steal and you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. She lived under the household of Reverend Parris; therefore, she should have shown him respect, but she failed to do this. This led her to break the commandment of honoring thy mother and father. Considering if a member in Salem broke just one of these commandments, they were sentenced to hang by their necks, breath their last breaths, and lie lifeless in front of a boisterous crowd, what would be a suitable punishment for someone who broke six of these commandments? Under no justice system would Abigail be free from the treachery she caused.

If committing federal crimes and breaking the Commandments are not considered sins, what could be considered a sin? Not once did Abigail perform an act of kindness. She did not have an honest bone in her body, she mistreated her friends, and her only concern in life was how something would benefit her. Her manipulative nature allowed her to rule the town. Abigail claimed others sent out their spirits to harm her. However, she was the one who wanted to harm others. In some aspects, Abigail was guilty of this crime. She had everyone, including the judges, succumb to her. She was able to use her evil spirit to cast a spell on others into believing everything she said and did. If Abigail said Proctor was lying, he was lying. When faced in a situation that questioned her authority, Abigail resorted to her charm, “I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people-and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a-” (108). When the going got tough Abigail ran away. If Proctor lived by the motto, “do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee” (95), how was Abigail able to escape? Abigail escaped from Salem, but she would never escape from God. Proctor meant that those who are righteous will be rewarded in heaven. Abigail will never be rewarded in heaven; instead, her reward lies in hell.

“Life is nothing but a competition to be the criminal rather than the victim” (Bertrand Russel). Abigail won the competition. Despite being young, she was able to get the best of everyone. She manipulated the judges, and once they were under her spell, they believed all her lies. If someone is oblivious of your intentions, you can get away with anything, even murder. By the time Abigail’s true nature was revealed, it was too late; she had already disappeared. Maybe Abigail escaped Salem in time, but she will never escape the wrath of God.