What power does Abigail Williams have in Act 2?
By act two, all of Salem is suspicious of witchcraft wherever they look, which is why people like Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are "mentioned" in the witchcraft proceedings. I know not if you are aware, but your wife’s name is - mentioned in the court. That is the power of Abigail Williams.
What role does Abigail play in Act 2 of the Crucible?
Throughout the scene, Abigail's presence looms larger and larger until John is prepared to expose himself as an adulterer to prove her a liar. In act two, Abigail is the source of tension in the Proctor home and her influence is clear in Elizabeth and John's strained relationship.
What is the significance of Abigail's manipulation in Act 2?
The rest of the events of act 2 can be seen as the direct result of Abigail's manipulation. It is she who plants the incriminating doll in the Proctor house through the agency of Mary Warren. It is Abigail's histrionics, as reported by Cheever, that make the doll and the needle significant.
What does Elizabeth tell John Proctor about Abigail?
Proctor can't believe it, but Elizabeth assures him it's true: Abigail leads the other girls in identifying witches. She urges a resistant Proctor to go to the court and tell the judges what Abigail told him: that it was mischief, not witchcraft. It's now clear that hysteria is gripping the town, extending even to the authorities.
What has happened to Abigail in Act 2?
Abigail fell on the floor screaming at dinner and pulled a needle out of her stomach, claiming that Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbed her. Mary and Elizabeth return, and Mary admits she made the doll in court while Abigail was sitting next to her.
What does Abigail lie about in Act 2?
Cheever says that Abigail was stabbed with a needle while eating at Parris' house, and Abigail accused Elizabeth's spirit of stabbing her. Mary Warren tells Hale that she made the doll in court that day and stored the needle inside the doll.
What happens in Act 2 of the Crucible?
Mary Warren, their servant, has gone to the witch trials, defying Elizabeth's order that she remain in the house. Fourteen people are now in jail. If these accused witches do not confess, they will be hanged. Whoever Abigail and her troop name as they go into hysterics is arrested for bewitching the girls.
What power does Abigail have in the courtroom Act 2?
Describe the power Abigail has in the courtroom. Abigail has a lot of power in the courtroom because she can send anyone to prison that she accused of witchcraft even if they look at her the wrong way or say something about her.
How does Abigail abuse her power?
Abigail abuses her power by getting Elizabeth Proctor in trouble by accusing her of witchcraft,by doing that, that she hopes to get her dead and she can finally focus on john, because of her love for John , when he rejects her love she wants to get back at him as well.
What did Abigail do?
Abigail lies to conceal her affair, and to prevent charges of witchcraft. In order to avoid severe punishment for casting spells and adultery — not to mention attempted murder when she plots Elizabeth's death — Abigail shifts the focus away from herself by accusing others of witchcraft.
Who is convicted in Act 2 of The Crucible?
Goody OsburnMary says that now thirty-nine are in jail: Goody Osburn has been convicted and will hang, while Sarah Good confessed to witchcraft and thereby saved herself. Hysteria feeds itself and grows: now people have confessed to non-existent witchcraft! But Sarah Good's confession was the only way for her to save herself.
Who has the most power in The Crucible Act 2?
In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, there is one person that has power over everyone in Salem, Massachusetts. When thinking of powerful people, few would think of a young girl, but in The Crucible Abigail Williams has the most power.
What is the main conflict in Act 2 of The Crucible?
Elizabeth Proctor being accused of witchcraft by Abigail. This is external since the conflict is between Elizabeth and Abigail over John Proctor.
Who did Abigail Williams accuse?
Elizabeth ProctorIn Arthur Miller's 1953 play, The Crucible, in which Abigail Williams makes an appearance as a major character, Williams is portrayed as having an affair with John Proctor and accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft so she can marry John herself after Elizabeth is executed.
Why was Act 2 Scene 2 removed The Crucible?
As in the tragedy, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, he wrote Act 2, Scene 2, but before the play was released, he removed it; it was not his intent to destroy it entirely as it was additionally added to the appendix of the book. The scene between Proctor and Abigail should not be attached to the book.
Is Abigail the villain in The Crucible?
Of the major characters, Abigail is the least complex. She is clearly the villain of the play, more so than Parris or Danforth: she tells lies, manipulates her friends and the entire town, and eventually sends nineteen innocent people to their deaths.
How does Abigail show dishonesty?
Abigail displays dishonesty in the play because she lied about her and the other girls conjuring spirits in the woods. Abigail lied to her uncle and told him “It were sport uncle” (Miller 10 and 11) . Abigail's uncle questions her about why she was kicked out of Elizabeth…show more content…
Why does Abigail lie in court?
Not only did she lie to her uncle to protect herself from getting in trouble, she also lies in the court which is a serious offense. Later in Act III when John Proctor attempts to expose Abigail Williams as a liar he admits to the court officials that he and Abigail have had relations in the past.
What lies are told in The Crucible?
Abigail lies about her ability to see spirits, as do the other girls; Proctor is deceitful first for cheating on his wife and then for hiding it; and the judge and lieutenant governor and ministers lie to themselves and everybody else in saying that they serve the cause of God's justice.
Who did Abigail Williams accuse?
Elizabeth ProctorIn Arthur Miller's 1953 play, The Crucible, in which Abigail Williams makes an appearance as a major character, Williams is portrayed as having an affair with John Proctor and accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft so she can marry John herself after Elizabeth is executed.
Who is to blame in Act 2 of The Crucible?
Abigail is to blame for Elizabeth Proctor's arrest in Act 2. Abigail knows that Elizabeth's maid has made a poppet while she listened to the court...
What is the central idea of Act 2 in The Crucible?
The central idea of Act 2 is the continuing accusations of witchcraft in Salem. Now, respectable women are being falsely charged because Abigail an...
What main events happened in Act 2 of The Crucible?
The Proctors' maid, Mary, makes a poppet in court. Later at home, Abigail pretends to have been stabbed in the stomach with a needle. When the cour...
What is the problem in Act 2 of The Crucible?
The problem in Act 2 is that John Proctor knows the witchcraft accusations are fraudulent. He knows because his former lover, Abigail, has confesse...
What did Abigail do in The Crucible Act 2?
Abigail, wanting to return to John Proctor's bed, devises a plan to have his wife Elizabeth arrested. Knowing the Proctors' maid made a poppet, Abi...
What does Elizabeth say in Act 2?
In Act Two, Elizabeth tries to convince John to talk to Abigail and make things right before it is too late. She says, "You have a faulty understanding of young girls. There is a promise made in any bed-" Then she says, "Spoken or silent, a promise is surely made.
Who tells them that Elizabeth's name has been mentioned in court?
Shortly after this conversation, Reverend Hale shows up and tells them that Elizabeth's name has been mentioned in court.
Why is the image of Elizabeth being chained up and carted away to a nasty jail horrific?
The image of the innocent Elizabeth being chained up and carted away to a nasty jail is horrific because we understand how guiltless she is and how deceptively Abigail has behaved in order to bring about these events. Once we are able to identify Elizabeth as a victim, Abigail becomes more and more clearly the villain.
What does Reverend Hale tell Mary about Elizabeth's name?
Shortly after this conversation, Reverend Hale shows up and tells them that Elizabeth's name has been mentioned in court. Also, in court, Abigail clutches her stomach in pain and blames Elizabeth for it, knowing that Mary had planted the doll in Elizabeth's home with a needle in it, indicating witchcraft. When John Proctor tries to convince Mary ...
Did John Proctor and Abigail have an affair?
We got the impression in Act One that John Proctor and Abigail had an affair. It becomes clear, at least to Elizabeth, that although Abigail and the other girls initially made accusations of others in order to avoid getting into trouble, it seems that Abigail might see this as an opportunity to accuse Elizabeth and then have John to herself. ...
What does Abigail use to cast suspicion on Elizabeth Proctor?
A later version of the poppet, or doll , Abigail uses to cast suspicion on Elizabeth Proctor.
What does Elizabeth ask John to tell Hale about Abigail's admission?
Elizabeth asks John to tell Hale about Abigail's admission that the girls were not practicing witchcraft in the forest. John tells Hale of the conversation, but admits there were no witnesses. Hale dismisses John's claim, saying he has questioned Tituba and others. He is sure there is witchcraft, but he says John should testify in court about the matter.
What does Elizabeth say to Hale about the warrant?
Elizabeth tears the warrant in half. Proctor turns to Hale and shouts, "Get y' gone with them! You are a broken minister." Elizabeth agrees to leave with the men after instructing Mary Warren to care for the Proctor children and to avoid mentioning witchcraft to them. Proctor tells Mary that she must go to court and explain that she made the poppet. She must reveal that Abigail has constructed the incident with the needle after watching Mary sew the doll in court. "My wife will never die for me. I will bring your guts into your mouth, but that goodness will not die for me." Mary replies, "I cannot."
What is the Crucible based on?
Arthur Miller's play The Crucible is based on the historical events that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in the seventeenth century. In Act 2, Abigail wants to renew her love affair with Proctor, so she seizes the opportunity to cast doubt on Proctor's wife Elizabeth. The Proctor's maid, Mary Warren, has constructed a poppet while she was in court. Abigail watched Mary sewing the doll. When she returns from court, Mary gives the poppet to Elizabeth. Abigail, aware of the poppet, has collapsed and a needle is found stuck in her stomach. Elizabeth believes Abigail is hoping to replace her as John Proctor's wife by bringing accusations of witchcraft against Elizabeth. After Elizabeth is taken to jail, John demands that Mary tell the court the truth about Abigail faking the injury with the needle after watching Mary sewing. "I cannot," Mary says. Act 2 provides additional insight into the characters of The Crucible.
What is the problem in Act 2?
The problem in Act 2 is that John Proctor knows the witchcraft accusations are fraudulent. He knows because his former lover, Abigail, has confessed privately to him that the girls were just dancing in the forest. Since they were alone when Abigail reveals the truth, however, he has no evidence or witnesses to support any statement he might make to the court. In addition, Proctor's wife Elizabeth is now suspicious that the affair was reignited after she learns that her husband has been alone with Abigail.
What does Mary say to Proctor when he threatens to whip Mary?
When Proctor threatens to whip Mary if she returns to the trial, Mary says that she saved Elizabeth, who had been accused in court. After Mary spoke in Elizabeth's favor, the charges were dismissed, she says. Elizabeth, concerned that Abigail is still in love with him, begs her husband to speak to Abigail. Elizabeth is afraid Abigail wants her dead so that she can marry John Proctor. Elizabeth wants John to make Abigail understand that he is no longer interested in her.
What is the central idea of Act 2?
The central idea of Act 2 is the continuing accusations of witchcraft in Salem. Now, respectable women are being falsely charged because Abigail and the other girls are accusing so many others of practicing witchcraft. More and more people are being arrested and the witch hunts are widening.
What did Mary accuse Abigail of?
Mary is now an official in the court, formally accusing people of witchcraft, along with Abigail and the other girls. Elizabeth tells John to go to Ezekiel Cheever and tell him what Abigail said last week - namely that Betty's sickness had nothing to do with witchcraft .
Why does Elizabeth believe Abigail must plan to profit from Elizabeth's death?
Elizabeth believes Abigail must plan to profit from Elizabeth's death, for accusing a respected member of society like her is more dangerous than accusing a drunk or indigent woman like Good or Osburn. Mr. Hale arrives at the house as Elizabeth and John argue over Abigail.
Why did Abigail Williams plant the poppet?
She was ready to do harm to others, but only to save herself. However, in this instance she purposely frames Elizabeth Proctor out of revenge, planting the poppet as a means to engineer Elizabeth's murder. This event even breaks the icy exterior of Elizabeth Proctor, who deems that Abigail must be "ripped out of the world."
What does Elizabeth tell Proctor about Mary Warren?
Elizabeth thinks that he went to Salem that afternoon, but Proctor says he thought better of it. Elizabeth tells him that Mary Warren is there today, and although Elizabeth tried to forbid her, Mary frightened her strength away.
What does Miller mean by "expiate John's sins"?
Miller seems to indicate that, like the rest of their Puritan society, the Proctors need an outlet to expiate John's sins and without this means for redemption they are committed to a perpetual obsession with past infidelity. Two major themes emerge in the second act of The Crucible.
What are the themes of the second act of The Crucible?
Two major themes emerge in the second act of The Crucible. The first of these is the line between public and private. The act itself moves from the intimate conversation between husband and wife to more public matters, but the division between these two spheres becomes obscure. Even in this setting, the public discussions of the Proctors' guilt or innocence occurs within the home. More importantly, Reverend Hale and the other court officials use private information for their public matters, such as information about the frequency with which they attend church and their belief in the existence of witches. The court officials investigate all aspects of the suspects' private lives. Under such intense scrutiny, these officials are able to find any information that may be may interpreted as evidence of guilt – not unlike the House Unamerican Activities Commission using everything from religion and sexuality to, in the case of the Rosenbergs, a discarded box of Jell-o as evidence of un-American behavior.
Who sent Mary Warren's spirit out in court?
Mary Warren claims that Goody Osburn sent her spirit out in court to choke them, and often mumbles whenever others turn her away when she begs. Proctor demands proof that Goody Osburn is a witch, and forbids Mary Warren to go to court.
Who persuades Elizabeth to speak up about Abigail?
Related Quotes with Explanations. Just as Hale is about to leave, Elizabeth persuades Proctor to speak up about Abigail. The news shakes Hale, who points out that many have confessed. Proctor counters by pointing out that they've confessed to save themselves from certain death.
What is the act 2 of The Crucible?
The Crucible: Act 2. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Crucible, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Eight days later, John Proctor returns home late from planting the fields. He and Elizabeth talk about the coming crop as he eats the dinner she prepared for him.
What commandments does Hale ask Proctor to recite?
Hale also asks Proctor to recite the ten commandments. Proctor gets nine of ten, forgetting the one against adultery. The missed commandment troubles Hale, and he gets up to go. Puritan society denies the individual any right to make his or her own judgments.
What does Mary Warren give Elizabeth?
Mary does not resist. Instead she goes to Elizabeth and gives her a poppet (a doll) that she sewed for her during the court proceedings. Elizabeth, though puzzled by this odd gift, accepts it. As Mary heads up to bed, Proctor asks if it's true that fourteen people are in jail. Mary says that now thirty-nine are in jail: Goody Osburn has been convicted and will hang, while Sarah Good confessed to witchcraft and thereby saved herself.
Why does Proctor resist going to the court?
Proctor can no longer dismiss or ignore it. Yet Proctor still resists going to the court because he fears for his reputation. Active Themes. As Elizabeth continues to push Proctor to go to the judges, it comes out that he was alone with Abigail at Parris 's house.
Why does Proctor have anger at himself?
Proctor's anger at himself over his affair with Abigail makes him mix up his integrity and his reputation. His sense of lost integrity, his anger at himself, makes him fear what others think about his reputation.
What happened to Mary when Proctor moved to whip her?
When Proctor moves to whip her, Mary shouts that she saved Elizabeth 's life: Elizabeth was accused of witchcraft, but Mary said she'd seen no sign of it in her time living with the Proctors, so the court dismissed the charge. Elizabeth asks who accused her, but Mary refuses to say and goes to bed.
