Abigail
I chose this picture because it shows a young and pretty colonial girl who seems very confident in herself, not afraid or shy, and definitely does not look innocent. These are the same characteristics that Abigail has.
Abigail is a Puritan orphan who lives with her uncle, Reverend Parris. Her parents were murdered by an Indian raid. She had an affair with John Procotor, a farmer who was her former boss, but she was kicked out after his wife found out. She still has feelings for him , but he says that there is nothing between them . Abigail is one of the girls that was found dancing (a sin) in the forest with Tituba (a black slave) who was chanting and conjuring spirits. Abigail drank blood as a charm to kill John Proctor's wife, Elizabeth. Abigail is afraid of people finding out about her interaction with "witchcraft" and she is also afraid of Parris finding out about her affair. She has managed to keep it away from him event though he questions her a lot.
Says: "There is nothin' more. I swear it, uncle" (11).
|
This is what Abigail says to her uncle when he asks her, at the stake of his daughter and ministry, what abominations she has done in the forest . She swears that she did nothing but dance. This reveals that she is a huge liar, and a great one too. She openly lies with no hesitation even when her cousin is lying there, possibly dying. This shows that she is not innocent and that she is selfish because instead of trying to help her cousin she doesn't tell the truth in fear of getting in trouble.
|
Thoughts:
|
Effects on Others: "Betty, darts off the bed, frightened of Abigail, and flattens herself against the wall: I want my mama!" (19).
|
When Betty awakes for the first time, she immediately leaps away from Abigail and is frightened of her. Seeing Abby makes Betty want to see her mom, who is dead. This reveals that the girls are afraid of Abby. It shows that Abigail is clearly leading them and that she got them into this mess, and they do not like it. The girls are scared of Abigail and feel that it is all her fault.
|
Actions: "Abigail, smashing her across the face: Shut it! Now shut it!" (19).
|
Slapping Betty reveals that Abigail is a violent girl. She is not afraid to get physical to get what she wants. Betty was almost dying a few minutes ago and now that she is finally awake, Abby slaps her for saying the truth that Abby drank blood to try to kill Elizabeth Proctor. After this she also threatens the girls that she will kill them at night if they reveal anything. She is definitely not innocent, but actually really violent and scary.
|
Looks: "He is bending to kneel again when his niece, Abigail Williams, seventeen, enters- a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling" (9).
|
This characterization reveals that Abigail is a young and very pretty girl. This can reveal that Abigail is confident in everything that she does and that she's possibly a little vain because she knows that she is attractive.
|