In Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," Abigail Williams is a key figure in the Salem witch trials. She is a young woman who has been accused of practicing witchcraft, and she is determined to clear her name and avoid punishment. In order to do so, she must manipulate and deceive those around her, including Judge Danforth, the man in charge of the trials.
One way that Abigail threatens Danforth is by accusing others of witchcraft and making false claims against them. She knows that the court will take her accusations seriously, and she uses this to her advantage by pointing the finger at those she sees as a threat to her own reputation. For example, she accuses Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of her former employer, John Proctor, of witchcraft in an attempt to get rid of a perceived rival. She also accuses Mary Warren, a servant in the Proctor household, of being a witch in order to silence her when she tries to confess that the accusations are false.
Another way that Abigail threatens Danforth is by manipulating the other girls in the town, who have also been accused of witchcraft. She convinces them to go along with her accusations, and they support her lies by pretending to be possessed by the spirits of those they have accused. This creates a sense of chaos and fear in the courtroom, and it makes it difficult for Danforth to determine the truth.
In addition to these tactics, Abigail also threatens Danforth by using her youth and femininity to her advantage. She is a young and attractive woman, and she knows that she can use this to her advantage by flirting with and manipulating the men around her. She uses this tactic to try to win over Danforth and convince him to believe her accusations.
Overall, Abigail poses a significant threat to Danforth and the credibility of the Salem witch trials. She is willing to do whatever it takes to avoid punishment and protect her own reputation, even if it means lying and manipulating those around her.
The Crucible: Judge Danforth
If the young women so much as shout out a name, Danforth assumes the name belongs to a witch. Abigail's denial is strange because she never gives a direct "yes" or "no" answer and believes that she is above reproach. Abigail demonstrated that she will continue to lie in order to protect herself. Rather than adamantly deny having an affair with John, she threatens to leave the courtroom. When Abigail is suspected of pretending, she denies it and actually threatens Deputy Governor Danforth, the man presiding over these proceedings. How does the questioning of Mary Warren differ from the questioning of Abigail? When Danforth questions Abigail, she responds by saying, "If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again! Elizabeth hesitates, agonizing, then says no.
What is Abigail’s exact threat to the other girls?
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In conclusion, Mary Warren knows what is right and what is wrong. Mary Warren is a villainous character due to her poor choice of actions. They say Mary is sending her spirit to attack them. In the end, Mary Warren is still a villain through her selfish and inconsiderate actions in the play. Danforth grows confused and terrified, thinking that Abigail is possessed and actually falls for it, thinking it all to not be a figment of Abigail's imagination, but real. What test does Danforth devise to determine why Abigail was put out of the Proctor House? Danforth rules the courtroom like a dictator.
How does Abigail threaten Mr Danforth?
The other girls follow suit. Abigail pretends that there's a yellow bird in the room, but there's really nothing there where she is looking at. When Elizabeth enters, Danforth asks her whether Abigail and Proctor had an affair. While modern audiences many find the idea of witches laughable, Danforth reflects his time, an era when many people believed in witches and witchcraft, although it should be noted that Miller makes it clear that at least a few of the residents of Salem are skeptical of witches. How does Danforth equate the court with the church? The threat to Judge Danforth and his eventual coddling of her reflect how Abigail is the center of attention. Through gesture and dialogue, Abigail's character portrays that she thinks she is in charge of these circumstances.
