“The Girls” Role in the Salem Witch Trials

Parris: And what shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest? (Miller 1039)

Even though the lines were never written, the scene is meticulously formed in the back of the viewer’s mind.

During the dead of night, girls from the small town of Salem go into the woods to have some fun. This simple action forms the foundation for “The Crucible”. Two characters, Abigail and Mary Warren, emerge from the group which is simply referred to as “the girls”. These two girls add crucial roles to the play, and to the foundation and conclusion of the trials. But, the girls of the small village in which Arthur Miller’s The Crucible takes place, have the most involvement an

. . .

The “girls” in general, create mass hysteria while aiding their cause to attract attention. The play is based upon the result of these girls’ behavior, which in turn creates the foundation of this drama. She establishes her role as a leader when the other girls follow. The Witch Trials presented them with an opportunity to stray from their dreary existence.

Mary Warren is one of the main characters in the “The Crucible”. Prior to Act I, Abigail was caught dancing naked in front of the fire.

Abigail Williams was one of the main causes of the witch trials. This causes the court to doubt Mary Warren and consider Abigail, the girls’ leader. Though an influential character on her own, Mary Warren plays a dual role as “one of the girls”. Mary, Abigail, and the girls of the village played significant roles in Arthur Millers’ intricate dramatization of this historical event. This starts a rivalry between her and Abigail. She also has an affair with John Proctor (the protagonist), which adds a twist to the end. “Abigail, looking up: Look out! She’s coming down (in reference to Mary’s ‘evil’ spirit)! She and all the girls run to one wall, shielding their eyes. When Parris finds the girls in the woods, they flee, and the townspeople cry witchcraft! The girls are also “all marvelous pretenders” (Miller 1095).

Common topics in this essay:
Mary Warren, Act Abigail, Abigail Uncle, John Proctor, Crucible Prior, Millers Crucible, mary warren, Arthur Millers, Abigail Abigail, Mary Abigail, Abigail Williams, abigail girls, witch trials, girls village, abigail mary warren, act abigail, abigail mary, caught dancing, girls town, girls girls, mary warren tells, warren tells,

Approximate Word count = 596
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here