The Crucible
             Today, Salem, Massachusetts, is a prospering community, yet, only about 300 years ago, it was plagued by death from the notion of witchcraft. Known as the Salem Witch Trials, many people were falsely blamed by others because their death or imprisonment would somehow be beneficial to others. This occurrence is recounted in Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, in which Arthur Miller creates a story that re-enacts this event. In this play, Miller explores many aspects of human behavior, mainly that of hypocrisy. Many events in this play are formed by the hypocritical behavior of the various characters.
             One of the characters who shows hypocritical behavior is Abigail, who started the big witchcraft charade. When accused by Mary Warren of lying and pretending, she tells the judge who questions her, "I have naught to change, sir. She lies." (103). Abigail is lying, and she knows it, yet she still keeps it up and furthers on the charade of witchcraft. Besides just lying, Abigail goes on to say, "I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin' out! 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). The statement is a lie, and also makes Abigail seem like the innocent one who is getting hurt. By saying this, she causes Mr. Danforth to believe that she is risking herself everyday and doing God's work, but she is the one who is accusing everyone falsely and getting them hanged. Abigail furthermore takes herself off the accused by saying, "I-I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come." (108), and looks at Mary Warren. By doing so, she is using the witchcraft to yet blame another person who is getting in her way. She knows that the town is swept away by this witchcraft, and uses it to stop anyone that could stop her from getting what she wan...