The Vengeful Heart That Ignites The Hysteria Of The Salem...

Alexa Graham AP English/5thPeriod Mrs. Garner December 17, 2014 The Vengeful Heart That Ignites the Hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials The ability to live one’s life to the fullest is a God-given right that no one should have to suppress. In the rigid structure of Puritan settlements, there was minimal room to explore life, especially if you were a young Puritan woman. Women were required to sit silently and obey their husbands, take care of the children and the house, and attend church like good Christian wives. However, as in all human beings, these women had temptations and sinful natures. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller illustrates the relationship between Abigail Williams and John Proctor to portray the themes of pride and lust, and the part they played during the Salem Witch Trials. John Proctor struggles against his lethal attraction to Abigail, fighting with his own moral qualities. When Proctor and Abigail are alone in Betty’s room in Act 1, he reveals that he is still attracted to her rebellious nature when he smiles at her mischief. â€Å"Ah, you’re wicked yet, aren’t y’!† (Miller 23). However, as she advances towards him temptingly, thinking he still feels the same as her, he remembers himself and tries to back track, feeling sympathy for her, but knowing it is the right thing to do. â€Å"Child-†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"But I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again† (Miller 23). Proctor’s desire for Abigail centered on the fact that she was so willing to disregard the Puritan