Abigail Williams plays a huge role in this book. She makes up lies and accuses people of witchcraft. The people she accuses are innocent. She tried to convict Elizabeth Proctor for being a witch because she wanted John all for herself. After the affair Abby had with John Proctor, she started to get jealous of Elizabeth. Abby wanted John for herself and would do anything to get rid of his wife. “Abigail were stabbed tonight; a needle were found stuck into her belly-“(76). Elizabeth was innocent when Abby told the court that Elizabeth tried to use voodoo on her. John knew that Abigail was trying to make it seem like his wife was going to kill her. The court thought that Elizabeth was guilty. No one would believe that Abigail was lying about everything. Abby wanted Elizabeth dead and was willing to do anything to make it happen, but she wasn’t the only one who was held responsible for the witch trials.
Another person who was responsible for the witch trials was Mary Warren. She didn’t want to die and was switching from side to side trying to save herself. At one point she was on Abigail’s side accusing people, but when John’s wife was accused, that is when he decided to step in. John made Mary confess that the girls were lying about everything, but the girls found a way to trick the judge. “I will not hang with you! I love God, I love God” (118). Mary was making it seem like everything was Johns fault, and that he was the liar. The girls went after Mary for admitting that they all had been lying. She switched sides again because she didn’t want the girls to accuse her of anything else. Mary is not a leader, she is a follower and she only wants to live. Mary is afraid that if she is on the same side as John then she will also be hanged and hated by the girls, but if she is on the same side as Abigail then she is safe. Mary only wants to live. Mary isn’t the only one who worries about what other people think.
Reverend Parris was a big part of the witch trials because he was on Abigail’s side. He wouldn’t believe anybody else. He didn’t want to hear other sides of the story. He made people leave the court room because he didn’t want to hear their part of the story. Parris was a very selfish man and was only worried about his reputation. Earlier in this book he was more worried about his job then he was about his dying daughter. She was very ill and the only thing he was worried about was if her actions would cause him to lose his job. Parris is worried about what the people in the town think of him. “I will strike the village that Proctor confess. I beg you, let him sign it” (141). Parris thinks that by saving John’s life, it could save his. Proctors confession would make him look better. Proctor would rather them have his soul then his name. They didn’t have much back then, and John didn’t want a bad name. Parris always wants people to feel bad for him so he tells everyone that people are out to get him.
In this book it talks about all the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Everyone in town is being accused of witchery. Abby is a big part of this because she is constantly making up new lies to accuse people. Mary Warren is always switching stories so she stays alive. Also Reverend Parris is too worried about his reputation to care about anyone else. The people most responsible for the outcomes of the witch trials were Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, and Reverend Parris, even though there were many other people involved.
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