Self-restriction, when given considerable amounts of power becomes limited and in some cases non-existent. Characters in Miller’s “The Crucible” have come to attain power either through, or because of the Salem witch trials, but also have become corrupt with that power. Abigail, Mary Warren, and Judge Danforth all have the power to decide who lives (either by their accusations or rulings) and they all in their own ways become corrupt.
First and foremost, Abigail goes from the meaningless niece of a minister, to the key witness of the Salem witch trials. At the beginning, Abigail wishes to only save her neck and make sure she wasn’t accused of witchcraft. She spoke to the room of pretending girls, “We danced…and that is all” (20). Some of the girls, including Mary Warren and Betty, wished to say they were all only dancing and meant nothing by it but to have fun. Abigail actually did try and conjure spirits though, so she felt she couldn’t admit to anything. Later on, after Tituba takes the blame for witchcraft, Abigail decided to keep up the game and get something out of it. Goody Proctor was her target, and she set forth a plan to get her that John Proctor recognizes, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!” (110). Proctor admits this, along with his act of adultery to the court. This fleshes out Abigail’s intentions of using her newfound powers to kill off a woman for her own benefit. Finally her corruption was fully blown, as she keeps lying about being possessed to stay out of trouble. Abigail pretends Mary Warren and John are sending their spirits out to her, “Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, don’t, don’t-!” (117). John denounces Abigail as a whore, but she still resists giving up the game by blaming other people. With so much fear during this time frame, any accusations she made were believed as true. This power should never have been given to Abigail, as she became corrupt with that power.
Along with Abigail, Mary Warren had the power of accusation. She starts of the play as a house servant, essentially powerless. Her initial intentions were to tell the town they were pretending, “Abby, we’ve got to tell. Witchery’s a hangin’ error” (18). She did watch the girls dance and all have fun, but she thinks they need to confess early before things get worse. She is powerless to convince Abigail otherwise, so the game continues. The trials continued for a few weeks and many people were put to trial due to all of the girls and their false accusations. Mary was on the jury as a key witness and this gave her some power over others. She feels like she’s able to do more with this power, “I’ll not be ordered to bed no more, Mr. Proctor!” (60). Before attaining power in court, Mary Warren never would have said this. Finally, Mary uses this power of false accusation once more. Abigail puts her into a corner, so she turns on John, “You’re the Devil’s man!” (118). Telling Danforth that Proctor worked with the Devil took the blame off of her. This power of false accusation became corrupt as she put innocent people to the gallows.
Our final character to bring corrupt power to Salem is Judge Danforth. He ultimately holds the power to decide what happens in the trials. Proctor brings evidence to the court and Danforth responds, “Mr. Proctor, before I decide whether or not I shall hear you out” (89). Danforth is willing to abuse the power invested in him. He could have chosen to not even hear out Proctor, and he even says that he might choose not to even listen. He also seems to enjoy being the man who rid the world of witches. He talks to Proctor again, “Good, then, she is saved at least this year, and a year is long…will you drop this charge?” (92) Proctor calls out the girls on pretense, but Danforth asks Proctor if he will consider holding off on his evidence if they give Goody Proctor leave on the account of her pregnancy. Danforth was more interested in finding more witches, then willing to admit he was abusing his power and sending innocents to death. Finally, he refuses to admit that the trials were false at all. After the trials were disregarded in Andover, he proclaims, “There is no rebellion in Andover!” (127). The corruption of his power is seen here. His relentlessness to his personal belief that witches had come to Salem puts him into self-denial. He continues to assert his power and eventually puts John Proctor and many other innocent people to death.
Corruption came to many as they tried to deal with power given to them, and their motivations pushed them away from what was right and honest. Abigail was motivated by the idea of being with Proctor again, and it pushed her into abusing her powers. Mary Warren felt like respect was being given to her, and she didn’t want to lose it. Danforth was an old fool not willing to call himself out on a mistake. The key to all of these character’s situations, would be knowing when to give up on something, and when to admit you’ve been wrong.
