The Crucible - Abigail Williams is to blame In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is responsible for the witch trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail is a mean, vindictive person who always wants what she wants, no matter who she hurts. Throughout the show her accusations and lies cause pain and suffering to many people, but she never seemed to care about any of them except John Proctor, with whom she had been having an affair seven months before the start of the show. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth employed Abigail, until Elizabeth discovered the affair and kicked Abigail out. Although John told Abigail that the relationship was over and that he would never touch her again, she desperately tried to rekindle their romance. "Abby, I may think of you sweetly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I can reach you again." (Page 23) She claimed that she loved John and that he loved her. Before the show began, Abigail tried to kill Elizabeth with a curse. He thought that if Elizabeth died, John would marry her. Later in the show, Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. He saw Marry Warren, the Proctor's servant, making a doll. Mary put a needle in the doll and Abigail used it for her accusation. She stabbed herself with a needle and claimed that it was Elizabeth's soul that did it. Although Abigail claimed to love John, she may have simply loved the care and attention he gave her. John cared for her like no one else had. In a way he could be described as a sort of father figure for her. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed the brutal murder of her parents. “I saw the Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine…” (page 20) After her traumatic experience, she was raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris, who is a bit of a villain. In the play it was written: "He (Parris) was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them." (Page 3) Parris viewed children as young adults who should be "grateful that they can walk upright, with their eyes slightly lowered, their arms at their sides, and their mouths closed until asked to speak." (Page 4) Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing.