Power Dynamics in The Crucible

Power can lead to many things, but unfortunately, in people it usually leads to something bad. Throughout history, power has led to some of the most violent actions imaginable. In the town of Salem, people experienced this for themselves. The society of Salem in The Crucible shows how power can cause rational people to do horrible things to get power, which leads to mass hysteria and eventually the executions of innocent people. Abigail Williams is in a power struggle with John Proctor. This is the strongest move for power in this story. Abigail uses her previous relationship with John to force him to be with her again. We see this in the beginning of the story as Abby tells him how he “sweated like a stallion””(1222) for her. Although John admits to this