|
Post by rebeccaki116 on Oct 1, 2012 17:53:42 GMT -5
After reading Act Two, the most lasting detail that leaves me wondering is that of Mary Warren sewing Elizabeth a rag doll. Initially I was under the assumption that after being scolded by Proctor, the creation of the doll was simply a ploy to get Proctor’s wife back on her good side. However, as the Act unfolded I started to wonder if the doll was some sort or elaborate schism thought of by Abigail in conjunction with Mary Warren. After all, Abigail had had an affair with John Proctor and desired Elizabeth dead. Having Mary Warren plant what seemed to be a voodoo doll in the hands of Elizabeth could strengthen the accusations of her being involved with witchcraft. In the end Abigail could get what she ultimately wanted, Elizabeth dead. Any thoughts or arguments?
|
|
|
Post by mariata112 on Oct 2, 2012 19:46:37 GMT -5
I do think that Mary Warren is working with Abigail. Mary Warren seems like a girl who is always following a "leader". In this case it is Abigail. Mary Warren was in the woods that night dancing with the girls. It is also stated that Abigail told Mary Warren of the affair with Proctor. In addition it is evident that Mary Warren is afraid of Abigail as on page 80 Mary says Abigail will kill her if she tells. Mary Warren probably made the doll after an order from Abigail and as an effort to stay on Abigail's good side.
|
|
|
Post by juliana112 on Oct 4, 2012 15:42:23 GMT -5
I do agree that Mary Warren seems like a character who would follow the leader, but I think her original intentions for the doll were not bad. As I recall, when they come to arrest Elizabeth Proctor in Act II, Mary says that Abigail was sitting next to her in court as she was sewing the doll, so it is very probable that Abigail saw Mary Warren stick the needle in. Abigail knows that Mary Warren works for the Proctors, and exploited the situation to her benefit in order to get rid of Elizabeth.
|
|
|
Post by gabbybl112 on Oct 4, 2012 16:32:27 GMT -5
I agree with Julia. Seeing that Abigail is so manipulative, she does seem like someone who would seize any chance she gets to expose Elizabeth of practicing witchcraft, even if that means stabbing her self to get there. Furthermore, it did not seem to me that Mary Warren had any intentions of helping to accuse Elizabeth because, on pg 75, she does not even know why she is being asked about the poppet in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by rebeccaki116 on Oct 10, 2012 9:11:05 GMT -5
After reading Act 3, I would have to also agree with Julia and Gabby. Mary Warren proves to be victimized on more than one account in the play. For example, John Proctor tries to get her to confess to pretending to faint instead of simply coming clean himself. Another example in the court is when Abby gets the other girls to repeat Marry Warren's every word. This is also an example of Abby's manipulative nature. I've come to the conclusion that other characters target Mary because she is innocent and rather naive, which is a shame but perhaps her demise can further their social standing.
|
|
|
Post by idach116 on Oct 10, 2012 11:40:54 GMT -5
I think that Mary had no intentions to hurt the Proctors because she is described as a moral character, despite her joining Abigail's group and talking down to John Proctor. Being part of the consensus is a way to survive in Salem and that is proven in Act 3 when the whole group pretends that Mary is hurting them with her spirit since Mary went against them by unfolding the lies. Abigail is ultimately the most wiley of all the characters and, in my opinion, singlehandedly plotted against Elizabeth Proctor with the doll.
|
|
|
Post by josephst112 on Oct 10, 2012 19:41:40 GMT -5
Mary Warren turned against Proctor in order to save herself. In the play there are a lot of examples of self preservation such as when Abigail gave off names of alleged witches in order to not be whipped. Abigail did what was in her best interest even if it meant hurting others. It is for this reason of self preservation that I do not believe that Mary and Abigail are working together. In act 3, Abigail and the girls pretended that the "witch" of Mary Warren was hurting them. Mary begged for the girls to stop but they did not. In order to save herself Mary Warren had to turn against Proctor to make him look like the bad guy. It was Abigail who was accusing Mary Warren who accused Proctor. It may have appeared that the two were working together, but I believe that it was the vicious cycle of self preservation that made Proctor be put in prison.
|
|