In Arthur Miller's novel "The Crucible," abuse of power and use of manipulation is rampant. This is especially true of Abigail, the teenage niece of Reverend Parris, who lives in his house along with Parris' daughter Betty and their Barbados slave Tituba. In the late 16th century western life was very different from today. In the puritan religion children were expected to keep their heads down and be thankful for their mere existence. This rule does not apply to Abigail; before the story starts she has already given herself to a married man, John Proctor, and been kicked out of the Proctor house for it. She gains power by manipulating a group of girls into following her, this group includes: Susanna Walcott; Mercy Lewis; Mary Warren; Ruth Putnam and Betty Parris. She gets her way with them by threats and brute force; she says to Betty "I'll beat...