Assuming and Accusing

 

 Why are people who make accusations not viewed as a threat and automatically seen as innocent? In the Crucible Abigail is a genius! Like many kids today, she takes advantage of her age and even uses it as an excuse to be blameless. Many people have a first hand account of a child using their age and implied innocence and honesty to their advantage. Although Abigail, at the age of 16, may seem too old to have an untainted soul she is still viewed as a child and incapable of reeking such mayhem. Her age gives her the ability to be viewed as a credible source yet not as a threat. The irony throughout the whole play revolves around the fact that Abigail  is the one who created the witch hunt, who created the havoc, and who is responsible for multiple deaths, yet she is the only one not suspected of anything. Her word of mouth is enough to prove her innocence. Ironically the person who is viewed as helping do God's work is the only one truly guilty of doing something wrong. Abigail selfishly conjures up lie after lie despite the consequences simply because she could. As human nature leads us to behave, she acted purely with her best interest in mind.  In all honesty, because of assumptions, her false stories were seen as fact and because of assumptions she was viewed as innocent and even helpful. Moral of the story, don't assume.