Theme Of Female Characters In The Ledge And The Crucible

“The Story of an Hour,” “The Ledge,” and “The Crucible” all feature female characters who are faced with difficult internal challenges. In “The Story of an Hour,” we have Mrs. Mallard who yearns for freedom but cannot grasp it. In “The Ledge,” the fisherman’s wife often wonders what it would be like if she found another lover. Finally, in “The Crucible,” we have Abigail Williams who is in love with a married man who doesn’t want her. These three characters possess different traits and personalities, but what makes them similar is that they all seek the answer to the same question: what if? What if Mrs. Mallard’s husband really died? What if the fisherman’s wife left him for another lover? What if John wanted Abigail? By drawing connections between the character’s internal challenges, I hope to find the answer to my question which is: if they had gotten what they wanted, how different would the story be? Mrs. Mallard probably had it worse because during her time period, she couldn’t really do anything about her situation. Without a husband, she’s half of a …show more content…
The problem was that she was desperate for love from a married, respectable man. Her forbidden thought of loving this man, John Proctor, killed not only his wife, but him as well. She killed her lover and she blackened her name even more. Abby wasn’t smart with her choices. If she left the man alone and if she didn’t cry witchcraft, John, his wife, and many others would have remained alive and she wouldn’t have worsened her reputation. She expressed her thoughts well enough and that’s what intensified the situation. It’s different for her because instead of remaining quiet, her future problems would’ve gone away. “You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!” She wanted him as if he were a necessity to her. Everything could’ve been different if only she’d let him