Abigail becomes a very believeable witness and she soon discovers that she can manipulate most of her listeners to believe anything she wants them to believe. Unfortunately for the people who the court condemned, Abigail is a liar.

John Proctor knows she is not telling the truth and can discredit her, but to do so he must admit that he had committed adultery with her.

Abigail's power in the courtroom is that she can bend to her will those who are in a position to make life or death decisions, especially Judge Danforth.

In the court, she pretends...

• to be freezing
• to see a yellow bird
• that Mary is using "black magic to change shape".
• that Mary is controlling what she says

While Proctor tries to get Danforth to see that Abigail is pretending, Danforth too falls for her act.