The truth and the lie of the partner are fickle creatures. They can change, transform, or become something entirely different from what they were when they started. When multiple lies are told, they can snowball into catastrophic effects. The lines are often blurred between the two, until it is impossible to tell which was initially a truth and which was a lie. What starts as a little white lie can, like a black hole, consume anything that comes near it. The characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour are defined by lies. Whether told by them, about them, or to them, these lies are initiated by individuals who do not foresee the damage they can cause. If those who started these rumors are responsible for the results of their actions, those who accept and believe these lies are also responsible. By telling and spreading these lies, individuals receive instant gratification, as they are elevated in the eyes of others. In societies where appearances and reputation are extremely important, individuals like Abigail, Reverend Parris, and Mary are willing to destroy others with their lies in order to elevate and protect their own status and power. Abigail is the main instigator of the Salem witch trials. . As a young, single, orphaned girl from Salem, she has little power. Any damage to his reputation would further lower his status. Abigail's observations show that she is a short-tempered girl who does not appreciate being ruled over. However, she is not immune to societal fears of having an individual's reputation tarnished. Her lies are used to shift blame from herself to others. It begins after she and the rest of the girls are caught dancing in the woods. When she is first questioned about the incident, Abby finds herself in the middle of paper......and their lies to continue using them. These works show the effects of power in the hands of individuals who desire it. A person who wants power and attention will do what they can to keep it, even at the expense of others. Movie stars, politicians, athletes: they've all felt power and are often the subject of scandals when they try to reclaim it. Gossip is also used by individuals to gain a fleeting glimpse of power. Controlling what another person believes is intoxicating, even if what they are told isn't true. Gossip and rumors, however harmless they may be, can nevertheless completely swallow the truth, as these two works show. The rapid spread of rumors shows that no one is safe from power, even if it can be denied. This desire is primordial and unconsciously consumes individuals from a very young age until the day they die...