At the beginning of the play we see the colder side of Goody Proctor, and by goody he really does mean good; she is a very virtuous woman. When we meet her she is very suspicious of her husband as he had had an affair with the housekeeper, Abigail Williams, when Elizabeth had fallen ill (the argument). Although she has every right to be angry about the affair she bad mouths Abigail and drops little hints around town about the affair (Abigail talking to proctor in the beginning), she also constantly brings it up and holds it against John, which only makes everything worse. It seems as though her coldness may have been what led John a stray. Even though she tends to be a bit vindictive at times, she is still a good woman overall for staying with
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Her change almost gives the reader a whiplash, going from a cold, suspicious, devout Puritan. In act 2 the first words we hear Elizabeth utter is that of suspicion “Elizabeth: What keeps you so late? It’s almost dark” (Act 2, page _). Although she starts out so insecure, in the end, she ends up making what may be the hardest choice a spouse could ever have to make. She wants John to lie and confess falsely but she knows she cannot ask her husband to do so. This is important because she was able to lie for John about the affair to the court, but selflessly can’t ask him to lie as well. As her and John discuss his options and what decision he will make, Elizabeth apologizes for treating him like a suspect all the time “Elizabeth: John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest kive could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did…It were a cold house I kept!” (Act 4, page _). Before his death, Elizabeth helps John forgive himself for everything. It’s no coincidence that Miller chooses to have Elizabeth give the last lines in the play. At the end of act 4, Elizabeth tells Reverend Hale “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Act 4, page _). The idea that John could die at the hands of the court filled her with pain and agony, but she could not ask him to lie. Elizabeth sacrificing herself at the end of the play is pure proof of her
Her change almost gives the reader a whiplash, going from a cold, suspicious, devout Puritan. In act 2 the first words we hear Elizabeth utter is that of suspicion “Elizabeth: What keeps you so late? It’s almost dark” (Act 2, page _). Although she starts out so insecure, in the end, she ends up making what may be the hardest choice a spouse could ever have to make. She wants John to lie and confess falsely but she knows she cannot ask her husband to do so. This is important because she was able to lie for John about the affair to the court, but selflessly can’t ask him to lie as well. As her and John discuss his options and what decision he will make, Elizabeth apologizes for treating him like a suspect all the time “Elizabeth: John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest kive could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did…It were a cold house I kept!” (Act 4, page _). Before his death, Elizabeth helps John forgive himself for everything. It’s no coincidence that Miller chooses to have Elizabeth give the last lines in the play. At the end of act 4, Elizabeth tells Reverend Hale “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Act 4, page _). The idea that John could die at the hands of the court filled her with pain and agony, but she could not ask him to lie. Elizabeth sacrificing herself at the end of the play is pure proof of her