Elizabeth: Woman of Courage In Salem Village, women are expected to uphold a certain standard. This includes being a mother, wife, and homemaker. As per Puritan standards, all citizens are taught to be devout Christians. When several young girls in the village were found dancing in the woods, they were accused of being bewitched. This very much resembles McCarthyism during the Red Scare in America during the 1950s. The Crucible’s author, Arthur Miller, was inspired by the random and rapid accusations of Communists during this time. In The Crucible one can find several scenes where characters are accused in a “snowball effect” in which one person is blamed, who then blames three other people. Those three people each blame two others in order
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For a certain amount of time, Elizabeth was ill. She requested the help of Abigail Williams, and then Mary Warren in order to maintain her household. Before she hired Warren, Elizabeth dismissed Abigail Williams from her service. When being questioned in Act 1, John Proctor explains to the judge Abigail was helping Elizabeth. He is quoted in The Crucible, “My wife were sick this winter.” (Miller 1170). Near the end of Act 3, John is at the trials for Mary Warren. He claimed the reason Abigail Williams was dismissed coincided with his affair. Elizabeth is then brought in for an interrogation, where she is asked why Williams was needed to begin with. Her reply to Judge Danforth’s question was, “Your Honor, I―in that time I were sick.” (1208). Even though she was feeling ill throughout the winter, she dismissed Williams and continued to work in her own home during that time. I truly believe that any person with the willpower to continue hard labor that is associated with housework is very admirable. Maintaining a household as a woman in Puritan times was very essential, as was being faithful to …show more content…
He knows that in order to do this, he must lie about whether he was bewitched. Before Reverend Hale enters the room to take him to his hanging, he talks with Elizabeth. Proctor asks her if he should lie to save his life. To this question she responds, “I cannot judge you, John.” (1227). Elizabeth realizes that even though John would be lying, he would also be saving his life. I personally believe that she must have fought with her inner demons. One one side of the issue, her husband would be alive; in order to stay alive John would have to lie. The other side of the issue, Elizabeth would be a widow. Her husband would not have sinned by not confessing as a witch. Therefore, Elizabeth simply tells John that she is not able to judge him. Either route he takes will end unfavorably for her. By simply forgiving him and not judging, she is taking a higher road. Reverend Hale returns to discover John’s
For a certain amount of time, Elizabeth was ill. She requested the help of Abigail Williams, and then Mary Warren in order to maintain her household. Before she hired Warren, Elizabeth dismissed Abigail Williams from her service. When being questioned in Act 1, John Proctor explains to the judge Abigail was helping Elizabeth. He is quoted in The Crucible, “My wife were sick this winter.” (Miller 1170). Near the end of Act 3, John is at the trials for Mary Warren. He claimed the reason Abigail Williams was dismissed coincided with his affair. Elizabeth is then brought in for an interrogation, where she is asked why Williams was needed to begin with. Her reply to Judge Danforth’s question was, “Your Honor, I―in that time I were sick.” (1208). Even though she was feeling ill throughout the winter, she dismissed Williams and continued to work in her own home during that time. I truly believe that any person with the willpower to continue hard labor that is associated with housework is very admirable. Maintaining a household as a woman in Puritan times was very essential, as was being faithful to …show more content…
He knows that in order to do this, he must lie about whether he was bewitched. Before Reverend Hale enters the room to take him to his hanging, he talks with Elizabeth. Proctor asks her if he should lie to save his life. To this question she responds, “I cannot judge you, John.” (1227). Elizabeth realizes that even though John would be lying, he would also be saving his life. I personally believe that she must have fought with her inner demons. One one side of the issue, her husband would be alive; in order to stay alive John would have to lie. The other side of the issue, Elizabeth would be a widow. Her husband would not have sinned by not confessing as a witch. Therefore, Elizabeth simply tells John that she is not able to judge him. Either route he takes will end unfavorably for her. By simply forgiving him and not judging, she is taking a higher road. Reverend Hale returns to discover John’s