Two of these relationships are with Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor. John’s relationship with Abigail is one of guilt. They had an affair which John immediately regretted. However, Abigail is in love with John and constantly lusts after him while he has to push her back to stop her approaches. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my own hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of your mind. We never touched, Abby.” (Miller 15). He spends most of the story trying to convince Abigail that although she may have feelings towards him, he does not have the same feelings towards her. On the other hand, John’s relationship with Elizabeth is unstable. His affair sparked jealousy in Elizabeth, therefore she treats him rather coldly. In Act II, John tries to his sin and assure Elizabeth that he has no feelings towards Abigail. Elizabeth’s trust in him is broken, so she doesn’t take this assurance to heart. John eventually gives up trying to get her to see his guilt and tells her that she has no forgiveness in her. “ I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day.” (Miller 28). John’s relationship with Abigail is one full of guilt due to their affair, while his relationship with Elizabeth is one in need of repair over
Two of these relationships are with Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor. John’s relationship with Abigail is one of guilt. They had an affair which John immediately regretted. However, Abigail is in love with John and constantly lusts after him while he has to push her back to stop her approaches. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my own hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of your mind. We never touched, Abby.” (Miller 15). He spends most of the story trying to convince Abigail that although she may have feelings towards him, he does not have the same feelings towards her. On the other hand, John’s relationship with Elizabeth is unstable. His affair sparked jealousy in Elizabeth, therefore she treats him rather coldly. In Act II, John tries to his sin and assure Elizabeth that he has no feelings towards Abigail. Elizabeth’s trust in him is broken, so she doesn’t take this assurance to heart. John eventually gives up trying to get her to see his guilt and tells her that she has no forgiveness in her. “ I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day.” (Miller 28). John’s relationship with Abigail is one full of guilt due to their affair, while his relationship with Elizabeth is one in need of repair over