What Is The Relationship Between John And Elizabeth Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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True traits of characters are effortlessly presented through the many trials and triumphs each character undergo. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller written in 1953, a group of girls in the protestant town of 17th century Salem begin charging people throughout the town of witch craft. While many people believe in the girl’s accusations, John and Elizabeth Proctor are the only ones not dazed by the girl’s lies. Throughout the play, Elizabeth Proctor portrays copious defining characteristics including courage, her ability to recognize the good in her husband, but as well as her inability to forgive her husband. The marriage between Elizabeth Proctor and her husband struggle during this play. John’s affair with their former housekeeper, …show more content…
In addition, Abigail happens to be the leader of the girls who are blaming innocent people of witchcraft. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft, due to jealously for her being with Proctor, Proctor choice are limited to confessing his affair with Elizabeth in order to save his wife. John Proctor and Elizabeth have to decide whether John speaks the trust about his affair with Abigail, risking their name in society, or to let his wife die. Elizabeth shows an immense amount of trust in Proctor to make the right decision, “Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it” (Miller 126). Believing a good man will admit his wrongs in order to save his wife, Elizabeth stands by the fact her husband is a good man and will confess to save her. After confessing Elizabeth speaks out for Proctor, “And yet you’ve not confessed till now. That speak goodness in you” (126). This conveys Elizabeth recognizing the good in Proctor, even though Proctor does not see this himself. Even though Proctor commits a major sin within their society, Elizabeth still shows the good man …show more content…
When John Proctor admits to his affair, Elizabeth cannot help but think they are still in love, “You 'll tear it free—when you come to know that I will be your only wife, or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well!” (59). John pleads to his wife for forgiveness from his sin. Elizabeth desperately wants to forgive him, but one thought lingers in her mind. Elizabeth believes that Abigail has some sort of hold on John, due to the affair, which John cannot comprehend. Finally, before John Proctor has to make his decision as to whether he will inform the court of his lechery or not Elizabeth pleads to him her feelings, “John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself. It is not my soul, John it is yours. Only to be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it. I have read my heart this three moth, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery” (126). This proves that Elizabeth knows that her forgiveness will not be enough to clean John Proctor’s moral conscience of this sin. Believing John must forgive himself, Elizabeth allows John to choose with the goodness in his heart whether he confess it to the court or not. Because the sin he commits himself and

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