Crucible: Salem Witch Trials and Elizabeth
The Crucible: Elizabeth Proctor “Let them that never lied die now to keep their souls” (1353). This quote, spoken by John Proctor, in the Crucible represents what the Salem Witch Trials were about. The Crucible, written by Aurthur Miller, was a playwright based in the 1600’s of the Salem Witch Trials in Province, Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials were during the time of McCarthyism; McCarthyism suggested people were guilty without hard proof. Elizabeth Proctor was a character in the Crucible that stood by her husband John, even through the lies, miscommunications, and even his death.
Elizabeth was a typical housewife, and honest women who had many mixed emotions about her marriage. Elizabeth Proctor was a Puritan housewife that tended to her husband and children. She never showed anyone of her emotions. Elizabeth was all was content and kept to herself. She also tried to please John every chance she could. “I took great care” (1292). This quote taken from the Crucible was Elizabeth making her husband stew after a long day. She wanted the stew to be up to standards so that John would be happy with her. In Act II Elizabeth had been accused of sending her spirit out. “I will fear nothing.
Tell the children I had gone to visit someone sick” (1307). The line represented here was spoken by Elizabeth after Herrick and Cheever had taken her away to the court to be questioned. Being a good housewife and mother she feels the need to keep her children happy and not worried. She tells John not to worry because she knows she is innocent and she “will fear nothing” (1307). Elizabeth Proctor was John Proctors wife and their children’s mother who looked after everyone else before herself making her a typical housewife. Honesty was a key trait to Elizabeth Proctors personality. Elizabeth had a good heart and never told a lie.
When she and John were discussing Abigail and the girls, they knew they were lying about seeing the devil and being with the devil. Elizabeth Proctor says to John “I think you must go to Salem, John; I think so. You must tell them it is a fraud” (1293). Knowing that the girls are frauds could potentially jeopardize anyone in the community if they didn’t tell anyone. She is an honest person who does not want to keep anything hidden. “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John only somewhat bewildered” (1295). Elizabeth was honest toward the man she loved.
She knew that he was a good man inside and that no matter what would happen to him that she couldn’t be the one to judge his wrong doings. Elizabeth was an honest individual with good morals. `Last, Elizabeth had many mixed emotions about her marriage. were in a silent war so to say. John had had an affair with Abigail and to get back at John, Abigail had said Elizabeth Proctor had been with the devil. Elizabeth was furious when she found out about Johns affair. Elizabeth screams, “Then go and tell her she’s a whore. Whatever promise she may sense-break it. John, break it” (1299).
Elizabeth had told John to tell Abigail this. Elizabeth was hurt and felt betrayed by John, and by telling this to Abigail I think it would have brought Elizabeth a sense of pride. Elizabeth felt guilty about never showing her emotions to John. In this quote, “John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me, Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept! ” (1295), she expresses that love could never find its way to her. When she finally found John she was happy but never showed how happy she was with him.
John was going to be killed in the end and he knew it. Judge Danforth wanted John to sign over his name that he himself was a witch. John Proctor refused and said that he would not sign away his name for something that wasn’t true. When John was taken away to be hanged, Elizabeth cried and was so sad. They, as a couple, finally had a chance to talk about their love for each other. “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him” (1358). Elizabeth Proctor spoke about her husband in this quote. He finally did something honorable and lived up to the person she knew he was and she didn’t want to take that away from him.
John and Elizabeth Proctor had a confusing marriage, but in the end they figured each other out. Elizabeth Proctor was a women in the Crucible that was honorable and trustworthy. She made sure her husband died with respect and that she, herself, was also respected. She was a good mother to her children, a good housewife to her family, and learned to be a loving women to her husband John. Elizabeth Proctor may have had mixed emotions about her marriage, but she was honest and a housewife that would do anything to make her family happy and her husband proud.
