Elizabeth Proctor
In the late 1600s, the fear of witchcraft was a major concern amongst New Englanders. The play, The Crucible, tells the story of a town’s obsession with accusing innocent people of witchcraft. All the accusers were young females who claimed they were attacked by demons. Members of the community supposedly sent out these evil spirits, but in reality, the girls were doing this as a sport. One such person accused was Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, who was known throughout the community to be a noble woman.
Elizabeth's positive qualities are also her negative ones. She is a virtuous woman who is steadfast and true. These traits also make her a bit of a cold fish. As Elizabeth is introduced, it is evident that she has a reason to be suspicious because of her husband’s recent affair with their housekeeper, Abigail Williams. Elizabeth's reaction to the affair reveals a bit of a vindictive streak. When Elizabeth discovered her husband's sin, she relieved Abigail from her duties and then proceeded to warn the town that the girl may just be tainted. Elizabeth's language towards John is a bit abrupt because she knows of his affair and that he has been lying to her about Salem. When Elizabeth says, "You come so late I thought you'd gone to Salem this afternoon" (192) John knows his wife’s knowledge of the affair through the fact that “Salem” is Abigail and the reason why he arrives home late is because he went to see her before going home. Elizabeth is concerned about the time that John and Abigail spent alone together and concludes by saying, "Do as you wish, then" (193). Elizabeth clearly suspects that Abigail is more important to John than her pride and her household. She is angered at the fact that John lied and she cannot help but to blame herself. Near the end of their conversation Elizabeth says, "John, if it were not Abigail that you must go not to hurt, would you falter, now? I think not" (193). With this statement, Elizabeth is...