Down to earth

In the play The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, there are many interesting characters contributing significantly to the thematic concerns of the play. One of them is Elizabeth Procter, cold and unforgiving to her husband after he committed adultery. Despite her coldness, she is a very faithful woman with an honest personality, which is compromised by her deeply felt love for her husband. The presentation of such complex personality reflects the ideas of love and forgiveness in the play.

The first impression about Elizabeth we have is that of a cold woman. As is put by Abigail Williams, a teenage girl who Elizabeth’s husband John Procter had an affair with, “she is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her!” This impression is soon proven by John Procter himself when he gets home from Parris’ house. “Learn charity, woman,” he says to his wife. He is annoyed with the open display of unhappiness from Elizabeth who suspects that her husband has resumed the relationship with Abigail Williams.

The couple’s conflict is first shown in the stifling atmosphere at home when they are talking after John comes back from Parris’ house. Even at the beginning of their conversation we can feel the uneasy feeling and discomfort of the couples, as shown by the stage directions, Procter “gets up, goes to her, kisses her”, an action showing his love and effort to please Elizabeth. But instead, “with a certain disappointment, he returns to the table.” This feeling of frustration is carried on as Elizabeth only gives a short and callous answer, “Aye, it is,” to Procter’s very enthusiastic request “we’ll walk the farm together…Massachusetts is a beauty in spring!” Not only does Elizabeth’s lack of enthusiasm show her unforgiving attitude towards Procter, her actions are discouraging as well. As is shown by the stage direction again, “her back is turned to him. He turns to her…” creating an extremely awkward atmosphere.

Despite her unforgiving personality and