Elizabeth Proctor Essay
GCSE Drama Mock Examination The Crucible sample essay on playing Elizabeth Proctor
I am using the Heinemann edition of the text and I will be discussing how I would play the part of Elizabeth Proctor in the given scene.
This scene is taken from Act Four, the final act of the play and the tragic plot is drawing to an end. Both Elizabeth and John Proctor have been imprisoned on false charges of witchcraft. Elizabeth's pregnancy is, at present, sparing her from the possibility of hanging but her husband, John Proctor, in his vain attempts to protect his wife has inadvertently caused his own downfall and he faces the noose if he will not confess to the charges of witchcraft. His only possible life saving choice is to confess' to the …show more content…
Interestingly, it is John who leads all of the questions at the beginning of their conversation. I realise that he is desperate for news of his children first and foremost and my replies would be delivered clearly and calmly, my voice would remain measured and my emotions as firmly intact as I can manage. I am determined not to add to his (or my) agony by becoming overly emotional and hysterical, we may not have time for such displays of emotion. However, when John states, You have not seen them?' I can barely cope with the fact spoken by my husband who clearly is so desperately upset for my plight. At this point I would inhale through my nose deeply but silently, clench my teeth slightly and momentarily look away in order to compose myself before I say, I have not'. Proctor's line, You are a marvel, Elizabeth.' serves to increase the welling emotions that I am just managing to control his words are so heartfelt and unselfish that they epitomise the essence of the man I married, as a result, the tears threaten to spill themselves again and I would shift my position in the chair, tuck a piece of stray hair behind my ear, perform any action that distracts the attention away from me and my sense of overwhelming emotion. John would recognise this and would reach his hand out to touch my cheek, or perhaps try to tame a stray strand of hair himself, however the effort makes him wince and my next line, You have been tortured?' is said as an automatic reaction, it is hard to ask my eyes would widen in incredulity, the pitch of my voice would be raised and
I am using the Heinemann edition of the text and I will be discussing how I would play the part of Elizabeth Proctor in the given scene.
This scene is taken from Act Four, the final act of the play and the tragic plot is drawing to an end. Both Elizabeth and John Proctor have been imprisoned on false charges of witchcraft. Elizabeth's pregnancy is, at present, sparing her from the possibility of hanging but her husband, John Proctor, in his vain attempts to protect his wife has inadvertently caused his own downfall and he faces the noose if he will not confess to the charges of witchcraft. His only possible life saving choice is to confess' to the …show more content…
Interestingly, it is John who leads all of the questions at the beginning of their conversation. I realise that he is desperate for news of his children first and foremost and my replies would be delivered clearly and calmly, my voice would remain measured and my emotions as firmly intact as I can manage. I am determined not to add to his (or my) agony by becoming overly emotional and hysterical, we may not have time for such displays of emotion. However, when John states, You have not seen them?' I can barely cope with the fact spoken by my husband who clearly is so desperately upset for my plight. At this point I would inhale through my nose deeply but silently, clench my teeth slightly and momentarily look away in order to compose myself before I say, I have not'. Proctor's line, You are a marvel, Elizabeth.' serves to increase the welling emotions that I am just managing to control his words are so heartfelt and unselfish that they epitomise the essence of the man I married, as a result, the tears threaten to spill themselves again and I would shift my position in the chair, tuck a piece of stray hair behind my ear, perform any action that distracts the attention away from me and my sense of overwhelming emotion. John would recognise this and would reach his hand out to touch my cheek, or perhaps try to tame a stray strand of hair himself, however the effort makes him wince and my next line, You have been tortured?' is said as an automatic reaction, it is hard to ask my eyes would widen in incredulity, the pitch of my voice would be raised and