Elizabeth Proctor The Crucible Essay
An emphasis on religion and its significance regarding town politics led to a theocratic Salem. Theocracy, meant to “keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity” (7) from occurring, highlights Salem and its priority placed on conformity. Therefore, Elizabeth Proctor and her internal conflict regarding morality contrasts starkly with the unquestioning society around her. In Miller’s play The Crucible, Arthur Miller utilizes Elizabeth Proctor’s evolving sense of justice and integrity to delineate that in a given world that values the dogmatic adherence to ideas or customs, a person who rejects that world often represses their own internal ethical beliefs in favor of conforming to the majority. In the short term, a person
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may accept the predominant depravity of the collective, in order to remain as one of the community. In the long term, the individual may weigh the importance of integration against the gravity of independent expression. Ultimately, upon relinquishing a role forced upon them by their surrounding environment, a person can begin to heed one’s personal principles without restriction.
Miller describes Elizabeth Proctor’s ideas about piety to illustrate that when facing a divide between one’s convictions and the collective’s, a person commonly experiences a feeling of alienation. During Reverend Hale’s visit to the Proctors’ home, he seeks to ascertain Elizabeth’s innocence. As this progresses, Elizabeth eagerly rejects any “‘mark of blame’” as she is a “‘covenanted Christian woman’” (66). The word “mark” suggests a blemish, an imperfection marring an otherwise perfect world. Since a Puritan dominated Salem cherishes the popular opinion of the people, those who are not especially religious are then seen as the defects in that they are the minority. Elizabeth’s fervent affirmation to her faith, regardless of how devout she is, illuminates the conflict between external pressures of acquiescence to certain standards and her internal nonconformity to those same standards.
Moreover, the author portrays Elizabeth’s dissimilarities to her world to illustrate that in the short term, a person’s fear of estrangement from a group due to divergence from their given role, causes them to temporarily abstain from considering their unique morals. Whilst John Proctor remains indecisive concerning disclosing Abigail’s deceit, Elizabeth resents his hesitation, especially as with her honor at stake. While Hale prepares to go, Elizabeth “with a note of desperation”(68) demands that John tell him about Abby’s pretenses. The word “note” in this context evokes a sense of hidden implication. As Martine divulges, Proctor “does indeed still feel attracted to Abby, as Elizabeth observes”(Martine 57). Her desperation dissents with her environment, thus it is kept almost-silent. Though she longs to reveal the tumultuous state of affairs her supposedly flawless marriage is in; as well as her hidden hatred of her husband’s mistress she cannot do so because of the intolerance encompassing nonconformity. Instead, she momentarily launches herself into the predetermined facade society has chosen for her, allowing the stifling of her sense of justice and integrity to occur.
Following a cursory effort at inhibiting her own moral principles to find a place in the larger numbers, Arthur Miller depicts Elizabeth Proctor’s virtuous metamorphoses as a contention in the Puritan community; the result of Mrs.
Proctor’s long term response to external influences to her ethical character. This exemplifies the certainty that once faced with the true significance of fitting in by means of blind devotion, and discovering individualistic expression, one will eventually shed the extraneous inclinations to integrate to a majority and therefore, find their way as an individual. Once Elizabeth is brought to testify to her husband’s confession, However, the falter in her voice is unmistakeable, representing the part of her that is reluctant still, to relinquish the hold that the Puritan community has on her views surrounding popular opinion. During the interrogation, Elizabeth is frozen; and “in a crisis of indecision she cannot speak”(113). The word “indecision” demonstrates an inability to make a decision, in this case reflecting a concealed incapacity to tell the truth. Elizabeth cannot yet bring herself to fully dislodge the pressures of the Salem society’s need for a perfect illusion. Subsequently she continues to struggle to masquerade as a obedient member of the masses, one without individual
beliefs.
The author shows Mrs. Proctor convincing her husband to heed his internal ethics to further describe Elizabeth’s split from propriety. Miller utilizes her distress in wanting to save her husband as an incentive to break free of societal molds. Elizabeth states, “‘And yet you’ve not confessed till now. That speak goodness in you’”(136). The word “goodness” captures the essence of a virtuous nature. The description of the goodness that she sees within John suggests Mrs. Proctor, by resolving internal dissenting values of ethics, is then able to guide her husband in the pursuit of his standards. Martine affirms this maturity. Elizabeth has grown “significantly from the aggrieved homemaker to a woman who will protect her husband’s name” (Martine 54).
Arthur Miller employs Elizabeth Proctor’s progressive sense of justice and integrity to elucidate the notion that people who value integrity and justice often experience isolation, however by recognizing independent ideals, they emerge as people as unperturbed by those around them. With the support of his wife, John Proctor choosing death shocked many, and upon being questioned about his choice, Elizabeth replies, “‘He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him’”(145). The word “take” implies something to be had that can be lost again. Both John and Elizabeth have attained total severance from their given world’s ethical ideals, and the statement represents utter comprehension of Elizabeth heeding her personal upstanding standards. Previously trapped in between clashing values, Elizabeth Proctor ultimately unburdens herself of the discord by sacrificing a part of her life, through her husband’s decision to die, in order to satisfy her moral code. Finally relinquishing the identity forced upon her by a collective, Elizabeth begins to adhere to her own principles, uninhibited by the looming fear of exile.
may accept the predominant depravity of the collective, in order to remain as one of the community. In the long term, the individual may weigh the importance of integration against the gravity of independent expression. Ultimately, upon relinquishing a role forced upon them by their surrounding environment, a person can begin to heed one’s personal principles without restriction.
Miller describes Elizabeth Proctor’s ideas about piety to illustrate that when facing a divide between one’s convictions and the collective’s, a person commonly experiences a feeling of alienation. During Reverend Hale’s visit to the Proctors’ home, he seeks to ascertain Elizabeth’s innocence. As this progresses, Elizabeth eagerly rejects any “‘mark of blame’” as she is a “‘covenanted Christian woman’” (66). The word “mark” suggests a blemish, an imperfection marring an otherwise perfect world. Since a Puritan dominated Salem cherishes the popular opinion of the people, those who are not especially religious are then seen as the defects in that they are the minority. Elizabeth’s fervent affirmation to her faith, regardless of how devout she is, illuminates the conflict between external pressures of acquiescence to certain standards and her internal nonconformity to those same standards.
Moreover, the author portrays Elizabeth’s dissimilarities to her world to illustrate that in the short term, a person’s fear of estrangement from a group due to divergence from their given role, causes them to temporarily abstain from considering their unique morals. Whilst John Proctor remains indecisive concerning disclosing Abigail’s deceit, Elizabeth resents his hesitation, especially as with her honor at stake. While Hale prepares to go, Elizabeth “with a note of desperation”(68) demands that John tell him about Abby’s pretenses. The word “note” in this context evokes a sense of hidden implication. As Martine divulges, Proctor “does indeed still feel attracted to Abby, as Elizabeth observes”(Martine 57). Her desperation dissents with her environment, thus it is kept almost-silent. Though she longs to reveal the tumultuous state of affairs her supposedly flawless marriage is in; as well as her hidden hatred of her husband’s mistress she cannot do so because of the intolerance encompassing nonconformity. Instead, she momentarily launches herself into the predetermined facade society has chosen for her, allowing the stifling of her sense of justice and integrity to occur.
Following a cursory effort at inhibiting her own moral principles to find a place in the larger numbers, Arthur Miller depicts Elizabeth Proctor’s virtuous metamorphoses as a contention in the Puritan community; the result of Mrs.
Proctor’s long term response to external influences to her ethical character. This exemplifies the certainty that once faced with the true significance of fitting in by means of blind devotion, and discovering individualistic expression, one will eventually shed the extraneous inclinations to integrate to a majority and therefore, find their way as an individual. Once Elizabeth is brought to testify to her husband’s confession, However, the falter in her voice is unmistakeable, representing the part of her that is reluctant still, to relinquish the hold that the Puritan community has on her views surrounding popular opinion. During the interrogation, Elizabeth is frozen; and “in a crisis of indecision she cannot speak”(113). The word “indecision” demonstrates an inability to make a decision, in this case reflecting a concealed incapacity to tell the truth. Elizabeth cannot yet bring herself to fully dislodge the pressures of the Salem society’s need for a perfect illusion. Subsequently she continues to struggle to masquerade as a obedient member of the masses, one without individual
beliefs.
The author shows Mrs. Proctor convincing her husband to heed his internal ethics to further describe Elizabeth’s split from propriety. Miller utilizes her distress in wanting to save her husband as an incentive to break free of societal molds. Elizabeth states, “‘And yet you’ve not confessed till now. That speak goodness in you’”(136). The word “goodness” captures the essence of a virtuous nature. The description of the goodness that she sees within John suggests Mrs. Proctor, by resolving internal dissenting values of ethics, is then able to guide her husband in the pursuit of his standards. Martine affirms this maturity. Elizabeth has grown “significantly from the aggrieved homemaker to a woman who will protect her husband’s name” (Martine 54).
Arthur Miller employs Elizabeth Proctor’s progressive sense of justice and integrity to elucidate the notion that people who value integrity and justice often experience isolation, however by recognizing independent ideals, they emerge as people as unperturbed by those around them. With the support of his wife, John Proctor choosing death shocked many, and upon being questioned about his choice, Elizabeth replies, “‘He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him’”(145). The word “take” implies something to be had that can be lost again. Both John and Elizabeth have attained total severance from their given world’s ethical ideals, and the statement represents utter comprehension of Elizabeth heeding her personal upstanding standards. Previously trapped in between clashing values, Elizabeth Proctor ultimately unburdens herself of the discord by sacrificing a part of her life, through her husband’s decision to die, in order to satisfy her moral code. Finally relinquishing the identity forced upon her by a collective, Elizabeth begins to adhere to her own principles, uninhibited by the looming fear of exile.