Elizabeth Proctor's Arrow In The Crucible
In 1692, the small town of Salem, Massachusetts grew wild with grief, panic, and accusations of sinful witchcraft. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is set in this frenzy and follows the story of an uncomfortable couple: John and Elizabeth Proctor. With a past in adultery and distrust, John constantly tries to make up for the mistake he made with the seventeen year old Abigail Williams. Despite his attempts, his wife continues to feel abandoned and lied to. To add to their marital problems, Abigail and her friends were found dancing naked in the woods which set a deep fear of witchery in the Puritan citizens. As more and more people became accused, such as both the Proctors, or afraid of being accused, a fever of witchcraft sent the town
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Beginning with her husband’s affair, she argues, “When you come to know that I will be your only wife, or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well” (Miller, 1275). John’s efforts in regaining her confidence, Elizabeth’s feelings of betrayal still linger. Her suggestion of Cupid’s arrow reveals her underlying belief that he loves Abigail back, and is desperate to stay his only wife and keep a respectable name in the town. When Elizabeth was called into the court to test her honesty and asked if John had committed adultery, she responded, “My husband - is a goodly man, sir… No, sir” (Miller, 1311). Her comment shows her duty to protect her husband and their family's good name. This lie she made confesses her need for a socially acceptable appearance even if something immoral like lying was used to keep it. In the final scene of the play, Elizabeth’s growth out of her mentality is exposed when she cries, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (1334). Elizabeth sobs this while her husband is being hanged for not confessing to witchcraft. She finally cares more about the character of her husband and his correction of his wrongs then Salem’s belief that he consorted with the devil. Even though it was while he was being put to death, Elizabeth was able to see the goodness in his faults and the justice in his
Beginning with her husband’s affair, she argues, “When you come to know that I will be your only wife, or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well” (Miller, 1275). John’s efforts in regaining her confidence, Elizabeth’s feelings of betrayal still linger. Her suggestion of Cupid’s arrow reveals her underlying belief that he loves Abigail back, and is desperate to stay his only wife and keep a respectable name in the town. When Elizabeth was called into the court to test her honesty and asked if John had committed adultery, she responded, “My husband - is a goodly man, sir… No, sir” (Miller, 1311). Her comment shows her duty to protect her husband and their family's good name. This lie she made confesses her need for a socially acceptable appearance even if something immoral like lying was used to keep it. In the final scene of the play, Elizabeth’s growth out of her mentality is exposed when she cries, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (1334). Elizabeth sobs this while her husband is being hanged for not confessing to witchcraft. She finally cares more about the character of her husband and his correction of his wrongs then Salem’s belief that he consorted with the devil. Even though it was while he was being put to death, Elizabeth was able to see the goodness in his faults and the justice in his