The Relationship Between John Proctor and His Wife Is Not an Easy One
“The relationship between John proctor and his wife is not an easy one” Through close analysis of three scenes discuss Miller’s dramatic presentation of the relationship and how the audience respond to it. Draft
Elizabeth and Johns relationship is certainly not an easy one. Although having been married with two children the intrusion of Abigail could not have come at a worse time. With Elizabeth ill and Abigail’s personality being such a contrast John felt it as an escape from his wife’s absence. The affair that John had with Abigail puts a strain on their relationship creating a physical and emotional divide that the audience easily pick up on. On top of the affair, living in a puritan society which can be demeaning to women makes the situation and the divide even more prominent. However the couple’s actions towards each other and Johns anger towards himself over the affair that he had shows how much they really love each other. Even without the affair, difference in character and living in a harsh puritan society is any relationship ever ‘easy’?
Act2:scene1 starts in John’s house, it is late before John enters. Elizabeth is singing in another room when john arrives so John proceeds to try the stew which his wife had been preparing whilst he was out. When he tries the stew he is dissatisfied with the seasoning so adds salt finishing just as Elizabeth enters. When eating the meal John is careful to make sure that he compliments Elizabeth on the stew and the seasoning. This implies to the audience that he wants to please Elizabeth and relieve the atmosphere of any tension. This could be because he feels guilty about his affair with Abigail. But it also gives the impression to the audience that there is a lack of communication between them because, John feels he has to hide the fact that he added seasoning, just to make Elizabeth happy. The stew almost represents how the couple’s differences in character are reflected in their differences in taste. Elizabeth, like
Elizabeth and Johns relationship is certainly not an easy one. Although having been married with two children the intrusion of Abigail could not have come at a worse time. With Elizabeth ill and Abigail’s personality being such a contrast John felt it as an escape from his wife’s absence. The affair that John had with Abigail puts a strain on their relationship creating a physical and emotional divide that the audience easily pick up on. On top of the affair, living in a puritan society which can be demeaning to women makes the situation and the divide even more prominent. However the couple’s actions towards each other and Johns anger towards himself over the affair that he had shows how much they really love each other. Even without the affair, difference in character and living in a harsh puritan society is any relationship ever ‘easy’?
Act2:scene1 starts in John’s house, it is late before John enters. Elizabeth is singing in another room when john arrives so John proceeds to try the stew which his wife had been preparing whilst he was out. When he tries the stew he is dissatisfied with the seasoning so adds salt finishing just as Elizabeth enters. When eating the meal John is careful to make sure that he compliments Elizabeth on the stew and the seasoning. This implies to the audience that he wants to please Elizabeth and relieve the atmosphere of any tension. This could be because he feels guilty about his affair with Abigail. But it also gives the impression to the audience that there is a lack of communication between them because, John feels he has to hide the fact that he added seasoning, just to make Elizabeth happy. The stew almost represents how the couple’s differences in character are reflected in their differences in taste. Elizabeth, like