In the Arthur Miller film The Crucible, what are Elizabeth Proctor's motivations, values, attitudes, beliefs, living environment, relationships and...
Elizabeth Proctor is the wife of John Proctor, and both are members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Elizabeth Proctor becomes implicated in the conflict of the play by way of Abigail Williams. Abigail is the apparent leader of a group of young girls who claim to have encountered witches in the colony. Abigail was formerly employed by the Proctors as a maid, and, during that time, she had an affair with John. As the play progresses, Abigail reveals that she still desires John, and that she resents that he refuses to leave his wife to be with her.
Spiteful, Abigail accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch. The court system places the burden on Elizabeth to prove that she is innocent, which she is unable to do. She is offered the choice of being freed, if she will confess to practicing witchcraft, or being killed if she will not. Elizabeth refuses to confess, revealing a principled streak that is similar to that of her husband. She refuses to disclose her husband's affair with Abigail, revealing her stubborn loyalty.
Comments
Post a Comment