Love in The Crucible Essay

The Crucible

Marriages in the 17th century were all but romantic although the husband and wife loved each other; it took time for their bond to really develop into love. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, John and Elizabeth Proctor's marriage is a perfect example of a bond that has blossomed and is wilting quickly due to John's wandering lust for 17 year old Abigail Williams. Miller's use of Puritan expressions and words illustrate that Elizabeth and John Proctor are experiencing a trying time in their marriage, a time that requires them both to control themselves and listen to understand each other.

John Proctor's language to his wife embodies the role of a husband who has done wrong and has repented. After their stilted conversation about the food, John attempts to talk about their somewhat withering relationship. "If the crop is good I'll buy George Jacobs' heifer. How would that please you?" By asking what she thinks of his decision, he can say that he cares without coming on too strong. Oftentimes when two people love each other, they express themselves with romantic gestures and although John and Elizabeth may love each other, they are unsure of themselves and what the other is thinking. His next line: "I mean to please you, Elizabeth." Is exactly what is needed, a small unyielding expression of his love. Again, they love each other but are dubious to show it. Then as if to make sure that he can be a bit bold without offending her, he finishes his apology with: "On Sunday let you come with me, and we will walk the farm together..." This creates a sense of his love for her and that he wants to make up for his heinous crime and be a good husband. In the end, he knows that he was wrong but hopes that Elizabeth will understand and forgive him.

Elizabeth's language towards John is a bit abrupt because she knows of his affair and that he has been lying to her about Salem. "You come so late I thought you'd gone to Salem this afternoon." He knows her knowledge of the affair through the fact that 'Salem' is Abby and the fact that he comes so late is because he went to see her before coming home. Elizabeth is concerned about the time that John and Abby spent alone together and concludes: "Do as you wish, then." She clearly suspects that Abigail is more important than her pride and her household. Elizabeth angers at the fact that John lies and cheats on her and she cannot help but to blame herself. Nearing the end of their conversation, "John, if it were not Abigail that you must go not to hurt, would you falter, now? I think not." With this statement, Elizabeth is justifying her suspicion and mistrust towards her husband, to her husband. Although she does not trust him, John is extremely important to her and all she wants is for him to not cheat on her.

The role of the stage directions incorporates the characters' actions to go along with their words. Firstly, "He gets up, goes to her, kisses her. She receives it. With a look of disappointment, he returns to the table." The fact that she receives it instead of embracing it, gives the impression that she feels angry that he has the nerve to kiss her and then kiss Abigail with the same mouth. Awkwardness distresses their marriage and makes their affectionate gestures less affectionate and more of a routine. Promptly after she asks him to give the court the information about Abby, he loses his temper and roars about how she is suspicious of everything. ."..[Quietly--she has suddenly lost all faith in him]... [She starts to turn.]" She had had faith in him and then she caught him in a lie. Elizabeth is angry because John will not listen to what she has to say about the trials and the fact that all of the women in the town are falsely accused. ."..[With a violent undertone]... [Holding back a full condemnation of her.]" John condemns Elizabeth because she does not act the part of the mistress in the house. And rightly so, she is not the mistress but a woman living in a house raising her sons. The stage directions not only tell of the positions of the actors but the dispositions of the character.

In conclusion, although John and Elizabeth Proctor's affection is withering away, they still hold resolute to the customs of the time. Until the end, John and Elizabeth remain firm throughout their own crucible until Johns execution in the final minutes of the play.