English

English

The Crucible

Essay

The Crucible, a tale of superstition and tyrannical oppression set to

shake our complacency and make us think. Arthur Miller, the author of

this compelling play, deals with controversial issues and subjects

which could be classed as taboo such as infidelity and witchcraft. He

has a rare talent when it comes to writing and conveying human

emotions to his audience.

Act 2 opens in the ‘common room’ of Proctor’s house. John Proctor

arrives later than usual after a hard days work. Carrying his gun he

enters the “low, dark and rather long living-room”. The stage

directions not only suggest he is displeased with his food upon

tasting it - he meddles with the pot situated on the fire: “Then he

lifts out the ladle and tastes. He is not quite pleased…” - but also

suggest that the setting in which this takes place is depressing and

lifeless, symbolising the feelings that are conjured up in John when

entering his ‘home’.

The first words spoken between husband and wife are Elizabeth

questioning his whereabouts in a very accusational way ‘What keeps you

so late? It’s dark.’. There is no reaction from John just an honest

reply as if Elizabeth had no double meaning to her inquiry, no Hi or

Hello in sight.

From then onwards basic chit-chat such as the farm and the weather

‘Pray now for a fair summer’ fill their conversation. The little

conversation that they manage to force feels stunted and false as both

John and Elizabeth are being too polite - not as man and wife should

behave. John manages to eat a whole meal but they only speak six or

more times leaving much of the time to be filled by uncomfortable

silence.

Elizabeth watches the reaction of her husband when he tastes her

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... utter despair. The confession of John’s left her feeling

vulnerable and alone. Her suspicion of her husband is so strong

because of her low self-esteem and insecurities. Abigail threatens

her.

What is she to do? Everyday she is faced with the reminder that she

wasn’t enough for the love of her life but she has no choice - she

cannot leave. Society had not yet accepted even the concept of

divorce, especially Practising Catholics like themselves. People

judged their neighbours and it mattered about keeping up appearances.

There would be no way Elizabeth could have confided in a ‘friend’

about her husband’s infidelity and there was absolutely no way she

could walk out on her marriage - divorce was out of the question.

Though it may be all dead and buried and laid to rest in John’s mind,

for Elizabeth the wounds are just as deep as the day they were made.