The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The Crucible

To what extent is John and Elizabeth’s relationship the main focus of

the play?

In this essay I am going to discus to what extent John and Elizabeth’s

relationship is the focus of the Crucible. The play was set in 1962,

in a small, American village called Salem. As Salem was governed by a

Theocracy, the whole village was extremely religious.

After reading the Crucible I think that John and Elizabeth’s

relationship is the main focus of the play, we can see in each act how

their feelings and emotions towards their relation ship changes and

progresses throughout the play. In Act 1 we are introduced to John

Proctor. We find out that he is a farmer in his middle thirties and

that he is known, and respected throughout the village as a good,

honest man. We also learn that John has committed adultery with his

former servant – Abigail Williams, niece of Reverend Paris. John

deeply regrets this, and, as we learn from act one he wishes to no

longer peruse his relation ship with Abigail any further; “I will cut

off my hand before I ever reach for you again!” Abigail responds to

this remark in anger, not being able to bear the fact that John no

longer wants her. She calls Elizabeth a “cold, snivelling woman” and

accuses her of spreading lies “She is blackening my name in the

village, she is spreading lies about me!” Immediately John responds in

defence of his wife “You’ll speak nothin’ of Elizabeth!” We can see

from this Act how John can’t bear the fact that he committed such a

terrible sin against his wife who he loves and cares for.

In At 2, we learn more about John and Elizabeth’s feelings towards

each other. It begins with them having a civilised conversation,

perhaps too civilised for a married couple, Elizabeth is keeping her

answers short and blunt, for example; “ That’s well” and “It must

be.” John picks up on this, and asks Elizabeth if she is sad again. As

we read further we find out that Elizabeth thought John had gone into

Salem, as he was home so late. What she really means when she says

“You come so late I thought you’d gone to Salem this afternoon”, is

that she thought John had been to see Abigail. Elizabeth knows that

John had an affair with Abby, and she still holds this against him.

The fact that Elizabeth bought this subject up angers John and

therefore, results in an argument. John hates it that Elizabeth cannot

seem to forgive him “Spare me! You forgive nothin’ and forget nothin’