The Crucible by Arthur Miller

However, a challenge arose to Abigail when she decided to accuse Elizabeth Proctor, and eventually her husband John, of witchcraft. The Proctor marriage was not just any simple marriage; it had its times of cold shoulders, heartfelt truth, and undying love. Indeed, Abigail had a strong motive for charging Elizabeth with evil divination. Seven months before the play takes place, Abigail and John had an affair while Abigail was working as a servant in their home. Eventually, John confessed and apologized to Elizabeth, pledging his fidelity to her.

Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' is a mid-20th century play telling the story of the famous Salem witch trials. The play begins with girls doing mysterious and devilish things in the woods, and amongst them: Abigail Williams, the outcast orphan niece of Reverend Parris, whom is equally disliked by the villager. She is a 17 year old girl whom has made many poor and alarming choices; she's had an affair with a married man, John Proctor, and now, has participated in the unspeakable act of witchcraft for nothing more than to seek her revenge on his wife, Elizabeth. Her character is rather simple, she is the villain; her ability to deceive, manipulate, lie, and control people drives the town to taking the lives of nineteen innocent people, and imprisoning many more. Although, why would a young lady like herself feel compelled to act so deviously in the first place?

Then, Tibuta confesses to witchcraft after she is interrogated by Parris and Hale under the threat of being whipped to death. She is only sentenced to a short term in prison because she accuses Sarah Good and Goody Osborne of the crime. Betty and Abigail also confess witchcraft, and start accusing almost all of the women from town to Act 2 John Proctor comes home from working in his fields to his wife, Elizabeth. They argue about his affair with Abigail. Mary Warren, their house servant, enters.

Arthur Miller's The Crucible The Crucible is based on the 'Salem Witch Trials' in 1692. In act 1 the audience find out that John Procter had an affair with Abigail Williams, who was dancing in the woods, and that she still has feelings for him. When John denies their love Abigail starts accusing people of witchcraft. Act 2 is when we meet Elizabeth Procter who gets arrested on suspicion of witchcraft. In act 3 John goes to court trying to free his wife and the others but without much luck as he gets accused of mixing with the devil.

Help Mr. Proctor as you were his daughter – you owe me that, and much more. To Proctor: when the children wake, speak nothing of witchcraft – it will frighten them” (Act II pg 77). While Elizabeth was about to be arrested she goes to Mary and tells her to take care of her family while she was away. Elizabeth was only concerned about her family; she wanted to make sure her family was taken care of. Elizabeth showed respect by agreeing to go with Hale and not argue about her arrest.

She and John Proctor have had an affair and when Elizabeth Proctor finds out, she throws Abigail out of their house. During the trials, Abigail is still in love with John Proctor and goes after Elizabeth out of vengeance. Elizabeth tries to explain this to John, who is in disbelief: she ?thinks to kill me, then to take my place? (61). Abigail?s main motive for destroying Elizabeth is revenge for being thrown out of the house and for having John Proctor, the man that she loves.

The Crucible deals with witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts which shows utter chaos and hysteria in the town. Many were accused of witchcraft and died because of lies. Elizabeth Proctor was one of many who were accused. She was accused by Abigail Williams, the person whom Elizabeth fired for cheating with her husband, John Proctor. John was a well respected farmer in Salem, who was outraged when Elizabeth was arrested for accusations of using witchcraft.

Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, is about the persecution of people falsely accused of being witches or believing in witches in Salem. Many people die in the village after a series of lies and unjust practices. Abigail Williams, after having had an affair with Proctor, begins this cycle of lies to make her feel more important in Salem. Her character includes both superiority and resentment throughout the play so far and the way she does it shows that she is rebelling against the compressed society. In the Salem society, the role of the child is to be quiet, and stay out of the way.

Both John and his sister believed that by isolating the narrator she would eventually become sane, but they failed to realize what was really wrong with her. John’s state of ignorance and his stubbornness lead him to misjudge the situation a... ... middle of paper ... ...men have more authority and are better than woman and he dismissed all his wife’s fears, which led to her madness. The narrator eventually breaks from the chains that her husband had put on her, which shows how anyone can escape from entrapment. By tearing down the yellow wallpaper the narrator finds a kind of liberty and freedom from her submissive relationship with her husband. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a great story that demonstrates how a person needs stand up for him or herself to be free of what is holding them back from life.

The narrator is trying to talk to her husband and confess her feelings on her mental illness and the treatment that is she is forced to undergo and is patronized. At one point she begins discussing with her husband about the wallpaper that upsets her. One reading would expect her husband to openly listen to her concerns but instead he disregards her feelings and seems to make fun of the thoughts she has by belittling her. “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.”(647 Gilman), this excerpt is a perfect example of John putting down her thoughts and feelings and making her feel like she is a child. The loving wife justifies his remarks although they are condescending.