The Relationship Between Proctor And Abigail In The Crucible

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play involving numerous conflicts and relationships between multiple characters with the setting of Salem, Massachusetts 1692 during the Witch Trials. The most prominent one of them all is between the protagonist, John Proctor, and the antagonist, Abigail Williams. Their relationship changes drastically throughout the four acts due to Abigail’s actions. This then leads to John Proctor becoming aware of her true personality and intentions. Before the play, John was on much better terms with Abigail, seeing as they had an affair, but in Act 1 those feelings seem to be a lot more muted. He isn’t as infatuated with lust as he was, but he still has some feelings for her which is shown in their first scene together in the play in the stage directions, “his smile widening”(Miller 22). He

This is the beginning period for John’s understanding of Abigail’s nature. The audience is already aware of her unstable state and unhealthy obsession with him, but he is only aware of the fact that there is witchcraft, which still isn’t completely correct, as she confessed it to him in the middle of Act 1. The real revelations begin in Act 2 Scene 2. He goes to see her in the middle of the night to both confront her and warn her to stop her foolishness. She tells him about how she wants to be his wife when his wife dies. This is said, “You will be amazed to see me everyday, a light of heaven in your house, a— He rises, backs away amazed.”(Miller 150). He is beginning to truly realize her bizarre intentions and later on in the scene shouts at her, “You mad, you murderous bitch!”(miller 152). Henceforth, his knowledge regarding her has substantially increased. He’s willing to do anything now to see that others truly recognize her as well, even confessing to his own scandalous