With the Bad Comes the Good In The Crucible, a well-known play written by Arthur Miller, the city of Salem, Massachusetts faces a wave of hysteria, leading people to fear witchcraft during the late 17th century. The play is based on the Salem Witch Trials and portrays a concept similar to that of McCarthyism. When a group of young girls was found dancing in the forest, and the Puritan minister’s daughter, Betty, appears to fall into an unconscious slumber, the extremely religious city began to suspect witchcraft. Once the intimidated group of girls witnesses the reaction and attention that this incident brings them, the local minister’s niece, Abigail Williams, realizes that she can use it as an opportunity to get vengeance on her worst enemy …show more content…
Her bitterness toward John was apparent during the beginning of the drama, when she asks her husband “...if it were not Abigail that [he] must go to hurt, would [he] falter now? [She thinks] not” (Miller). This displays how Elizabeth is skeptical of her husband’s intentions, and she does not believe that his feelings for Abigail have vanished. Likewise, she shows her lack of trust by promptly answering her own question before her husband can even respond. By asking him if he would “falter” she calls attention to John’s conspicuous hesitations, proving her doubtfulness. However, despite Elizabeth’s initial uncertainty, she later realizes that her love for John is stronger than the grudge she once held against him. With this in mind, she is quick to shower John with loving remarks during Act IV, when she reveals to her husband that “Suspicion kissed [him] when [she] did; [she] never knew how [she] should say [her] love. It were a cold house [she] kept” (Miller). Elizabeth does not hesitate to accept responsibility for her faults, and realizes that her relationship has fallen apart because of her own mistakes in addition to John’s. Moreover, she admits that she is at fault for maintaining an uncomfortable environment for her and John to live in, implying that she failed to repair the damaged relationship when given the opportunity. She refers to her house as being kept cold, meaning that the vibe was bitter and uncomforting, which didn’t allow for improvement. Not to mention, she continues to beg for John’s forgiveness by saying “Forgive me, forgive me, John—I never knew such goodness in the world” (Miller). She shows her transformation by displaying true emotion and recognizing her husband’s pure intentions. Rather than indirectly seeking an apology from John, she is quick to beg for his forgiveness instead. Conclusively,