Who Is Elizabeth Proctor Believe In The Crucible

The Salem witch trials of 1692 were a series of events that shaped the history of the United States and involved in the death of many innocent people who were falsely accused to witchcraft. And in The Crucible written by Arthur Miller in 1953, there were many brave characters such as john proctor, Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse who sacrificed their reputations and their lives for a greater cause. They all had one goal in mind which was to stop the false accusation of witchery in Salem and restore social order. Thus, making it clear to the reader that it is admirable to die and save others, rather than to save oneself and kill innocent people.

Whereas John Proctor has many flaws in the play, Rebecca nurse seems angelic. She is a devoutly

For instance, throughout the play Elizabeth is a sincere woman who can’t tell a lie. In fact in Act 3, when John was asked by Judge Danforth if his wife is an honest woman he declares: “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep - my wife cannot lie. I have paid much to learn it, sir”(111). Nevertheless, when she was brought to court to confess of her husband’s lechery, Elizabeth decides to sacrifice her moral values and her reputation in hopes of saving her husband’s name. As a matter of fact, in Act 3, john protests to the judges: “She only thought to save my name!”(113). Accordingly, Arthur Miller exhibits the irony of Elizabeth proctor’s character in the play. Clearly, she always tells the truth; however the one time that she decides to lie to save her beloved husband, it backfires on her. Therefore, despite her great sacrifice and her aim to benefit the good of her John and put an end to the Salem witch trails , Elizabeth ends up condemning him to death and damning herself to hell since the puritans believed that lying was a damnable offense. Furthermore, Elizabeth makes another notable sacrifice in Act 4 which not only proves her moral strength but her great sacrifice. In fact, while she craves john to confess to witchcraft and thus

He is an anguished individual whose relationship with Abigail Williams and his commission of lechery caused him great damage in the eyes of God, his wife, Elizabeth Proctor and particularly himself. He faced internal and external struggles since the witch trails took over the town of Salem. In order to redeem himself from the sin he has committed, Proctor took the risk of confessing, in front of the court about his affair with Abigail .His aim was to save his wife who was falsely accused of witchcraft, condemn the manipulative vengeful liar, and put the Salem witch trials to an end, thus restoring social order in the town and stopping the death of innocent people. He is aware of Abby’s sense of malevolence, fraudulence and wickedness and he is convinced that the only way to a erase the court’s faith in Abigail as trust-worthy witness and force the judges to believe him is to sacrifice his name and reputation and confess to adultery. For instance, in Act 3, John Proctor acknowledges to Judge Danforth and Francis Nurse with shame and guilt: “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name!- you will believe me, Mr Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!”(111). In addition, another sacrifice made john Proctor takes place at the end of Act 4 when he refuses to give the court the signed paper saying that he committed