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The Conversation Between John And Elizabeth Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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“The Crucible” is a play written by Arthur Miller about the Salem witch trials. Because the story takes place in a puritan society, sex or anything related to it is taboo, except between a husband and wife. This causes many problems throughout the course of the play. The lust the characters have for each other is one of the reasons for their hatred towards one another and their desire for revenge. It is the reason behind many of the convictions made in the play. Abigail’s actions were mainly the result of the affair she had with John Proctor. Because John Proctor rejected her she felt like used and hurt, Abigail also pretended to be angry with Elizabeth, saying to Proctor “She is blackening my name in the village! …show more content…

Elizabeth expresses to John that she might be partially responsible for the affair he had with Abigail. In act four Elizabeth says to Proctor “ I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.” (Miller 129) By this Elizabeth is saying that she didn’t show him the affection that she should have because she thought so poorly of herself, she states that she thought she was so plain, and poorly made that no one could truly ever love her. This is a huge change from the start of act two, where Proctor and Elizabeth sat at the dinner table and tried to engage in a conversation but are unable to for long because of the clear dissapoint that Elizabeth feels towards him, and the guilt and shame that Proctor is feeling. This contibutes to the idea that Proctors and Elizabeth’s repressed sexual feelings towards each other is one of the main causes of their marital issues. The taboo nature of sex in a Puritan society makes the court room a very difficult place for both John and Elizabeth Proctor, as well as the other residents of Salem that were tried and convicted. During the time of the trials Abigail stabs herself in the stomach with a needle after watching Mary Warren stick the needle she was using in the stomach of the poppet she later gave the Proctors in order to frame Elizabeth for witchcraft. Johnn Proctor

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