Preview

How Does Elizabeth Proctor Change In The Crucible

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
862 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Elizabeth Proctor Change In The Crucible
Does a situation ever present itself where friends may do something wrong, lies sometimes protect friends, or others sympathize for pretended hurt? If these descriptions seem familiar, the characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller may too. A crucible is a thorough trial or examination; therefore, the term coincides with the title of the play because the courts rigorously try individuals for the crime of witchcraft within the text (“Crucible” 1). The Crucible’s plot unfolds in the 1690’s in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts (Miller 1038-1118). Within the story, several characters’ outlooks on life and their manner of interacting with the other characters change because of the trials, while contrastingly, a portion of the characters remains stagnant. Miller’s work properly illustrates how some characters, such as Elizabeth Proctor and John Hale, grow and subsequently improve relationships amongst themseleves as a result of interactions that provide opportunities for changes in ideals and relationships; while other individuals, like Judge Danforth, do not. Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, goes through a transformation because of the happenings of the …show more content…
Elizabeth Proctor shifts from cold to forgiving, and Hale starts as orderly and closes as empathetic. Judge Danforth is self-centered and concerned with his reputation throughout the events of the plot. John Hale takes the most drastic change. At first, he gives no thought to the reasons behind the Proctors’ questionable actions and goes to question them anyway, even being suspicious of them himself. By the end of the plot, his view on the couple inverts and he begs them to choose to live. Through the questions, wrongdoings, lies, and pretending, some characters in The Crucible change and improve their relationships, while others do

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    John Proctor is a tormented individual. He believes his affair with Abigail irreparably damaged him in the eyes of God, his wife Elizabeth, and himself. True, Proctor did succumb to sin and commit adultery; however, he lacks the capacity to forgive himself. Unsurprisingly, his relationship with Elizabeth remains strained throughout the majority of the play. He resents Elizabeth because she cannot forgive him and trust him again, but he is guilty of the same thing. In fact, his own inability to forgive himself merely intensifies his reaction to Elizabeth's lack of forgiveness.…

    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Changes. Everyone goes through many different changes in their lives. In The Crucible, written by Arther Miller, many of the characters go through changes, such as Elizabeth Proctor. The Crucible actually means a severe test or trial. Elizabeth is one of the characters in the story who goes through a small test of faith and honesty.…

    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    We have all been accused of things that we didn’t do. Maybe it was something big, like cheating on a test, or stealing something. Maybe is was something small, like eating the last cookie or leaving the light on when you leave the house. John proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, was accused of the ultimate crime; witchcraft. John underwent many changes during this play. At first, he was trying to hide the relationship that he had with Abigale. As the play progressed, he began to lay everything on the line to save his wife and her unborn child. I’ll go more in depth on his changes as my essay progresses but he went through multiple personality changes while at the same time, his outlook on the world around him changed just as often.…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    11.a. Speaker: The speaker is John Proctor, who is a local farmer and the husband of Elizabeth Proctor.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I can't believe that awful, no good man, John Proctor. He had the audacity to choose that whining wife over me. I am way better than that goody too shoes Elizabeth Proctor. We have vastly different character traits; we are like day night. She is a naive, simple woman. I on the other hand am an adventurer. I am knowledgeable, healthy, and certainly far from simple. Why, any man would be lucky to have me as their wife. Elizabeth is a old hag who should just disappear. I am a beautiful, young, healthy woman. Yet alas, the man I want so desperately is connected to this evil witch of a woman! I mean can she be anymore annoying? She is always nagging me and everyone else in…

    • 128 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Many characters were forced into horrible situations where their morals, beliefs, and overall faith were put to the test. This is what happened to John and Elizabeth Proctor when they were accused of witchcraft.Elizabeth tries desperately to hold on to what is left of her marriage.When she is detained she goes willingly. She allows John to die with pride. Therefore, in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Elizabeth Proctor is heroic because she does what is right even though it is difficult.…

    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Her accusation of John being “the Devil’s man” ultimately changes the Proctor’s lives forever. John and Elizabeth cannot see their children grow up. John feels shameful that his name has been blackened. Yet it makes John and Elizabeth’s relationship grow stronger, because they both start to appreciate the other more, apologize for their mistakes, and forgive each other.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a hysteria of witchcraft that sweeps across Massachusetts changes the citizens of Salem, transforming some into monsters and helping others to realize their mistakes. Miller’s description of the character John Proctor at the start of The Crucible seems to describe another person as his change becomes more prevalent throughout the play. Proctor is at first consumed with guilt and despair, but he comes to find pride in his name, and he will hold on to the meaning he has finally found in his life for the short time he can.…

    • 257 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He becomes selfless and sacrifices his reputation and his life to save everyone else in the court by the end of the Crucible. John Proctor said "You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail. And I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your own husband anymore. I have forget Abigail" (pg. 918.) In the beginning of the book, he knew he was going to hurt his neighbors from hiding what he did with Abigail, but he was so afraid about the citizens of Salem find out about his affair. John was afraid to tell the judges about his affair with Abigail because Abigail is going to ruin his reputation by charge lechery. John proctor said " I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another." (Pg. 968.) John Proctor tried to speak his own sins, confess he saw the witches to survive, and ask forgiveness for Elizabeth because it will save the others. John Proctor signed a written confession that will be hung on the courthouse door. He knew that will ruin his name and reputation in the society, but he sacrificed himself to save people who are in the prison.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Crucible, a container that resists hear or the hollow at the bottom of an ore furnace. However its connotations include melting pot, in the symbolic sense, and the bearing of a cross. Elizabeth, John Proctor's wife; a cold, childless woman who is an upright character who cannot forgive her husband's adultery until just before he died: she is accused of being a witch. Reverend Hale, a self-proclaimed expert on witchcraft; at the play's end tries to save the accused. John Proctor, a good man with human failures and a hidden secret, a affair with Abigail, he is often the voice of reason in the play; accused of witchcraft.<br><br>"I do not judge you. The magistrate that sits in your heart judges you." This is where Elizabeth suspects that John has committed adultery, but knows how good of man he is…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abhishek Shulka once said, “What seems like the right thing to do could also be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life.” These words are often true for many people that have ever had to make a tough decision. Though most will do what is easiest for them the strong willed will do what they believe is right. Strong and independent, Elizabeth proctor always tries to do the right thing, though two compelling desires and obligations pull her mind in conflicting directions; these conflicts add depth to her character and show who she is morally and emotionally.…

    • 972 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Elizabeth's positive qualities are also her negative ones. She is a virtuous woman who is steadfast and true. These traits also make her a bit of a cold fish. When we first meet her, she's especially cold and fishy. She's got good reason to be, though, because her husband has recently had an affair with their housekeeper, Abigail Williams.…

    • 318 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a play that takes place during a time period of the witch trials. The entire community is in pandemonium and certain characters are also fighting internal conflicts. Miller uses three characters that shows this internal battle : Abigail Williams, John Proctor who must weigh the importance of his family against his reputation and the Putnams.…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Crucible

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Elizabeth’s actions made an impact on the court, the girls, and John Proctor over one lie she decided to…

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, is full of dishonesty and pain. It’s set during the Salem witch trials, where “witches” were hanged for associating with the devil. Many people can be blinded by the truth without knowing. Some tell a convincing lie and we believe it because we sometimes have no reason to question it. In The Crucible, some characters blind to the truth are Judge Danforth, Reverend Parris, and Thomas Putnam. These people were well respected and smart, but were still blinded by the lies.…

    • 230 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays