Character Analysis Of Elizabeth Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

She is an unmarried orphan and described as beautiful and intelligent, however she is very vengeful and seeks for power. In addition to that, she is a liar, manipulative and selfish.

People’s true character is revealed through their actions. Their morals and ethics can be told from how they choose to act in a situation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; the character of John Proctor is an honorable man despite having committed wrongful acts. He was able to redeem himself through acts that is considered courageous, such as when he refuses to contribute to the lie of witchcraft in Salem, when he fights for the people who were convicted of witchcraft and when he regrets being a dishonest man.

In 1692, many people in Salem, Massachusetts confessed to witchcraft, which resulted in several conflicts. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, uses real events to develop a fictional play. One of the characters in the play is Elizabeth Proctor. She is a static character because she undergoes very little changes throughout the play. The author illustrates the theme of reputation through Elizabeth. Her character shows traits of strength, honesty, and loyalty to protect her good reputation.

“Whatever you do, it is a good man who does it.” This quote was said by Elizabeth Proctor, a character in The Crucible. Here Elizabeth is saying that her husband is a good man which shows that she has finally forgiven him for the affair he had earlier in the play. Elizabeth Proctor is a good Christian woman who is very honest. She is married to John Proctor but keeps a cold house ever since John had the affair with Abigail Williams. Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft when Abigail is stabbed in the stomach and they then find a poppet with a needle in it belonging to Elizabeth. I consider myself to have similar characteristics with Elizabeth Proctor because we are both caring, forgiving, and honest.

Throughout the play Abigail tries to show the other characters that she is not to blame for her mistakes. An example of her trying to blame other people is when she tells her uncle that he should go and deny the witchcraft accusations. By not denying the allegations herself and having someone else do it, shows that she has support from other townspeople. Elizabeth Proctor is a strong woman who is blamed for witchcraft because of Abigail's accusations. Abigail claims that Elizabeth is a liar and is bitter, but when the reader meets Elizabeth for the first time they realize it is just Abigail exaggerating.

John is Elizabeth’s husband and they have children this is why she loves him, but Abigail only loves John out of lust. John loved Elizabeth and always tried to make up for the wrong he had done and show her how he did not want anyone but her. John never showed Abigail attention in that way again; he hated Abigail and knew he never loved her that he had just lusted after her. Elizabeth always tries to do what is best for John even if it means raising children, keeping up a house, and providing on her own for the family. Elizabeth knows the truth will always be brought out there is no use in telling a lie. Just like Abigail and John’s untruth was eventually brought about all other untruths will be. Abigail always resolves to lying to try and get her way, but Elizabeth always told the truth even if it meant being in prison for innocence. All Abigail wanted is what she could not have, but her untruthfulness lead to the death of the one person she cared for other than herself. Abigail was believed by many when Elizabeth was believed by

However Abigail takes pride in her hysteria. This highlights the fact that the age difference between these 2 women is phenomenal. “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” Elizabeth is much more composed than Abigail, even though she is losing her husband she is happy for him, as she believes he is now at peace. Throughout the play John struggles with his feelings that he was not a good man. Hale tried his best to save John from being hanged to death but Elizabeth believes that he is finally going to be cleansed of his sins, as he has finally come out the dark about his affair. She loves him so much that she is willing to let him go. She feels that he is doing the right thing. She takes the name of God to justify herself.

should be happy. He also hides the fact that he was alone in the room

Elizabeth still questions John’s loyalty throughout the play. Elizabeth comes off as an outspoken women and that isn’t really supported in the Puritan society. When convicted of witchcraft she doesn’t fight with the men because she knows she hasn’t done anything wrong. Even though she tries to do what she thinks is the best for John, she ends up saying the wrong thing and Abigail isn’t punished. Elizabeth ends up being pregnant and the trials end before she has her baby so she survives.

“As a general rule . . . the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing-his sense of personal dignity” (“Tragedy”). Miller, the author of the Crucible and the Tragedy and the Common Man, said these words to prove that a tragic play is not meant to be pessimistic, but more optimistic. In The Crucible, John Proctor, a farmer that proves to be the protagonist, goes through a dramatic change throughout the play; learning to forgive himself for his flaws, and in the end to have pride and stand up for what is right.

She even said, “it needs a cold wife to prompt lechery”, (Miller 137). around the end of the play. One reason she distrusts John, is that he has claimed he was not alone with her. He later says that he was, in fact, alone with her for a short while. It takes a person of strength to be able to take that lie he gave and still control herself in the manner a wife should do. It was her inner strength that showed her that “it were a cold house she kept”(Miller 136). and needed to fix that problem.

The consequences of shirking accountability for ones actions are depicted through the tribulations John Proctor faced, in Arthur Miller's, The Crucible. Although John reluctantly became involved in the Salem witch trials, his initial silence proved to be the downfall of not only himself, but of his fellow townspeople as well. John Proctor remained silent for one reason, and that was to protect himself. As a result of his self-serving desires to avoid the consequences of his actions, innocent citizens were put to death.

all faith in him, she feels that he does not want to prove Abigail is

In a town plagued by judgment and fraud, Elizabeth Proctor is an outlier. With impeccable morals and ethics, Elizabeth Proctor attempts to stay adamant with her traits despite the hysteria that provided a challenge. Throughout the story of “The Crucible,” Elizabeth proctor is constantly put under severe tests that impact both her character and others that are close to her. Much like many other characters from the story, Elizabeth discovers the faults in herself and how they furthered the hysteria of witchcraft in Salem and surrounding communities. Elizabeth undergoes several ordeals that directly influence her as a person, and she grows and develops along with the story of “The Crucible.” All of theses tests display a great deal of

Elizabeth is the wife of John Proctor, a farmer who for the most part is also in good standing with the community. Before the Crucible opens, it has been hinted that John had been involved in lechery with the previous house maid, Abigail Williams. For the extended period when she is introduced, she is portrayed as a cold and distant wife, showing little or no affection for her husband. Towards the end of the play, Elizabeth gives reason for the way she has been acting, “I have read my heart this three month, John...It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery (Miller 1269).” Basically, the