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How Does Arthutr Miller Create Tension and Conflict Between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the Start of Act 2

Decent Essays
''The Crucible,'' is a 1952 play written by Arthur Miller as an allegory of Mcarthyism. The play follows a theocratic society in which the church and the state are one, and reputation plays an important role in Salem where private and public moralities are the same. In act one, the secret affair of John Proctor and Abigail Williams was revealed that led to conflict between John and his wife. Divorce was not permitted in the late 16th century, hence, the Proctors had to maintain their marriage causing discord within the Proctor household. At the start of Act 2, Miller creates a tense atmosphere of animosity portrayed by John and Elizabeth Proctor in their lack of affection, awkwardness, appraisal and guilt leading to affliction.

In the
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At the end of the scene, the astricted atmoshere remains within the couple when John pleads to Elizabeth, saying '' Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not,'' to which she replies '' I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you.'' By this we are displayed Elizabeth's feeling towards John's accusation towards which she reveals to John that it is not her that he is being judged by, but in fact his quilty conscience over the affair.

In Conclusion, the audince feels tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth in act two through Miller's use of scenes of frigidity, lack of natural affection, constant use of questions and short replies,Elizabeth's suspicion and distrust of John and their constant judgement of each other . This scene plays an important role to the events that were building up in Salem, as the conflict in their household can almost represent the hysteria that was building up in Salem at that time with constant suspicions, distrusts and
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