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How Does Elizabeth Proctor Change In The Crucible

Decent Essays

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a great play when discussing developing characters. Throughout the four acts the accusations, affairs, and beliefs cause the characters to change and reveal their true selves. Elizabeth Proctor starts off as cold and uncaring, but throughout the play readers see her passion for her husband and life. In Act I the Elizabeth Proctor we see is distant and unhappy. She doesn’t appear to be emotionally attached to her husband. During the dinner she gives him one worded answers just saying “Aye” or “That’s well” (1267-1268). She is unable to put her emotions into words or stand up for herself. Even admits Mary Warren has “frightened all my strength away” (1269). She has also lost faith in her marriage It’s clear she …show more content…

This is where we truly see her being to change. Once her life, marriage, and reputation are on the line she starts to stand up for herself. She tells John to break it off with Abigail and “go tell her she’s a whore” (1275). Before Elizabeth didn’t really confront this issue let alone tell John what to do about it. Elizabeth goes from talking with “a sense of being lost” (1274) to speaking “without hesitation, even eagerly” (1277). She tells Mr. Hale “There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mr. Hale. I am a covenanted Christian woman” (1277). This is the first time we see Elizabeth stand up and just not take the yelling/abuse of others. Elizabeth’s interactions with John also change. She opens herself up to her husband “John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept!” She knows she has changed and wants John to know too. Rather than a cold distant wife she proves that she can be a passionate and loving one as well. Unfortunately, it took took losing her husband and being accused of witchcraft, but Elizabeth Proctor did find her

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