preview

How Does Elizabeth Proctor Use Lies In The Crucible

Decent Essays

The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, which takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, has examples of gossip, lies, adultery, and sin throughout the whole play. John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor, a married couple, were at a point in their relationship that was slowly diminishing. Their maid, Abigail Williams, had been disengaged from her job by Elizabeth Proctor. Though John and Elizabeth Proctor’s marriage was diminishing, they both loved each other dearly. Abigail has been charged for witchcraft by the courts and has confessed to witchcraft. As she confessed, she gained an exponential amount of power in Salem. She uses that power to accuse others of witchcraft and the consequence of that is death, by hanging. Throughout the play, the lies and …show more content…

As this gossip spreads around, a man by the name of Reverend Parris, starts to investigate these witchcraft accusations. The girls all confess and gain power in the court. Because the rumors had been spread, Reverend Parris takes action and shuts down the girls’ witchcraft. The high courts question the girls asking if they have seen anybody else with the devil, the girls start naming names after names after names and cause a lot of innocent people to die if not confessed to witchcraft. This relates to the real world because as rumors are spread around a certain area, people can get in trouble with the authorities or their own personal lives. One example of that is how Arthur Miller was found guilty of being a Communist by mere rumors stating facts that shows he is a …show more content…

In the play, John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth were in a marriage that was falling apart. John Proctor was having an affair with their former maid, Abigail Williams, which is adultery and adultery is against the law in Salem. Though the play doesn’t directly state that Elizabeth had knowledge of the affair, evidence given has caused the audience to infer that she knew. Later in the play he later told Elizabeth that he was having an affair with their former maid. As Abigail rose to power in the play, John has cut all ties with Abigail concerning the affair. Because of this, Abigail becomes obsessed with John Proctor and wants to love him all to herself without anybody in the way. Abigail soon accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft to get closer John Proctor, who doesn’t really love her, and just wants some ass. The whole town of Salem does not know that John was having an affair with Abigail. As John realizes that Abigail has accused his wife of witchcraft, he then goes to the courts, who then asks him why would Abigail want to accuse his wife of witchcraft, he confesses that he has had an affair with her. Though he confessed to the worst marital mistake to ever commit, he was sentenced to death. He was not in favor of everybody knowing that he has committed adultery so it was a hard thing to confess to. It was either shame his family name, or confess and die for his family. There

Get Access