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Who Is Elizabeth Proctor's Loyalty In The Crucible

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Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of John Proctor, finds out that her husband has an affair with Abigail Williams, her servant. Like every other woman, she couldn’t stand it and fired Abigail Williams. Suspicion still rests in her mind, but she’s still willing to be loyal to her husband. She lies to Danforth that her husband is not a lecher, when asked, to keep his name in the society. Even though she lied, she doesn’t want her family to lie even if it costs their life. She doesn’t force her husband to confess when found guilty of being involved in witchcraft, even if it’s going to save his life. She wants her husband to die with a clear conscience and good name than convincing him to live. Elizabeth Proctor, a woman of principles, never did and …show more content…

Just like everyone else, she wants to become a good Christian woman to get respect in society. She supports her husband through thick and thin because it is a part of being a good Christian woman. Her loyalty can be seen many times during the book. When Reverend Hale comes and shows his suspicion toward them she clearly denies him by saying, “But sure we never loved the Devil here.” (Miller 63). She does whatever she can to prove that he is a pious man. Even in court, she testifies twice that her husband is not a bad man by saying, “My husband is a good and righteous man. He is never drunk as some are, not wastin’ his time at the shovelboard, but always at his work.” (Miller 104-105) and clearly saying “no sir” (Miller 105) when she was being asked by Danforth that whether or not her husband was a lecher. During this time, in Puritan society, she is a great example of a good Christian woman, because of her loyalty toward her …show more content…

John Proctor’s affair with Abigail Williams leaves Elizabeth with great suspicion even when she fires Abigail. She confesses that to John, “Suspicion kissed you when I did” (Miller 127). Her confidence in John shatters away. She tries to restore it with some hope by asking him, “Go and tell her she’s a whore. Whatever promise she may sense – break it John, break it” (Miller 59). Unlikely, John crumbles her trust by thinking that she doesn’t want to believe him. She demands his loyalty because she fulfilled his demand of loyalty. She’s stuck in this relationship with distrust from which she cannot back away because of her love for John and her children. She gets tired of this and bursts out, “Then let you not earn it” (Miller 51) when John said he’ll not have her suspicion anymore. Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of a person who deceived her, is surrounded by the walls of suspicion not just because of the deceiver but also because of her own sensitive

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