Elizabeth Proctor I think will turn out to be one of the major characters in The Crucible. There's evidence in her being a major character in the fact that she is basically Abigail Williams's enemy. Because Abigail is one of the main characters in the story, Elizabeth being her rival makes her an important part of the plot. As a strong woman in a historical era, she also is definitely a round character. She's not the average stereotypical housewife, but a strong, intelligent woman who any girl could look up to.
Elizabeth has a lot to deal with in her life. She's a mother, a wife, and a victim of adultery. After confronting her husband, John, about his cheating ways, they are now stuck in the awkwardness of getting back to where they were before. Abigail just happened to be the girl we cheated with, and that's what makes her hate Elizabeth so much. Abby's want for John impairs her judgement on an innocent woman, and causes her to blame Elizabeth for witchcraft. Of course the town and judges believe the girl, since of course she's running the show, and they take Elizabeth to jail until the trial continues. This whole ordeal greatly plays a part in her strength. She goes quietly, despite her husband's commands to make her stay, and hopes her cooperation will aid in her freedom later. She is a good Christian woman who never participated in witchcraft and although she is innocent, she's now about to be pushed even farther in court. If that's not an example of strength, then I don't know what is.
Elizabeth is involved with a few different types of conflict. The main one is man vs. himself. I think she struggles with knowing how to deal with John. An example of this is found on page 192 of the play. It says:
Elizabeth: Aye, it is. (There is a pause. She is watching him from the table as he stands there absorbing the night. It is as though she would speak but cannot. Instead, now, she takes up his plate and glass and fork and goes with them to the basin. Her back is turned to him. He turns to her and watches her. A sense of their separation rises.)
Proctor: I think you're sad again. Are you?
Elizabeth: (she doesn't want friction, and yet she must).
This shows her internal struggle to decide the best words to say to her husband. It's hard for her to know how she feels about his mistake, and if she should forgive him and trust him or not. It's a tough situation to go about and she doesn't want to approach it wrong.
The other conflicts illustrated in Elizabeth's life are man vs. man and also man vs. fate. Elizabeth did not choose to be cheated on by her husband. There was nothing she could do about that. This is an example of fate. The fact that the girl he cheated with happened to be Abigail supports this as well. Abigail is the minister's niece, which automatically makes her a well respected person in the town, which causes everyone to believe everything she says. So when she blames Proctor's wife for being a witch, naturally no one even blinks an eye or thinks of it logically. They just arrest her. Abigail's attack on an innocent woman whom she simply doesn't like is what makes this situation man vs. man.
Elizabeth Proctor is so far I think an important character in this play. I'm interested to see how the events play out in the rest of the story.
Elizabeth is certainly a major character in the story, and her rivalry against Abby makes them foils for one another. That's something that you could explore in your analysis.
ReplyDeleteGood analysis of what she goes through in the play. Also, you do good in bringing in direct support from the play. 9/10