Strenghts and Weaknesses in The Crucible
Both John and Elizabeth have their strengths and their weaknesses. John acknowledges that what he did (the affair) was wrong, is sorry, and has tried to amend the situation, he has tried to make it up to Elizabeth. His weakness was having the affair in the first place. Elizabeth on the other hand, her weaknesses are not being "womanly" enough for John; being cold towards him; still hounding and persecuting him about it; and not being able to forgive him even though he had repeatedly apologised to her. On p45, Proctor goes on to say, to Elizabeth, "You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'". John had really tried to appease Elizabeth, he'd "tiptoed" around the house ever since Abigail left. "He didn't move from one place to another without thinking how to please her" and still she couldn't let go. John compared his marriage to a court, there is a sort of trial going on in their marriage. You can compare their marriage to a real courtroom. John, the accused, has been found guilty of adultery. He broke the law; one of the 10 comm
I do sympathise with Elizabeth, what it must be for your beloved husband to cheat on you, especially in those times when it wasn't as common as today and with someone who was basically still a child and when it would bring such disgrace to someone as dignified as her, I could barely imagine. She doesn't respond to her husband therefore, leaving him with a "certain disappointment". Act two establishes Elizabeth as a morally upright woman, respectable and dignifies, rendered "slightly" frigid and distant/ She's made her home into a repressive atmosphere where she's continuously punishing John. When John recites the 10 commandments; probably motivated by guilt, forgets (maybe willingly) to forget the one against adultery, Elizabeth offers him a sharp reminder. "(With solemn warning)" to Elizabeth, "You will not judge me more Elizabeth" He feels he has done his time, tiptoeing round the house for 7 months, doing everything he can to make it up to Elizabeth. He tells Elizabeth to "look to your own improvement" before he starts blaming him again. John repented but there's o sense of catharsis in his marriage of the ability to be fully forgiven. He was sick and tired of the battering the persecutor was doing, "(his anger rising) For a moment I say". Elizabeth, the persecutor, would use any chance she got to fire at him and remind him of his flaw. John is sick and tired of all the suspicion, even after his confession and sentence. There's an atmosphere of guilt in their home, which mirrors the similar conditions in their community. Elizabeth is a very prim and proper lady and therefore, finds it hard to show affection- Johns' defence. . John is a respected member of the community, honest and hard working.
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