In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, many of the characters have different flaws in their personalities that impede their behavior and their decisions they have to make within the story. Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of John Proctor, is one of these characters, and one of the best examples in The Crucible of a character who has to deal with a moral weakness in order to succeed.
Elizabeth, pregnant with her fourth child, is overcome with jealousy when she learns that her husband is having an affair with their servant (who Elizabeth later fired), Abagail. John tries to hide this from his wife but the secret is soon discovered. Elizabeth, a very religious and tranquil character, breaks out of her mold, because the news angers her. She becomes jealous of Abagail, but more importantly, she becomes very belligerent in her relationship with John, always demanding an answer for everything, which eventually pushes her husband over the edge.
Her flaws in The Crucible are few but the few flaws she does possess affect her in huge ways. Mentioned already are her jealousy and envy towards Abagail, and her tendency to become aggressive and demanding of her own husband. But another flaw that isn't seen right away is her inability to express her feelings to the people she loves most. John Proctor was a passionate man, and probably felt somewhat rejected by his wife, who failed to live up to his so-called standards. After his affair with Abagail, he was overcome with guilt, because he knew all the while that what he was doing was wrong, and that sooner or later, it would catch up with him and he would have to face the repercussions of his actions.
When Abagail realized that Elizabeth knew what had gone on between her and John, she also becomes jealous, because she realizes Elizabeth is now back in the picture. After learning that John has no feelings for Abagail, and is regretful of the whole situation, she decides to come back with a vengeance.
In The Crucible, John Proctor and John Hale are the protagonists. ... John later says to Elizabeth that "my honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man. ... It is also his greatest weakness, for it leads him into his liaison with Abigail. ... Yet he convinces people to lie, which is against his religion and considered a moral sin. ... In the play, The Crucible, the protagonists are John Proctor and John Hale. ...
E.g., having natural weaknesses; Proctor's big weakness at the beginning is Abigail and realising that his individual needs might have to be sacrificed for the good and welfare of everyone. ... Proctor's affair with Abigail begins to make him re-think his moral values and spiritual beliefs throughout the course of the play. ... The court's weakness is that they let people stand up for what was morally and ethically correct but still executed them, along with the majority of characters in the play, including John Proctor. ... It suggests within context that he has we...
This change in age and increase in beauty allows Miller then to manufacture a love triangle into the story involving Abigail, John Proctor and Goody Proctor. ... She uses the moral right to manipulate, protect herself and to get what she wants in side the town of Salem. ... She does this whenever she sees or senses the opposition's weakness or vulnerability. This can be found when Abigail sense a weakness in Hale she pretends to notice a bird above them in the rafters of the room and screams " I will no! ... Because Abigail is so beautiful she is able to accuse Mary Warren and Elizab...
He makes the audience face fault, weakness, and ignorance; subjects we would typical hide from. ... Crucible also means a harsh trial or examination. John Proctor's integrity was surely investigated. ... Miller was fined and given a thirty day s pended jail sentence because he spoke out like John Proctor in The Crucible (Griffin 7). ... The Crucible has a narrator, a voice not a character, that tells us about the characters and the action and helps us to understand the moral implications. ...
