Elizebeth Proctor Essay, Research Paper
One character that changes throughout The Crucible during the course of the play is Elizabeth Proctor. At the beginning of the play she was cold and bitter towards her husband. After she was accused of being a witch by Abigail, and becoming pregnant, she had a new attitude. She became forgiving and understanding towards her husband. She wanted forgiveness for keeping a cold house.
In the beginning of the play Elizabeth is distrustful, unforgiving, judging and cold against her husband John Proctor. She feels unloved and somewhat neglected. ? Proctor: Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not.? ?Elizabeth: I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought of you but a good man, John only somewhat bewildered. ? ?Proctor: Oh, Elizabeth your justice would freeze beer.? (2,852) This shows how Elizabeth is still cold towards her husband. He feels that she still has forgave him. She feels that she does not judge him but his conscious judges him. She also quotes ?I think you be somewhat ashamed for I am there and she is so close.?(2,855) She feels as if he would rather be with Abigail than with her .This makes her feel unloved and therefore become even colder towards him. John wants to be forgiven but Elizabeth just cant forget so therefore she couldn?t forgive him of his actions.
Towards the end of the story Elizabeth is more proud and forgiving of her husband. She respected any decision that he made. She says ?John it came to naught that I should forgive you, if you?ll not forgive yourself. It is not my soul, John, it is yours. Only be sure of this ,for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it . I have read my heart this three month, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.?(4,883) She feels first of all that she should forgive him even if he does not forgive himself. She feels whatever decision he makes she will support him. She feels she has sinned herself for keeping a cold house. She just wants to be forgiven. She also says ?He has his goodness now. God forbid that I take that away from him.? (4,887)She feels that he has his pride now that she forgiven him and respected his decision of killing himself. She respects him for tearing up his confession. In the end when she said ?he has his goodness? which basically says that everything is alright.
In conclusion Elizabeth was cold and unforgiving in the beginning towards her husband ,but towards the end she changed. Throughout the story she became understanding and forgiving. She asked him for his forgiveness for keeping a cold house and also forgave him for his sins.