The CrucibleAct 2 p51-55

The discomfort in their relationship shows when Proctor kisses Elizabeth. She receives it but does not return it. She is slightly disappointed because she feels that he is trying to hard to please her, she is thinking that one kiss won’t just make her forgive him. She can’t just simply forgive and forget.

‘Cider?’ Procter then requests. Elizabeth then realises she had forgot and feels slightly guilty, maybe this is because she is annoyed with herself for forgetting, she is trying so hard to please him. Procter then suggests that Elizabeth bring some flowers into the house and again she goes back to ‘I forgot.’ Slightly ashamed of herself. Proctor then says they should go for a walk on Sunday across the farm, he is trying to mend the damage done to Elizabeth by the affair. He feels things are looking up in the relationship and that his suggestion was good because it will mean that they can spend some time with each other. This is why the stage directions say that he has a good feeling after he says this. He is pleased with himself because he feels is making an effort to fix his marriage also.

 Elizabeth collects up his plate and goes to the kitchen, turns her back to him without saying a word. You get a sense of the separation in their relationship at this point in the scene. I think you’re sad again Procter asks. Again trying to fix the relationship. Elizabeth clearly doesn’t want to start arguing again and cause more friction but she still goes back to complaining about how late proctor was coming home and that she thought he had gone to Salem. Pushing on the possibility that he could have been spending time with Marry Warren. ‘I have no business in Salem.’ He then replies. Re-assuring her that he is not still seeing Marry Warren. Elizabeth says that Marry Warren was in Salem that day, this angers Procter as he forbid that she went there, this is partly so that he can assure Elizabeth that he is not still seeing Marry Warren behind her back whilst she is at home. ‘You’re the mistress her, not Marry Warren.’ Proctor says, again confirming and assuring that Elizabeth is the only woman he wants. I feel that Elizabeth has lost her self confidence because of Marry Warren, she feels less of a women I know this because she says ‘she frightened all my strength away.’ Proctor then says ‘how may that mouse frighten you.’ He uses the word mouse to describe Marry Warren to say that she is nothing to be scared off and it shouldn’t have scared her. Elizabeth says that Marry Warren disobeyed what she had said. This distresses proctor as he replies in amazement.