‘She can barely speak for embarrassment and fear’
After the departure of Mary, John is then left alone with Abigail and Miller presents us with a scene full of hurt, desire and tension. Abigail is a very useful character when analysing John’s morals. She is very manipulative and tests his will power to reject her. John, at first, is not aware of Abigail’s determination to win his love. He says impulsively some things that Abigail interprets in her own, yet wrong, way. She then seems very confident about what she is saying and feels she is being lead on.
Proctor: “Ah, you’re wicked yet, aren’t y’! (A thrill of expectant laughter escapes her, and she dares come closer, feverishly looking in his eyes)”
The stage directions at this point are very important, as they are essential in the understanding of how Abigail is feeling. After this move of Abigail’s, John realises that she is serious and is still holding hope for him. He decides to put this right by making it quite clear to her that he is not willing to continue their relationship.
Proctor: “Abby I may think of you softly from time to time but I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again.”
This shows that Proctor has learnt from his mistakes and although he is tempted, he is not willing to commit the same sin again. This is quite extreme for him to state and shows that he is serious about what he is saying. It is also evident from the stage directions that John is ‘(angered-at himself as well).’ This shows that he has admitted to himself that he was wrong and now he is feeling guilty and angry with himself for all the trouble he has caused in his relationship with Elizabeth.
The stage directions are very powerful in this extract as they show the characters emotions and they explain the situation well. This extract shows a very important part of John Proctor’s moral journey as he manages to resist Abigail’s advances. It must have taken a lot for him to do this, as it would be hard both mentally and physically for him. This shows how his character is starting to develop as he has learnt from previous experiences and is beginning to face and correct his sins rather than just ignoring them.
The next extract I will be examining is in the early parts of Act two. This is set eight days on from the last scene and there is a very different atmosphere. Instead of passion and heat, this scene is awkward and tense. It shows how Proctor is not being honest with his wife, Elizabeth, and instead there is a lot of pretence. This is an important time in Proctors moral journey as it shows us how he is coping with his relationship with Elizabeth. It is evident that Proctor is still in denial and is not facing up to his actions. He doesn’t realise that the lies and secrets he is keeping will affect so badly what happen in future events.
At the beginning of this Act, Miller sets the scene effectively using stage directions. He describes the room as ‘low, dark, and rather long living-room of the time’. This immediately changes our mood and calms us down in anticipation of a more sombre and serious scene.
In this scene dialogue, as well as stage directions, play a very important part in portraying the characters feelings. The stage directions especially help us to interpret how certain lines should be said (as this is a play) and how characters should act.
Proctor is not truthful to Elizabeth in this scene. He firstly lies about his interview with Abigail as he feels she won’t understand. He tells her that he has been working on the farm in hope that he will sympathise with him. This is part of his moral journey as it shows he is still in denial and feels that time will sort his problems out. He is prolonging the consequences of his actions that he knows one day he’ll have to face.
Proctor is hiding his feelings from Elizabeth. He wants to be seen as happy but really, he is not. We can see this from Millers dialogue and stage directions. Proctor praises Elizabeth’s soup:
Proctor: “It’s well seasoned”
However, as the audience, we know that this is a lie. This is as the stage directions tell us that when Proctor had previously tasted the soup without Elizabeth knowing, he ‘is not quite pleased’ and so he ‘ takes a pinch of salt and drops it in the pot’. After, when she returns ‘He swings the pot back into the fireplace’. This shows how he obviously didn’t want her to know that he wasn’t satisfied with her seasoning as he fears it would hurt her feelings and cause more tension between them. Throughout this extract Proctor falsely compliment’s her but what he says is not from the heart and therefore is not very convincing. However, although the audience knows what he is really feeling, Elizabeth doesn’t and is pleased with his praise.
Elizabeth: “(blushing with pleasure): I took great care.”
Proctor then says for the first time, his real feelings.
Proctor: “I mean to please you, Elizabeth.”
Next, Miller uses a silence to create an atmosphere. It intensifies the tension and apprehension of what may happen next.
Elizabeth:”(it is hard to say): I know it John.
(He gets up, goes to her, kisses her. She receives it. With a certain disappointment, he returns to the table.)”
Proctor is not realising the pain he is causing Elizabeth. He thinks she can not tell that he is keeping things from him and that she will forgive him without an explanation or apology. Miller makes it quite clear that they aren’t close in the stage directions.
Miller’s Script: ‘Her back is turned to him. He turns to her and watches her. A sense of their separation rises.’
The last extract I will be studying is in the latter part of Act four where John Proctor’s moral journey is concluded. This act is centred around Proctor’s decision on whether to lie and save his life, or to be honest and die. This is the hardest test he has to face throughout the whole play. Proctor, in this scene, is in turmoil. He is very confused and doesn’t know which way to turn.
He discusses with Elizabeth about confessing to the court to save his life. His is obviously scared of dying and forms many excuses why he may as well tell a lie rather than die knowing he has been honest. He still feels guilty about his affair with Abigail and has not forgiven himself for this yet. For this sin, he still sees himself as a bad man. He therefore seems to think that as he will be going to hell anyway for his previous sin, he doesn’t seem to think that this will ever be forgiven however honest he is now.
Proctor: “...my honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothings spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before.”
Elizabeth however disagrees with what he is trying to do, as she knows that he is a good man and wants him to do what is right. It is clear that Proctor wants to tell the truth as to lie would be going against his own morals, he is just scared and need reassurance that he would be doing the right thing. Before he makes this decision, he feels he needs Elizabeth’s forgiveness. However, Elizabeth tells him
“ John, it would come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself.”
This means that John needs to be at peace with himself and realise that people make mistakes but as long as he is truly sorry for his sins, they can be forgiven.
As well as dialogue, Miller uses stage directions to great effect in this extract. As very short phrases are used in the dialogue, the stage directions help us understand the characters’ feelings by presenting us with an idea of their body language. The following shows how effectively they have been used to express Proctors feelings.
Miller’s Script: “He stands as though in physical pain, slowly rising to his feet with the great immortal longing to find his answer. It is difficult to say, and she is on the verge of tears). Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do it is a good man does it.”
This is powerful as it shows how Elizabeth will support him and although it is hard for her, believes he should die, as she knows him to be a good man. She doesn’t directly say this though as she knows it has to be his decision as it is his conscience and his soul.
Proctor still finds the thought of death too petrifying and so when Hathorne enters the room, he suddenly declares:
“I want my life.”
He signs the paper confessing to witchcraft but then immediately snatches the paper back before Danforth can get his hands on it. He finds himself unable to blacken the names of his children, but most importantly lie to himself and to God. He realises that he would not be able to live with himself if he were to lie as this goes against his own visions of descent conduct. His name is everything to him and he is not willing to sign it away to a lie.
Proctor: “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”
He knows that without his soul or name, there is no point in him living. He then tears the piece of paper up and for the first time sees some goodness in himself.
Proctor: “...I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.”
This is a turning point in the play as Proctor has done what he feels is right and therefore is at peace with himself. He will now be able to die knowing he has been true and has done what was morally right.
To end the play, Elizabeth cries: “He have his goodness now.”
John Proctor, who at first denied his sins and was scared of facing their consequences, has learnt to accept his guilt and be true to himself and those around him. This has meant he has become a proud and honourable man-the hero of the play. His final actions are indisputably noble, and his previous sins now seem irrelevant.
To end this play, Miller once again uses stage directions. He effectively uses the sun to symbolise the purity of his soul that will now be accepted in heaven.