Compare and Contrast the Exchange between Proctor and Abigail in Act 1 with the Scene between Elizabeth and Proctor in Act 2

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Compare and Contrast the Exchange between Proctor and Abigail in Act 1 with the Scene between Elizabeth and Proctor in Act 2

In “The Crucible” Miller presents the exchanges as interlinked and as having subtle differences.

During the two exchanges Miller creates semantic fields using temperature as the subject. In Act 1 this field focuses on heat to describe the relationship between John Proctor and Abigail. Within the exchange Abigail uses this imagery of heat frequently “I have a sense for heat” and “burning in your loneliness”. The words “heat” and “burning” create the semantic field and are used to portray the passion and lust that caused the affair. This use of heat also presents their relationship as alive as “heat” is immediately linked to fire through the use of the word “burning”. This causes their relationship to be seen as intense and bright like flame in a fire. The images of heat are immediately linked to their affair when Abigail says how he “sweated like a stallion”. This, “sweated”, is caused by their desire which is presented by heat during the scene. Miller uses this semantic field to present the relationship between the two characters as uncontrolled and based on carnal desire and lust rather than a relationship based on love which would last. Miller goes further to emphasise this as Abigail says “You are no wintry man”. This confirms that their relationship is based on “heat” as she even goes as far as to say that no coldness or even common sense is present within John when he is with her. This defines their relationship completely as she denies that coldness exists within them.

In complete contrast to the semantic field of heat in Act 1, during the exchange between Elizabeth and Proctor the semantic field revolves around the cold. Miller uses this to present their relationship as controlled and strained. Elizabeth and Proctor’s relationship has been affected badly by the affair and the trust between the two is lost.  John says how “it is winter in here yet.” The word “winter” affirms the feelings that the relationship is cold and now they are distant from one another. The use of “winter” also makes the audience feel as though, like nature in winter, the relationship between the two is dead. This is contrasting to the exchange in Act 1 as their relationship is portrayed like a fire which is alive and burns brightly and intensely. This dead atmosphere continues to grow as Proctor states how a “funeral marches round your heart.” The word “funeral” immediately conjures the images of death and the audience is alerted more prominently to the theme of death that surrounds their relationship. The mention of a “funeral” also stretches further to bring an element of sadness and despair to their relationship. This adds to the themes of cold and dead. Miller goes further to present their relationship as like ice. Proctor describes Elizabeth’s judgement as “your justice would freeze beer!”. This links to the semantic field of the cold and presents their relationship as hard and unyielding as ice. The use of the exclamation mark makes the feeling of cold more definite and pronounced.

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During both exchanges the atmosphere is presented as tense due to the affair which Proctor had with Abigail. In the scene with Elizabeth and Proctor it is prominent in the way they interact with one another and how the pace and volume begin to increase as the scene progresses. At the very beginning of the scene John is shown to be tampering with the stew Elizabeth has produced, “takes a pinch of salt, and drops it into the pot”, however, Elizabeth is not aware of this. Proctor does not want to offend Elizabeth or make their relationship more awkward so ...

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