Discuss Miller(TM)s portrayal of John Procter(TM)s relationship with Abigail and Elizabeth with particular reference to acts one and two of The Crucible.(TM)

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Discuss Miller’s portrayal of John Procter’s relationship with Abigail and Elizabeth with particular reference to acts one and two of ‘The Crucible.’

        ‘The Crucible,’ was set in 1692 in a Puritan society and religion was vital to every day to day life in Salem. John Proctor has two very different relationships, one with his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, and one with a young seventeen year old girl, Abigail. As committing adultery is one of the Ten Commandments, John and Abigail committed a serious crime in the eyes of that society. Their relationship is a very passionate one in contrast to Proctor’s and Elizabeth’s relationship which is very forced in this act.

        One of the ways that Miller portrays the different relationships is through the language between John and Abigail shows anger, heat and passion, for example when Abigail mentions the fact that he was, ‘sweating like a stallion,’ whenever she was near him. This shows us that even though there is anger in the relationship, the passion is still there and there definitely was a connection between them even if there is not one now. They echo each others words on various occasions in the play. The echoing of one another’s words occurs more than once, John says, ‘hope,’ then Abigail echoes him. John says, ‘wild,’ then Abigail echoes him once again. This works the other way round as well when Abigail says, ‘looking,’ and John echoes her saying, ‘looked.’ This shows the connection and strong bond that they still have between one another and it echoes the relationship that they once had. They display familiarity when John calls her, ‘Abigail,’ and vice versa, but John also calls Abigail, ‘child.’ This language reminds us that it was very inappropriate behaviour of that time, reminds her of her place in society, and how their relationship cannot work.

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        The language between John and his wife, Elizabeth, is very different in act two. They use very formal language, referring to each other as, ‘Elizabeth,’ and, ‘John,’ whereas John and Abigail referrer to each other as, ‘you ’and, ‘you’re.’ John and Elizabeth are not comfortable with each other and don’t seem to connect or have any heat and passion in any way. The conversation here seems very forced and often John is asking her questions, ‘are you well today?’ and she is answering very short, ‘I am.’ This is evidence for the friction in the relationship and shows lack of ...

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