Look closely at the meeting between john proctor and Elizabeth proctor in the prison in act 4. In what ways does it show their relationship to have changed from earlier in the play? How does Miller make this episode both moving and tragic?

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Look closely at the meeting between john proctor and Elizabeth proctor in the prison in act 4. In what ways does it show their relationship to have changed from earlier in the play? How does Miller make this episode both moving and tragic?

Miller saw a connection between the Salem witch trials in the 17th century, and the McCarthy trials of the 1950’s. What he wrote about was based on theory, which is linked to the 1950’s trials. Miller is using the Salem witch trials to criticise the American society. He talks about Proctors tragedy to show how culture and belief can ruin innocent lives.

In act 2 John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor’s relationship develops. At first John takes extra care to make sure that he doesn’t say anything other than a compliment to Elizabeth. When John enters the house he tastes the food that is cooking, isn’t happy with it so adds some salt. However when Elizabeth enters the room and starts to serve the food for him, he tastes it and says, “It’s well seasoned”. This shows how desperate he is to please her. When she hears the compliment she blushes with pleasure and it is like she is trying to get compliments from him to prove that she is better than Abigail. When John kisses Elizabeth she receives it and doesn’t kiss him back. This shows how distant they are, a normal husband and wife would have been warmer to each other and if a wife’s husband had said something nice they would have been happier and thankful.  When Elizabeth is telling John to go to Salem to tell the court about Abigail, she is hurt because he says he will think on it. This is because she thinks that he still has feelings for Abigail, which is why he wont tell on her. John gets angry at her “I know I cannot keep it. I say I will think on it!”. Their conversation gets more like an argument after Elizabeth says, “John if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not.” John is fed up of being judged by Elizabeth. The relationship is very distant and this is shown when they are both arguing and judging. Mr Hale makes an unexpected visit to the Proctor’s house to ask some questions. A question was asked to John for him to recite the Ten Commandments. He manages to recite nine and is stuck on adultery. It is here that Elizabeth steps in to help him. John then says, “Between the two of us we do know them all.” This sentence shows that they have come together because they are saying that together they know the Ten Commandments instead of individually knowing them. This scene brings John and Elizabeth together a bit, as John needed Elizabeth to help him and she did. It is the first time that their relationship shows closeness in the play.

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However he shows his love for Elizabeth again when at the end of this scene she is taken away in chains and he cries “I will fall like an ocean on the court” This showing that he will not give up until Elizabeth is out from jail and not being accused. When he says that he will fall on the court like an ocean it denotes that he will fight the court. The word ocean when he used it in that sentence connotes him being huge like an ocean and powerful. He is going to crush the court. Earlier ...

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