We see Elizabeth’s honesty and openness when she is arrested over Mary’s poppet, “Why the girl is murder! She must be ripped out of the world!” (p.62). She also bravely keeps up a dignified appearance as she is led away, “(. . . fighting her weeping) . . . I think I must go with them . . . I will fear nothing” (pp.63,64).
We see Elizabeth, as a very cold woman towards John, her husband, and it seems that she knows what she is doing yet, doesn’t care. Her coldness is shown in the way she talks and also in the stage directions, “[with a certain disappointment] . . . [hurt, and very coldly]: Good then let you think on it” (pp.42, 44). She has good reason to act this way towards John; his affair with Abigail hurt her very much and he has not proven to her that he no longer feels anything for Abigail. This is seen when he refuses to go to the court officials and denounce Abigail instead, he feels he should “ . . . think on it” (p.45).
However, we see Elizabeth’s true strength and belief in her religion when she gains an insight in to the real character of John. She learns the extent of his courage and truthfulness, when he refuses to sign his name to a lie, “That speak goodness in you [and] whatever you will do, it is a good man does it” (p.109). In realising John’s true character Elizabeth also gains an insight in to herself. No longer can she, “ . . .judge . . . John” (p.109), as she did in Act Two. She realises that “It were a cold house [she] kept!” (p.110), and it was this, that ultimately lead John to look elsewhere. All of this shows that she has learnt something about herself.
Reverend John Hale is another character who gains an insight into himself and others throughout the play. Hale thinks he is a witch-hunter; “nearing forty, a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual” 9p.26) he is proud of his knowledge and expertise. He believes he holds the answers to many questions or fears concerning witchcraft, which may be troubling the ‘ simple’ people of Salem, “He appears loaded down with half a dozen heavy books . . . they are weighted with authority” (p.30). He takes the opportunity straight away to show off his skills by exhorting Tituba and the girls to confess and denounce others, to save themselves. “Who come to you with the devil” he asks Tituba.
At the beginning of the play, Hale goes along with the law and the Judges he thinks that what is going on is right. Yet, by Act Two Hale is less secure in his beliefs, “he is different now drawn a little and there is a quality of deference, even of quilt, about his manner now” (p.52). His acceptance of the law changes; he starts to make his own enquires about the people who have been accused of witchcraft, which suggests he is uneasy.
By Act Four he changes so much so that he tells everyone to stop. He pleads with Elizabeth to beg Proctor to save himself.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (p.106)
He even takes the risk of telling the judges to stop. He pleads with Danforth to hold the proceedings.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(p.104).
This all tells us that Hale has gained an insight into himself and learnt that he” came into this village like a bridegroom . . . bearing gifts of high religion; and what [he] touched with [his] bright confidence, it died . . .” (p.106). Hale realised it took a weak man to do what he hid.
John Proctor also gains an insight into himself and others through the course of the play. John Proctor is “ . . . a farmer in his middle thirties” (p.16). He tries to be a decent husband and citizen but, as we soon find out, he has had an affair with Abigail Williams while she was working on his farm, “ . . . you clutched my book behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! . . .”(p.18). He doesn’t attend church as often as he should, “I do not think I saw you at Sabbath meeting since snow flew”(p.23).
John Proctor is a courageous man. This is shown in his accusations of Parris despite his failings, not being a good priest, “ . . . you hardly ever mention God any more”(p.23). His courage is also shown when he suffers the public shame of confessing to his adultery with Abigail, “(trembling, his life collapsing about him) . . . I have known her, sir . . . she used to serve me in my house . . . I thought of her softly”(pp.88, 89), and it is here we see the insight John has gained into himself. He has realised that his wife’s life and the lives of his friends are more important than saving his good name. We see John’s true insight into himself and others in Act Four when he refuses sign to the testimony in order to save his name. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!”(p.115).
John Proctor learns that Elizabeth is a courageous woman and she’s not as cold as he thought. His love is shown in Act three when he says, “my wife doesn’t lie”. Then again, in Act Four when Elizabeth says to John, “I cannot judge you, John”(p.109, this shows that she is not as cold as she used to be.
Some characters change and come out of the Crucible pure yet others do not. Elizabeth, John and Hale all change throughout the play; they all gain an insight into themselves and others.
