The Crucible Overview

From then onwards basic chit-chat such as the farm and the weather 'Pray now for a fair summer' fill their conversation. The little conversation that they manage to force feels stunted and false as both John and Elizabeth are being too polite - not as man and wife should behave. John manages to eat a whole meal but they only speak six or more times leaving much of the time to be filled by uncomfortable silence.

Elizabeth watches the reaction of her husband when he tastes her cooking, hoping for his approval and appreciation. John then lies and tells her it's 'well seasoned'. Though it is not just Elizabeth who is doing all the watching; John does his fair share too. From Arthur Miller's stage directions we hear how Elizabeth watches John with his back turned 'absorbing the night'. Then just as she stops and gets up to take his plate he watches her back. This is devastatingly tragic - the way in which two people who once deeply loved and respected each other and underneath still do, are now so distant and alone from one another.

Both are treading carefully and trying to mask their true feelings, until Elizabeth can't hold back any longer. The stage directions at this point show what turmoil she, Elizabeth, must be in '(she doesn't want friction, and yet she must)'.

The mention of Salem alone is a trigger to feel got at for John: "Why? I have no business in Salem", hence the defensive barrier he puts up straight away. To add to the already arising argument, Elizabeth mentions that Mary Warren went to court. This is like adding salt to the wound for John because he specifically asked Elizabeth to prevent Mary doing so: "You heard me forbid her go to Salem anymore!". Pathetically Elizabeth claims she could not do such a thing, warranting John to remind her that she, Elizabeth is the 'Mistress' of the house. John is very dismissive of Elizabeth and patronises her with his imprecision. It seems in this argument stage directions suggest the looks given say more than the words and that actions really do speak louder.

Elizabeth is her own worst enemy. She will not let the issue go and sadly hears the one thing she did not want to - John was alone with Abigail "she told me in the room alone.". Not only that but he lied when the subject was first mentioned. This revelation would have brought back her feelings of insecurity when John confessed adultery with Abigail. From then on Elizabeth becomes very passive "[she has suddenly lost all faith in him] 'Do as you wish, then.' " and adopts a 'less is more' approach. John can't bear it. He'd rather she scream and shout than her silences drive him crazy with their implications.

Elizabeth never actually voices any suspicion - John jumps to the conclusion that that is what she is thinking. This doesn't mean to say she wasn't - by all means she probably was!

Finally one of them drops the façade and speaks the truth. John tells his wife how she 'forgets nothing and forgives nothing'. How unloving she is "an everlasting funeral marches around your heart .". He feels he has done his time and she has punished him enough. Elizabeth tries to justify herself and her actions but John isn't having any of it anymore: he cuts her off whenever she tries to explain:

"ELIZABETH [now she would justify herself]: John, I am only -

PROCTOR: No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion."

He then goes on to state he rues the day he confessed his sin to her and reminds her she is not God herself 'Some dream I must have mistake you for God that day. But you're not, you're not and let you remember it!'. John reacted very extremely, which may be because Elizabeth caught him out. By turning it round to her being in the wrong John hopes this sin of his will be forgotten.

Sadly Elizabeth is still hurting seven months after his betrayal. She is in utter despair. The confession of John's left her feeling vulnerable and alone. Her suspicion of her husband is so strong because of her low self-esteem and insecurities. Abigail threatens her.

What is she to do? Everyday she is faced with the reminder that she wasn't enough for the love of her life but she has no choice - she cannot leave. Society had not yet accepted even the concept of divorce, especially Practising Catholics like themselves. People judged their neighbours and it mattered about keeping up appearances. There would be no way Elizabeth could have confided in a 'friend' about her husband's infidelity and there was absolutely no way she could walk out on her marriage - divorce was out of the question. Though it may be all dead and buried and laid to rest in John's mind, for Elizabeth the wounds are just as deep as the day they were made.