His relationship with Elizabeth also seems to be under strain. The beginning of Act two shows very abrupt and civil conversation between man and wife, and it seems that John Proctor is always trying to please Elizabeth.
“If the crop is good I’ll buy George Jacob’s heifer. How would that please you?”
He then goes on to say, “I only mean to please you Elizabeth”, and this implies a rather tense relationship. When he goes to kiss her, she “receives it” to his utter-most disappointment, and it is apparent to the audience that although they are married, there is an awkward sense of separation between them.
The dawn before John Proctor’s death shows Hale, who previously quit the court return, as he believed that if Elizabeth saw John before he died, then perhaps she could persuade him to change his mind and save himself. When John sees Elizabeth their true love for each other is shown for the first time. Elizabeth tells John that Giles was dead and that Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey had still refused to admit falsely. John is insecure and unsure of what to do.
“I have been thinking I would confess to them, Elizabeth. What say you? If I gave them that?”
Elizabeth replies “I cannot judge you John”.
Perplexed still, we get the impression that John Proctor wants his life but cannot stand having a guilty conscience. Elizabeth perhaps adds to his puzzlement, “I want you living John. That’s sure”. This is the first real emotion we have seen between them in the play. Elizabeth’s words finally persuades John to save himself, and as he confess’ Rebecca Nurse is brought in. Her presence makes John ashamed and guilty, especially when asked “Did you ever see Rebecca Nurse with the devil?” He is under immense pressure and when at last he is asked for his signed testimony we realise another factor as to why he took the ultimate sacrifice.
“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I live and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name!”
The presence of Rebecca Nurse, a saint in his eyes, the importance of his name are all important factors as to why John Proctor gives up his life, but he also realises he will die a good man. It is the one good thing he can do for Elizabeth after all the pain he has caused her. There is a dignity in what he is doing for himself, Elizabeth and his own community. He is an important figure in his society and by standing up to the corruption and being brave enough he is truly doing the right thing but not just for himself. The last act shows John proctor’s emotions and his own physical bodily actions ‘in agony’, but when he tears up his false testimony his can stand up straight for the first time. His death will also bring redemption from his own guilt. He has made a statement as to how un-just and corrupt their justice system was, and by leaving behind a world of prosecution and pragmatism he has become a man of principle.
In act four, John Proctor decides to give up his own life rather than confess to being with the devil falsely. We encounter Proctor as a different character, a martyr, almost Christ like. Procter wavers, and at one stage he wants his life, “I will have my life”, but at the last minute he tears up his confession to save his integrity.
Arthur Miller builds up the tension in the last act by using the interaction of characters, language and stage directions. Arthur Miller reveals a character’s innermost thoughts and feelings.
In comparison to Act two, when Elizabeth and John Proctor’s conversation had been confrontational and short plagued by the crime John had committed, in the last act when they meet for the final time, they act truly in love and this is portrayed by the stage directions given to the actors. John is described to be ‘weak of body’, but seems to be stronger here than at any other time in the play.
Arthur Miller uses the interaction of the characters to create tension by showing the strain on John Proctor and Elizabeth’s relationship. Arthur Miller describes John as ‘another man’, he is ‘filthy, his eyes misty as though webs had overgrown them’, quite contrary to when John Proctor is first introduced in act one. The audience can feel the tension by his change of character and the ‘agony’ he is in.
When Elizabeth and John Proctor see each other, the stage directions are: “it is as though they stood in a spinning world”, the feeling was “beyond sorrow, above it”. This creates a sorrowful scene and makes tension because it sets a very emotional and sad feeling.
The stage directions are all emotional and physical demands for the actors playing the roles, which therefore creates dramatic tension. John Proctor is ‘in agony’ and ‘stands as though in physical pain’. There is true emotion between the characters, they are becoming more desperate, and the tension is slowly building up. John Proctor keeps talking to God, as if to find an answer, “what is John Proctor?” He is a broken man and the audience do not know which route he will take. ‘Proctor’s feelings for his wife are visibly affected’, Arthur Miller creates tension as the audience can see the character’s innermost thoughts and feelings. The tension is building and building, and throughout the last act Arthur Miller uses drum crashes to symbolise the tension and also to the dramatic climax – Proctor’s decision to die for his cause.
As John Proctor tears up his testimony, he then lifts his wife both physically and mentally, and ‘kisses her with great passion’. Parris shouts to Elizabeth “Go to him!” and the audience will still feel tension as they do not know if it is the end until the very last line.
“He have his goodness now. God Forbid I take it from him!”
Throughout the play, the audience have a connection with John Proctor. We see the strain he and his wife feel, the way lies and deceit are building up in their usually quiet village, the actions of a normally religious man all leading up to a terrifying climax and eventually the final sacrifice John Proctor takes to save his community. The audience will almost definitely feel sympathy for John Proctor, as they see him as a person mixed up in desire but also obviously sorry for what he has done. One of the main reasons for the audiences’ compassion is throughout the final act we see that although John Proctor has committed an unpardonable sin against his wife, you can see that when they meet for the final time, Elizabeth has finally forgiven him and their true love shines through for the first time.
The play was filled with various different emotions, sins, politics, forgiveness and morals that altogether made it very real, and the fact that it was based upon genuine proceedings also made it very convincing. I thought the play was a real insight to what religion mixed with power can do to people, and what some of the consequences may entail. I enjoyed ‘The Crucible’ especially because it did not have a predictable ending and Arthur Miller keeps the audience guessing the over all conclusion until the very end of the play. I also enjoyed it because the overall hero was not completely faultless and his stand against the imploring corruption in his community was an excellent example of how quiet unlikely people can sometimes make the most difference.
Arthur Miller uses many ideas as to why John Proctor makes his final decision, and uses character interaction, dialogue and stage directions to convey dramatic tension. The actions of the characters especially show the emotional strain in the last act when finally Proctor shows what a man he actually is.
