At the beginning of The Crucible, readers find that Abigail was dismissed as the household servant in the home of John and Elizabeth Proctor seven months ago. Although readers have no idea why at that point, there is some speculation that it was concerning misconduct, as Parris questions Abigail as to why no other household has been interested in hiring her since then.
Also in Act I when John Proctor enters the play, readers...
At the beginning of The Crucible, readers find that Abigail was dismissed as the household servant in the home of John and Elizabeth Proctor seven months ago. Although readers have no idea why at that point, there is some speculation that it was concerning misconduct, as Parris questions Abigail as to why no other household has been interested in hiring her since then.
Also in Act I when John Proctor enters the play, readers find out exactly why Abigail was fired, and exactly what kind of relationship John and Abigail had at one point. Abigail flirts with John; although John attempts to playfully push Abigail away, readers find that he isn't stern or certain in his feelings that he wants nothing more to do with her. In fact, it is revealed that he was looking up at Abigail's window late at night not long ago.
A turn in the relationship between John and Elizabeth with Abigail occurs in Act II. John's attitude toward her goes from flirtatious to hateful. When Elizabeth brings up any mention of the affair, John gets angry and claims that he will go to town to reveal her as a fraud to get her in trouble. He claims he has no feelings for her and will take her down to prove to Elizabeth where his loyalties lie.
In Acts III and IV, Proctor goes from angry to furious when it comes to the subject of Abigail. He, in these acts, realizes just how much an affair with the evil Abigail has ruined his entire family and their lives. It is Abigail who is ultimately responsible for John's unfair death and the separation of the entire Proctor family.
No comments:
Post a Comment