Thursday, June 6, 2013

What are some examples of conflict scene two of The Crucible between Elizabeth and John Proctor?

The best place to look for conflict between John and
Elizabeth is in the first part of act two, where the two of them are sitting to dinner. 
The scene starts off nicely enough, even though you can feel the tnesion in the air;
both of them are being very careful with their words, hoping to please the other. 
However, when Elizabeth mentions John going into Salem to mention how he had a
conversation with Abby where she told him that none of the girls were actually
bewitched, things get really tense.


First of all, the
subject of Abby is a tense one to start with. If John goes into town to tell someone
that Abby had told him something so important, he is worried that people might question
why he was talking to her, and why she revealed that information to him, and no one
else.  Elizabeth has been pushing him to go for days now, and he is resisting.  So, that
is conflict number one; it is compounded when she discovers that when Abby told him
this, they were alone together, whereas before, she had told him that they were not
alone; this touches a sensitive nerve, and makes it look like John has something to
hide..


Add onto this the fact that Elizabeth feels that
John isn't going into town to tell about Abby because she feels he still has feelings
for her.  So, they break into a fight about that.  She gives evidence that he still
cares for her; he tries to deny it, and they argue.  When they bring the subject of Abby
into the conversation, old wounds are opened.  John accuses Elizabeth of being cold and
unforgiving.  She accuses him of not being
truthful.


Lastly, they fight over Mary Warren, and how
Elizabeth shouldn't be letting Mary go into town to testify in the court.  John wishes
Liz would be more stern and authoritative.  So, in the opening scenes, we do not see a
couple that is peaceful and happy; rather, they are fraught with conflict and tension. 
I hope that helped; good luck!

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