Skip to main content

In Act 2 of The Crucible, what does John Proctor want from his wife?

In Act Two, John Proctor seems to most want his wife to trust him.  He had an affair with Abigail Williams that ended some seven months ago when Elizabeth suspected it, confronted John, and dismissed her from their employ.  Now, John says that he had been alone with Abigail "For a moment" in town, when he'd earlier told Elizabeth that he'd only seen her in the company of others.  She calls him out for the...

In Act Two, John Proctor seems to most want his wife to trust him.  He had an affair with Abigail Williams that ended some seven months ago when Elizabeth suspected it, confronted John, and dismissed her from their employ.  Now, John says that he had been alone with Abigail "For a moment" in town, when he'd earlier told Elizabeth that he'd only seen her in the company of others.  She calls him out for the discrepancy, and he angers and tells her, "I'll not have your suspicion any more."  She replies that if he does not want her to be suspicious, then he should not do anything to earn it. 


Further, she claims that John would have no problem sharing the information Abigail told him were it not Abigail who would be hurt by its being made public.  He angers further and insists, "You will not judge me more [...].  Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband any more."  Therefore, what John most wants from his wife is her trust and her confidence in him, and it makes him incredibly angry, and, I would imagine, hurt, to think that even after he confessed the affair to her and all these months have passed, she still cannot trust him.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h