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Miller associates Essay Miller uses language carefully throughout the play to create various atmospheres. In Proctors meeting with Abigail, emotions were running high, and there was a certain amount of fission and sexual chemistry between them. The atmosphere here was passionate, angry and lustful. This is a direct contrast to the start of act two, as Proctor talks with his wife, Elizabeth. The atmosphere is cold and formal. There is no chemistry between the two, and we begin to understand why Proctor was so tempted by Abigail. It is clear to see there is a spark between them, whereas his relationship with Elizabeth is sterile and dull. Miller associates Proctor with fire and burning he burned with lust for Abigail, and then with guilt. This imagery makes us think of danger, the devil and witchcraft. The connotations of fire, especially in a society such as Salem are of hell and burning in hell for eternity. This also links in with the title; Miller chose the title of The Crucible to demonstrate Proctors metaphorical journey. Proctor is like the metals that go in the crucible to be purged of all impurities. Proctor comes out at the end with no impurities. Proctor says, its winter in here yet Elizabeth. This quote suggests their relationship is still not mended, and shows us just how cold it really is, not only in their home, but their relationship. Winter is an effective metaphor because it demonstrates Elizabeths coldness towards Proctor. The Proctors are struggling to heal a rift in their marriage and this is portrayed by Elizabeths coldness, silence and Proctors fiery outbursts. Proctor also compares his house to a court; I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house. Proctor still hasnt regained Elizabeths trust and is frustrated by her scepticism. However, he is also angry with himself, as he knows that he has given her a good reason to act this way, and he cant expect her not to, as it was his wrong doing that is causing her to behave in this manner. Proctor feels that Elizabeth judges him, Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not. Elizabeth says it is Proctor that judges himself, The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. She understands how guilty he feels, but knows Proctor must atone before he can resolve his marriage and regain his self respect. He considers himself a fraud for betraying his own vision of decent conduct. Proctor is disappointed in himself for not being strong enough to resist temptation and for betraying his wife, and he regrets this deeply. The only way Proctor can make up for his sins is to atone, until then he is tortured by his actions. Elizabeth is the only one who understands his need for atonement. At first Proctor is reluctant to expose the truth about Abigail. This shows us he is afraid to hurt Abigail and possibly expose himself as a lecher, but he is also afraid of embarrassing his wife. It is only at the end of act two when Elizabeth is under threat that Proctor knows he must tell the truth. Proctor feels guilty when Elizabeth is accused because he knows it is Abigails way of getting back at them; getting back at John for leaving her, and getting back at Elizabeth for having what she wants, and for dismissing her from working in her home. Proctor must sacrifice his good name, which is one of his most prized possessions to save his wife. This shows us how much he truly loves Elizabeth, even though they have grown apart. They no longer have any chemistry between them, as John and Abigail do, but they have a strong bond, which is the basis of their relationship. Abigail desires vengeance against Elizabeth, because she sees Elizabeth as the only obstacle between her and Proctor. Elizabeths arrest is an opportunity for Proctor to atone his sins and wrong-doing, because he can come clean and confess his affair, and save Elizabeth, and rectify his marriage. In doing this, he also shows the court how sinful and bad Abigail really is. Until this point, all the people in the community, with the exception of the other young girls, has seen Abigail as a sweet, innocent girl, caught up in witchcraft. Proctors confession horrifies Abigail, as she realises that this could endanger her. Proctor is the only person who seems to see that the girls are making up these lies of witchcraft to save themselves from being whipped. Events have conspired against Proctor and the public crisis in Salem has become his own personal nightmare. His initial intention to save Elizabeth grows to a wider purpose, of saving his friends and exposing the corrupt authority and the girls lies and deceit. Parris tries to accuse Proctor of trying to overthrow the court, and this accusation only shows us that the court was purely biased and any defence was treated as an attack on the court. Proctor sacrifices his good name by admitting to the court his affair with Abigail, and at this point, we see that he has now become completely desperate, I beg you, sir, I beg you. He is so determined to save Elizabeth that he will beg the court and totally humiliate himself. This shows his sheer desperation and Proctor swallowing his pride for the sake of the community and the people he loves; this is his attempt to atone, and prove his love for Elizabeth. When asked if Proctor committed adultery Elizabeth ironically lies and says she has know knowledge of John being unfaithful. She lies to protect him and save his good name and reputation, even if it meant she as still accused. But, in doing this, she also protects Abigail, and her claims of witchcraft become more credible to the courts once again. This, gives us further sympathy for John, as he has thrown away his good name, and yet, it got him nowhere. Elizabeths denial, however, shows that despite Proctors affair, Proctor and Elizabeth are still deeply in love as they are both willing to sacrifice themselves for each other. This shows their relationship is strong but they just have problems communicating their feelings and the affair brought a barrier down between them. We also see here, where the obstacle between John and Abigail was Elizabeth, the obstacle between John and Elizabeth is Abigail, as it is because of her jealousy and accusations that Elizabeth is imprisoned. The consequences of Elizabeths only lie is that Proctor is accused of witchcraft and will hang unless he lies and confesses. The irony here is that if he tells the truth, the truth is seen as a lie, yet if he lies, the lie is seen as the truth. This seems to be the moral of the town throughout the play: Only those who lie survive. However, being a religious town, it is seen that liars will go to hell and be damned when they die. This is why the good, religious people of the community, such as Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, refuse to confess to witchcraft to save themselves. They refuse to sin for the sake of a lie. At the end of Act three, Proctor is accused of witchcraft, just as Miller, and many others, were accused of communism during the McCarthy witch hunts. The parallels between Proctor and Miller are the paranoia and mass hysteria that was surrounding them and the fear they felt. Neither Proctor nor Miller confessed, and neither would give names of their friends. Proctor is now is now in open conflict with the court. His friends rely on him and his life is in the balance. This scene has endeared us, the audience to him because we see his utter desperation and the way he will sacrifice himself for Elizabeth and the way he protects his friends. We sympathise with him because he has a tough decision to make, life or death, wrong or right. He is struggling with his morals too, as he cannot help his friends if he is dead, yet he doesnt have it in him to confess to a sin he hasnt committed.