How Does Miller Portray The Relationship Between John And Elizabeth Proctor In Act 2?

660 words - 3 pages

Elizabeth is shown as a very kind-hearted, gentle woman through her treatment of her children, however when John Proctor enters the house he hears Elizabeth [singing softly to the children]. Miller shows her maternal tenderness and her gentle motherly nature and her kindness is shown when she exclaims how, 'it hurt my heart to strip her, poor rabbit'. Miller uses juxtaposition to convey her complete contrast in character upon seeing John, and how her treatment of John greatly differs to how she treats her children. Her first sentence to John is a question,'What keeps you so late? It's almost dark' and Miller uses an accusatory tine to show the separation in their relationship and the coldness between them. Her manner with John is reserved and frosty, showing the lack of warmth, we saw when she was with her children. Miller shows how badly John's infidelity has affected their relationship and he uses ...view middle of the document...

Her lines consist of brief agreeing terms such as 'Aye' and 'I will'. The atmosphere between them, therefore, is very awkward because of their difference in opinion of the situation. Miller also makes the dialogue quite formal, an unusual speech between a married couple and not as it should be.

The relationship between the Proctors is very strained and taut. Elizabeth is cold and unfeeling towards John's attempts to right what he has done. In Act 2 john [goes to her, kisses her. She receives it.] Miller shows how she does not kiss him back or give him some warmth for his gesture but only receives it, as if she has to but does not want to. Her feelings are shown clearly through this action and the atmosphere between them remains frosty. She could have kissed him back, but obviously did not want to and the both of them, know this, making the atmosphere between them even more difficult. After this he speaks to her [as gently as he can]. Miller uses this direction to show that John is very tentative and wlks on eggshells around his wife, not wanting to put more strain on their relationship or push her further away. He is also shown to be uncertain as how to approach her because he doesn't wish to further worsen their already fractured marriage.

Miller shows John's dissatisfaction with Elizabeth and how he is being treated by her, because his polite tentative manner suddenly explodes as if something snaps inside him and releases his anger and vehemence. He shouts 'I'll not have your suspiscions anymore' conveying his frustration at being treated coldly and not as a husband should in his eyes. He exclaims, 'I'll plead my honesty, no more' showing his anger at Elizabeth's actions and her unforgiving nature. Miller uses imperatives and exclamatory sentences in John's speech to show his anger and his dialogue becomes elongated, showing he has much to say but has not been able to say it because of their situation and now it is all pouring out, as he tries to explain his feelings and thoughts to Elizabeth, desperately trying to persuade her to oust her doubts of him.

How Deos Arthur Miller Create Tension at the Beggining of Act 2

1367 words - 6 pages How Does Millar Create a Sense of Tension and Conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the Beginning of Act 2? Arthur Miller was borne on the 17th of October 1915 in New York City. Miller believed that tragedy was not confined to the rich and important but that the ordinary man’s failure was just as moving and terrible. The play ‘The Crucible’ was first produced in 1953 in the middle of the McCarthy political witch hunt in America

With Close Reference to the Play ‘ View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller , Show How the Relationship Between Eddie and Catherine and Other Members of the Household Change

3183 words - 13 pages English Literature Coursework With Close Reference to The Play â€˜A View From The Bridge â€˜ By Arthur Miller , Show How The Relationship Between Eddie And Catherine And Other Members Of The Household Change. â€˜A View from the Bridge â€˜is a play that uses controversial topics such as incest and immigration to illustrate the depth of insanity that uncontrolled feelings can take a man to. The relationship between Eddie a longshore man

In What Ways Does John Of Gaunt's Speech From Act 2 Scene 1 Develop Your Understanding Of Both His Character And His Place In The Play's Consideration Of "England And "Englishness"?

1054 words - 5 pages ". There, does a King, legitimate by birth, deserve to rule regardless of how much he abuses his power? Gaunt's speech exposes Richard's violation of the union between a monarch and his kingdom and hence stir opposition to the divine right. The speech also brings up many issue over the way kingship is centred on in a mythological view of the status of the nation and the understanding of the role of symbolism and myth in the ruling of the country.

What Does the Paragraph Tell Us About Plutarch’s View of the Relationship Between Antony and Cleopatra?

918 words - 4 pages Assignment 01 Part 01 What does the paragraph tell us about Plutarch’s view of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra? Plutarch first introduces us to Antony and Cleopatra by immediately trying to enforce a view of Cleopatra as a watcher or guardian to Antony, no matter where Antony went Cleopatra was with him to amuse him, keep him company or to play along with his schemes. She kept him in constant tutelage, and released him

Read the Following Passage Carefully at Least Twice. What Does It Tell Us About Plutarch’S View of the Relationship Between Antony and Cleopatra?

579 words - 3 pages Plutarch’s view of Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship provides us with a greater understanding of his and the Roman’s moralistic attitude to the lovers. In particular, he may have used this passage to further highlight the virtues and vices of Antony consequently influencing public opinion, ‘and when by night he would station himself at the doors or windows (Plutarch, in AA100 Assignment Booklet, 2011, p. 18). We could say that the Egyptian

What Is the Importance of Danforth in the Crucible and How Does Miller Present Him

1349 words - 6 pages What is the importance of Danforth in the play and how does Miller present him? – Timed conditions: 45 minutes – took 50 minutes Danforth becomes a major character in the play even though we do not meet him until Act three, which is the pinnacle of the play. Miller uses Danforth to symbolise the blackness and corruption of this perverse justice system in Salem, which seems only to destroy innocent people in the name of God. This is a technique

The Crucible, John Proctor

569 words - 3 pages been hanged immediately. Since John Proctor rejected her she said that his wifeâ€™s soul stabbed her knowing Elizabeth Proctor would be hanged and John would be free to have Abigail. Unfortunate for Abigail John was hanged and she could no longer be with him. In the Crucible John Proctor does not deserve his punishment and he made the right choice by not putting his name on the wall of the church for everybody to see. I would do the same as John

John Proctor: Sin and Forgiveness

1573 words - 7 pages . He struggles with his faith and does not believe God is with the people of Salem. In Act IV John proctor must decide whether or not he is worthy of being a martyr. When he meets with Elizabeth before he is to be hanged, he says, "I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. She is silent. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothing's spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before

The Crucible: John Proctor and Arthur Miller's Theme: "Social Responsibility"

684 words - 3 pages Abraham Kabazie Mr. McGrath The Crucible 11/9/12 John Proctor was a farmer with a wife and child. In the Crucible, he, along with his family and the rest of Salem, are engulfed in the witch trials. John and his wife, Elizabeth, become one of the many who are imprisoned by the court. He develops throughout the story as a person protecting the good of his name to conserving his character at his death. Proctor rips up the confession he has

How Does Miller Use Representations of Speech and Other Dramatic Techniques to Create Conflict in This Extract and in One Other Episode Elsewhere in the Play?

1076 words - 5 pages How does Miller use representations of speech and other dramatic techniques to create conflict in this extract and in one other episode elsewhere in the play? (30 marks) In this extract George is trying to convince Ann and Chris that Keller is guilty and that Steve (George and Ann’s father) is an innocent man who was framed for the killing of 21 pilots. George is hysterical as both Ann and Chris rubbish his claims and it is evident that he is

‘the Novel’s Contrasting Settings Portray a Gulf Between Social Classes in Victorian Society.’ How Far and in What Ways Do You Agree with This View of the Picture of Dorian Gray?

1010 words - 5 pages ‘The novel’s contrasting settings portray a gulf between social classes in Victorian society.’ How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of The Picture of Dorian Gray? The novel’s contrasting settings do portray a gulf between social classes in Victorian society but also represents the dualism in The Picture Of Dorian Gray. Wilde specifically chooses to pick two opposite settings, the East End and the West End, and ignores the

John And Elizabeth Procter's Relationship Essay

1065 words - 5 pages ‘Discuss the changes in the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor in the course of the play’ In the Crucible John Proctor and Elizabeth’s relationship changes a lot. At the start it is awkward and tender. Their conversations are of nothing interesting and they are clearly avoiding the ‘elephant in the room’, which is John’s affair with Abigail. However, by the end of Act 2, when Elizabeth is accused, John is constantly trying to

How Does Shakespeare Present Othello Between Act 1 Scene 1 And Act 2 Scene 3?

1351 words - 6 pages How does Shakespeare present Othello between Act 1 scene 1 and Act 2 scene 3? Shakespeare first uses other characters to build up an initial impression of Othello. Frequently referring to him in racist slur in Act 1, Scene 1, Roderigo and Iago refer to him as having “thick-lips” and an “old black ram”, which illustrates that Othello is black. This is interesting because black people at the time were not treated as equals, as these quotes show

How Does The 1963 Film Present The Relationship Between Cleopatra And Julius Caesar

646 words - 3 pages Assignment 01 Part 01 – Cleopatra How does the 1963 film present the relationship between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar? How does this compare to earlier depictions of their relationship in the ancient sources you have met in your module? When the words Julius Caesar and Cleopatra come up what do we think? A fearful leader of one of the greatest army’s history has ever seen and a young beauty who had Egypt in the palm of her hands. When these

How Does Shakespeare Make The Balcony Scene (Act 2, Scene 2) Such A Powerful And Dramatic Scene In Romeo And Juliet?

602 words - 3 pages How does Shakespeare make the balcony scene (Act 2, Scene 2) such a powerful and dramatic scene in Romeo and Juliet? Shakespeare creates such a powerful and dramatic balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet by using powerful language that will give the audience a deep impression in this scene. The plot of this scene fits into the play as a whole, because the scene is all about Romeo and Juliet confessing their love to each other. The play fits into