Why does Elizabeth lie for John?

This line is one of the first things Elizabeth says in the play, in the second act during her first scene. When her husband John tries to explain why he was alone with Abigail, Elizabeth turns cold and suspicious. She has not forgiven her husband for his affair despite claiming she has. Thematically, the idea of a “good man” and what good men do and do not do is an important one in this play. By the end, John will prove that he is a good man, as Elizabeth has always believed.

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It is her dearest hope, John, I know it. There be a thousand names; why does she call mine? There be a certain danger in calling such a name – I am no Goody Good that sleeps in ditches, nor Osburn, drunk and half-witted. She’d dare not call out such a farmer’s wife but there be monstrous profit in it. She thinks to take my place, John.

In this moment in Act 2, Elizabeth is quicker than John to see that Abigail has figured out that she will be able to hurt – even kill – Elizabeth, believing she can take Elizabeth’s place at John Proctor’s side. Elizabeth understands Abigail’s desires and intent much better than anyone else in the play. She sees Abigail for who she is.

Your Honor, I – in that time I were sick. And I – My husband is a good and righteous man. He is never drunk as some are, nor wastin’ his time at the shovelboard, but always at his work. But in my sickness – you see, sir, I were a long time sick after my last baby, and I thought I saw my husband somewhat turning from me. And this girl –

Elizabeth is forced in the middle of Act 3 to testify in court about her husband’s involvement with Abigail. Readers already know that John has confessed his adultery, but Elizabeth doesn’t. This moment shows her desperately trying to be honest in explaining why Abigail hates her but also trying to be fair to her husband, who she loves. Elizabeth will ultimately lie on her husband’s behalf, condemning them both and making his earlier comment that she will never fail to tell the truth a lie.

Great stones they lay upon his chest until he plead aye or nay. They say he give them but two words. “More weight,” he says. And died… It were a fearsome man, Giles Corey.

In Act 4, Elizabeth has to tell John that their friend, Giles Corey, has been killed because he was pressed for a confession to witchcraft. This moment shows Elizabeth’s admiration for Giles’ moral strength, which may end up inspiring John.

It is not my soul, John, it is yours. Only be sure of this, for I know it no Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it. I have read my own heart this three month, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery… I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love.

As John struggles with whether to falsely confess to witchcraft in Act 4, Elizabeth makes a confession of her own, telling him that she knows she is at least a little to blame for his affair with Abigail, which has brought ruin on them both. In Act 2, John told her that her mercy could freeze beer. Here, she returns to the idea of “a cold wife” to agree with him.

He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.

At the end of the play, John is taken to be hanged, along with Rebecca Nurse and other innocent Salem residents. Although Rev. Hale begs Elizabeth to go after John and get him to resign the confession, Elizabeth declines, acknowledging that John is, at last, what they both wanted him to be: a good man.

                In brief, Elizabeth didn’t tell the truth about Proctor’s relationship with Abigail because she loved Proctor or didn’t want her name to be bad in village. Moreover, the relationship between Proctor and Abigail was not acceptable by the society of Salem and their religion.

He was the son of John Proctor Sr. (1594–1672) and Martha Harper (1607–1667). John and his 3rd wife were tried on August 5, 1692. He was hanged on August 19, 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony during the Salem Witch Trials after being falsely accused and convicted of witchcraft.

https://en.wikipedia.org › John_Proctor_(Salem_witch_trials)

Elizabeth realizes that she bears part of the blame for the affair because she has been a cold, suspicious wife in response to her own insecurities.

What does Elizabeth say about herself why does she blame herself?

Elizabeth blames herself for the murder, because she gave him a locket (which they believe was the reason the murder motive) and he was under her care, and should have watched him and cared for him.

Why did Elizabeth lie about her husband's adultery?

Elizabeth denies that her husband had an affair because she wants to protect him. Since she was not present in the court when he leveled the charge of adultery against Abigail, she fears that he is one who is on trial, not Abigail.

What does Elizabeth mean by adultery John?

14. Discuss the meaning of Elizabeth saying “Adultery, John.” While reciting the Ten Commandments, he forgets the one sin we know he is. guilty of – adultery. Since it is always on her mind, Elizabeth reminds him of it.

Why is Elizabeth's denial that John has committed adultery an example of irony?

Dramatic Irony: Elizabeth denies that her husband committed adultery to try to protect him but she doesn't know that he already confessed to it. Then she is taken away because she lied in court and John tells her he had already confessed as she is being taken out.

The Crown: Queen scolds/burns/shouts at prince Charles for wanting to divorce princess Diana

Why is Elizabeth's lie about John and Abigail an example of irony?

Elizabeth lies to protect her husband by denying all knowledge of the affair between Proctor and Abigail. It is an example of dramatic irony that Elizabeth, a woman who supposedly never lies, tells this untruth and ends up condemning her husband as a liar and making Abigail seem believable once more.

What type of irony is adultery John?

Situational irony involves an action that is opposite of what would be expected, such as when John is unable to remember that not committing adultery is one of the commandments when that is the sin he committed that caused all of the problems for his family.

Why does Elizabeth want John to confess his sins?

Elizabeth needs John to give his testimony discrediting Abigail to prove that he has moved on from her and his loyalties aren't divided (and because it's the honest thing to do).

What does Elizabeth admit to John about herself?

As John struggles with whether to falsely confess to witchcraft in Act 4, Elizabeth makes a confession of her own, telling him that she knows she is at least a little to blame for his affair with Abigail, which has brought ruin on them both. In Act 2, John told her that her mercy could freeze beer.

What sins does Elizabeth think she has committed against John?

What sins does Elizabeth think she has committed? She blamed herself for coldness towards John. How might Proctor's refusal to incriminate others relate to the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s? Many witnesses showed the same courage as Proctor and refused to make others.

What does Elizabeth blames herself for?

Answer and Explanation: In chapter seven of Frankenstein, Elizabeth blames herself for William's murder because she gave him the gold locket.

What is the evidence of Elizabeth's guilt?

Cheever finds a needle in the doll, which he takes as proof of Elizabeth's guilt.

Who does Elizabeth think has accused her and why?

Elizabeth Proctor is accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams because Abigail wants to marry Elizabeth's husband, John, with whom she had an affair while serving in the Proctor household. “She wants me dead,” says Elizabeth of Abigail, and indeed, Abigail does intend for Elizabeth to die.

What does Elizabeth find herself realizing?

Elizabeth's realization that Darcy is “exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her” is ironic, since she not only rejected his marriage proposal earlier but did so in a manner that made it clear that she despised him.

What motivates Elizabeth to lie in the crucible?

And Elizabeth, who has lived by the truth, lies to keep her husband's secret and condemns them both by doing so. And Mary Warren, who had lied and now is finally telling the truth, lies again to save her life.

What does Elizabeth think is the reason that Abigail accuses her?

Elizabeth believes that Abigail accused her of witchcraft to get revenge for being dismissed from her housekeeping position at the Proctors' and to reignite the affair she had with John Proctor. Williams knew that accusations of witchcraft led to imprisonment or death and she wanted Elizabeth out of the picture.

What does Elizabeth lie about?

Elizabeth, a woman who has a reputation of honesty, later lies about the act of adultery committed by her husband in order to keep him alive.

How does Elizabeth feel about John's death?

Elizabeth likely believes that if John lies, he'll go to hell for all eternity. If he dies a martyr's death, he'll inevitably see his family again and spend all eternity with them in heaven.

What sacrifice does Elizabeth make for John?

Elizabeth sacrifices her truthfulness for her husband. The result of this sacrifice is ironic because John had already confessed to be an adulterer and Elizabeth's confession would have actually helped her case. Instead, she was sent back to jail because the court now believed that Abigail was telling the truth.

Does Elizabeth ever forgive John?

Proctor admits that he is considering confessing. He asks Elizabeth if she will respect him if he does. Elizabeth states that it is his decision, and she tells him that she has forgiven him for the affair.

What does Elizabeth's testimony make it unfair towards John?

Why is this an unfair test of Elizabeth's word against John's? She knows lechery is a grave sin, but she also knows that her husband is remorseful. It is unfair because she does not know that John confessed to his sin, and by lying for him, is in essence, condemning him.

Why does it matter to Elizabeth that John was alone with Abigail?

The revelation that John has talked to Abigail alone changes Elizabeth. Her fear and anger about John's affair come out. She is colder to him, because as much as she loves him, his weakness towards Abigail is a major flaw in his character, which Elizabeth sees clearly even though John does not.

Why does John forget the commandment about adultery?

11. Why does Proctor forget the commandment forbidding adultery? He has a guilty conscience about his own sin of adultery.

Why is it ironic that John forgets the commandment forbidding adultery?

Irony is created here because the audience, along with Proctor and Elizabeth, realizes that he really "forgot" the commandment when he had the affair with Abigail. Proctor has not incorporated this commandment into his life, so it fails to remain in his memory.

What is ironic about John not being able to remember the commandment about adultery?

He recites all of them but one he cannot remember "thou shalt not commit adultery," Elizabeth ends up reminding him of the commandment that he forgot. This is ironic because this commandment is about cheating, and he had an affair with Abigail.

Why does Elizabeth blame herself for John's adultery?

Elizabeth realizes that she bears part of the blame for the affair because she has been a cold, suspicious wife in response to her own insecurities.

Does Elizabeth lie to save John?

In the play The Crucible Elizabeth lies to protect her husband, however John had already told the truth to the court, this made him look like a liar.

Why does Elizabeth beg John to confess?

Elizabeth needs John to give his testimony discrediting Abigail to prove that he has moved on from her and his loyalties aren't divided (and because it's the honest thing to do).

What lie does Elizabeth catch John in?

When they're speaking alone about Abigail, Elizabeth catches John in a lie. What's the lie? Why does this make her lose all faith in her husband? The lie is that he told Elizabeth first that him and Abby were talking in a group of people and he actually confessing to her later that they were alone.