The Crucible Group

Question:

daweirdboi929292929
daweirdboi92...
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In "The Crucible," why does Elizabeth deny John's relationship with Abigail? What is the result of her denial?

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Posted by daweirdboi929292929 on Monday April 21, 2008 at 2:21 PM and tagged with characters, denials, relationships, the crucible.

Answers:


  1. renelane Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Elizabeth does not want to ruin John's name in court. She does not know that he has just confessed his indiscretion to them and is called in to corroborate his story. Because John had told the court that Elizabeth never lied, when she comes in and tells them that he did not have an affair with Abigail, the court takes her word. Elizabeth is anguished over this realization, and the lie that was so hard for her was for nothing.

    John is taken to jail for lying to the court.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible

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    Posted by renelane on Monday April 21, 2008 at 2:42 PM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Elizabeth denies that John had a relationship with Abigail because even though she has not forgiven him, he is her husband and she is a very virtuous woman and will remain loyal to her husband. 

    She does not want to discuss the illicit relationship because she is not going to reveal to the court or the town that her husband is a sinner.  Puritans were very intolerant of pleasures of the flesh.  Their lives were marked by hard work and faith.  John Proctor is a very judgmental man, not given to forgiveness. So for his indiscretion to be revealed would be a public humiliation.  

    Unfortunately, when John gives his testimony, he admits that he had a relationship with Abigail.  John is then accused of being a witch and conspiring with the devil.  

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Monday April 21, 2008 at 3:00 PM