Discussion Topic
Proctor's Response to Abigail's Declaration of Love in The Crucible
Summary:
In The Crucible, Proctor's response to Abigail's declaration of love is one of firm rejection. He tells her that their affair is over and insists that he will never touch her again. Proctor expresses regret and guilt over the affair, emphasizing his commitment to his wife, Elizabeth, and his determination to mend his moral failings.
In which scene of The Crucible does Abigail profess her love for Proctor and her willingness to do anything to be with him?
Abigail references the fact that she still loves John Proctor in the middle of Act One just after John enters the scene in Betty Parris's bedroom. She doesn't say so directly, but she asks him for "a word [...]. A soft word" and says that she "wait[s] for [him] every night." This makes it pretty clear that they had a physical relationship or else she would not wait for him at night. Further, she says, "I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! [....] I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now!" John's wife essentially fired Abigail from their employ when she found out that they were having an affair, and Abigail now insists that John loved her then and still does.
She doesn't actually say that she is...
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willing to do anything for them to be together, but it is pretty clearly implied, especially by her hatred of Elizabeth. Abigail says
[Elizabeth] is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her! [....] You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!
It is obvious that Abigail thinks very ill of John's wife and believes that, if she were not in the picture, he would definitely choose Abigail over Elizabeth. In Act Two, it doesn't take Elizabeth long to figure out that Abigail might try to get her out of the way so that she could have John to herself.
How does Proctor respond to Abigail's declaration of love in The Crucible?
When Abigail speaks to John about their past relationship in act one, he initially tells her "That's done with" and "Put it out of mind, Abby." In other words, he attempts to discourage her from discussing with him or even thinking about what they have been to each other in the past. However, she continues to press him, claiming that she has felt him looking at her and that she has seen him at night, looking up at her window with longing. He admits that he "may have looked up" once or twice. It seems to be an admission that John still thinks of Abigail romantically. Ultimately, he tells her
Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind.
John confesses, then, that he does still harbor feelings for Abigail, but he has vowed never to begin their affair again. He knows it is a sin, that it actually breaks one of the Ten Commandments (as is discussed in act two), and it has even damaged the way he thinks of himself.
I assume that you are talking about the part in Act I, Scene 2 where Abigail tries to talk to John Proctor about the affair that they had together.
The only time that she actually uses the word "love" is at the end of this part of the scene. She says that he loved her and still does love her. At that point, the stage directions say that he turns to go, but he stops because Betty starts making noises.
In general, though, Abigail is talking about what she and Proctor had together throughout the scene. During the whole conversation, Proctor consistently tells her that what they had is over. So I would say that his response to Abigails talk of love is to tell Abigail that he does not love her -- that their affair is over and he loves his wife.