In the same way the fact that Elizabeth had been “a long time sick” might have driven John from her into Abby’s arms.

She admits that ” I never knew how I should say my love, it was a cold house I kept.”Įlizabeth was not openly loving and had trouble expressing her affection for John.

She says ” I have sins of my own to count, it needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.” perhaps referring to the fact that Elizabeth was an austere, cold woman, who was rigid to John. In the final act, when John and Elizabeth are talking she alludes to some possible issues that prompted the affair. While the causes of the affair are believed to be multiple, the main reason was Elizabeth’s cold aptitude to Proctor. John Proctor’s decision to have an affair with Abigail Williams changed Salem inhabitants’ life. He admits this in order to save Elizabeth, knowing that the confession will ruin his reputation. Another attempt is when Proctor, with embarrassment, cries out saying, “I have known her sir” (Miller 110). Proctor does not give Abigail a name and begins to explain how he feels towards her. Proctor eventually bursts out confessing his sin, stating “It is a whore” (Miller 110). After realizing that Abigail gained all this power he decides to confess about the affair to save Elizabeth. Sadly, Proctor does not see the evil in keeping his affair under cover until his wife Elizabeth and many others are accused in the Salem witch trials. This proves that John is being selfish and wants the affair to be forgotten in order to maintain his good image in Salem. He emphasizes to Abigail stating, “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind I’ll not be comin’ for you more”. He intends on keeping his dirty deed a secret, in order to protect his prestige. In the beginning, Proctor has an affair with a beautiful seventeen-year-old girl known as Abigail Williams.

The crucible novel