Adultery in The Crucible and The Color Purple
Adultery in The Crucible and The Color Purple
Throughout literature, one comes across characters that are not as appealing because they are promiscuous. John Proctor, from “The Crucible”, Harpo and Albert, from The Color Purple, are all examples of men who commit adultery. Their respective wives, Elizabeth, Sofia, and Celie, all have different reactions to their infidelity. The three women have completely different ways of handling the situation.
In “The Crucible”, John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor had hired Abigail as a helper at their house. However, Abigail and John began to sleep together. Elizabeth began to notice and she approached John about it. He confesses and Abigail is kicked out of their house. After this event, there is a distance between John and Elizabeth, which is reasonable considering it was a great injustice done to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth still suspects him of misconduct and he cannot take her suspicions anymore. He says, “You forget nothin’ and forgive nothing”…I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches around your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted…as though I come into a court when I come into this house” (Miller 52).
There is great awkwardness in their relationship in the aftermath of this affair, but the big trials against Elizabeth bring them together. When Elizabeth was being arrested, John is very angry and says, “Fear nothing, Elizabeth....Damn you, man, you will not chain her!” (Miller 73-74). The calamity of the trial brings John and Elizabeth close together again.
According to Julian Klein, this affair was caused by Elizabeth. She writes, “Elizabeth Proctor, the wife whose coldness inspired Proctor's adultery with their servant, Abigail Williams” (Klein). However, this is not a justified excuse for infidelity. When a person gets married, they are agreeing to be monogamous. It does not matter how difficult a spouse may be, one is not supposed to be disloyal. If there are too many problems, then there is the option of separation. Some may believe Elizabeth was too harsh in sending orphan Abigail out, but Elizabeth was vindicated because she was only thinking of saving her marriage and protecting her children from gossip.
Elizabeth’s response to infidelity is the complete opposite of Celie’s reaction to her husband’s mistress. Their situations are also very different. Elizabeth...