The Crucible Essay, Research Paper
A cell in
Salem jail, after Proctor and Rebecca Nurse have been escorted by Herrick,
Danforth, Hathorne and Cheever to their unwelcome fate. Hale and
Elizabeth are left in the cell alone, both are weeping continually for a long
period of time. The drums have ceased and they are left in a deafening silence. The sun pours
in through the window lighting the dark, rat-infested cell, revealing the dirty
stained, scratch covered walls. ? HALE:(He
clears his throat, wipes his eyes, and tries to recover a sense of normality.
He ponders over the events of the past few minutes and then speaks aloud the
thoughts that are going through his head). He will be in a place of happiness
now, Goody Proctor. The forces of the devil will be upon him no more. (Rises up
to face Elizabeth, who sits motionless with her head buried in her hands).ELIZABETH:(She
raises her head slightly, but continues to stare at the black, dusty floor. She
has ceased crying and has a vacant, blank expression on her face). Yes.(She
says in a barely audible whisper)HALE:(Gaining
confidence). You could have stopped it Goody Proctor. (Elizabeth turns to face
him with a look of despair). Now he will be condemned to the noose, and it were
possible for you to prevent it. (Elizabeth widens her eyes, and a frown appears
on her furrowed brow). If only a confession had passed through his lips. If
only you – ELIZABETH:(Angrily,
as though Hale?s words had penetrated her heart with a sharpened sword) Hale!
How could you say that! You know full well that anything I could have said
would not have been heeded by his persecutors. His death had already been
decreed and John would not have sold his soul to the devil to save his life.HALE:(Moves
forward towards Elizabeth and points his finger in a menacing manner) You had
the power to save John. You could have persuaded him to change his beliefs.
What is the benefit of being righteous when the end result was to be hung by
the neck until he was dead. What has been achieved -ELIZABETH:(Interrupting
Hale she too rises from her seat and angrily confronts him). Yes, his soul may
now be in heaven and his strong beliefs in telling the truth may have left a
grieving widow and fatherless children, but we can hold our heads up high in
this community in the knowledge that the name of John Proctor now stands for
everything that is good and honourable.With this
Elizabeth turns away from Hale while she contemplates the virtuous words she
has spoken of her husband and it is with some disdain that she recalls John?s
infidelity with Abigail, but she keeps these sad memories to herself.HALE:(Realizing
that he has upset Elizabeth, his attitude changes, and he moves to console her
by bringing her head to his chest). I am sorry, truly sorry. John was a good
man and he will be sadly missed. (He now realizes that Elizabeth should be left
alone to her sorrow and bids to leave). Elizabeth, I have urgent business to
attend to. You should now go home to your children. They need you more than
ever. I shall go now but if ever you need me, I am at your behest.Hale turns to
leave the room, and walks slowly out through the large wooden door. His
footsteps can be heard down the long corridor.Elizabeth is
now left alone deep in thought. The room is getting darker as the day draws to
an end. She sits her weary body down on the now cold stone bench, and considers
how different the events of the day could have been.ELIZABETH:(Speaking
aloud ). Was Hale right in what he said? Should I have persuaded John not to
tell the truth? (Her face becomes distraught, her eyes narrow and her body
becomes racked with pain) John! John! John! ( She screams) I have forsaken you.
You have gone and I am left with my own self pity. I could have saved you but
now it is too late! (She beats her chest with clenched fists and cries aloud)
There is nothing left for me in this life. How can I face my children since
they will persecute me for the loss of their dear father. My friends will also
turn against me since they too will accuse me of not helping to save John.There is now
but one ray of light entering the cell from the full moon outside. This light
is centred on her pale drawn face and she starts crying hysterically.ELIZABETH: I
cannot face the future without my beloved husband. I must join him.( She then
proceeds to undo her scarf from around her neck, and ties this in the shape of
a noose. She struggles to push the stone bench towards the cell window.
Standing on the bench she places the noose around her neck, and then ties the
end around one of the bars of the cell window.) John, I am coming to join
you.(Now the pained expression disappears from her face as she contemplates her
fate. With new found strength, she kicks the bench away from beneath her feet,
and she falls agonizingly as the noose tightens around her neck).In her half
conscious state, she hears the sound of voices becoming increasingly louder.
She hears Danforth speaking.DANFORTH: You
have but five minutes to say your good-byes, John Proctor, and no more.PROCTOR: I
thank you sir for these precious minutes.( Elizabeth then hears? John calling her name and his footsteps
running towards the cell). Elizabeth! Elizabeth, my beloved! Danforth has
allowed me one last kiss before I meet my maker.( He enters the cell and sees
Elizabeth hanging from the cell window and cries in anguish. Grief stricken, he
screams) My God, why have you forsaken me.(He rushes to Elizabeth and attempts
to remove the noose. Elizabeth opens her eyes and looks longingly into John?s
distraught face)ELIZABETH:
John (She whispers hoarsely, and wrongly believing that John has been
reprieved, she croaks)I give you to Abigail now and I ask you both to take care
of our children.Danforth drags
John Proctor out of the cell with John crying hysterically. The lights go out
as THE CURTAIN FALLS Lucie Carr 4G