Stage Directions in the Crucible

Stage Directions

In the play, “The Crucible”, Act II scene I uses stage directions to show characters’ personalities and establish an atmosphere. The three characters involved in this scene are Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor, and Mary Warren. The stage directions used most distinctly show Elizabeth and Mary’s fear of John Proctor, and releasing his rage upon themselves.

As Act II scene I begins, the reader finds Elizabeth and John Proctor having a tense conversation in their home. Elizabeth cooked a nice dinner for her husband “and watches him taste it” (p. 1267). She seems to be watching him eat until she receives his approval for the meal she made. Elizabeth’s personality is portrayed this way several times in the scene. She is searching for ways to confront John about where he has been, but “It is as though she would speak but cannot” (p. 1268). When asked, John becomes defensive and even gets a rude attitude about him. Elizabeth tries to get the answers out of her husband, but “[fears] to anger him by prodding” (p. 1269). The reader can tell that the couple’s relationship is strained, and it is mostly due to a lack of trust. Since John’s affair, it is as if “Her back is turned to him. He turns to her and watches her” (p. 1268). Elizabeth tries not to let John see that she doubts him, but she is extremely suspicious of his relationship with Abigail. Elizabeth fears her own husband’s wrath, partly because in old times men had all power in relationships and society. Elizabeth knows there will be an argument if she doesn’t approach the subject cautiously and “She doesn’t want friction, and yet she must” (p. 1268). As the scene goes on, Elizabeth catches John in a lie, and she loses all faith in him as “A sense of their separation rises” (p. 1268).

Elizabeth Proctor isn’t the only character in this scene that seems to fear making John Proctor angry. Mary Warren comes home in the middle of John and Elizabeth’s argument. As soon as she walks in, John Proctor...