Society has changed women into an accessory, taciturn and subservient. Although my parents want me to be the stereotypical women, devoted and family oriented, ultimately I do not want this kind of life for myself. I want to be a resilient, ambitious, hard-working, independent women, traits that do not fit the ‘mold of being a women.’ There is a difference of expectations between the two genders, with men as independent and assertive and women as selfless and interdependent. Traditional females characteristics are used to complement the male, conforming women to not be seen or heard. However, gender stereotypes are in a sense complementary to each other, with each gender having their own set of strengths and weaknesses. In Arthur Miller’s play …show more content…
At the root of the witch hunt hysteria is the prejudices dominant in the 17th century, that women were good, honest, and loving. Males and females are not treated equally, with women being treated as lower class. Because of the witch hunt, court sessions are held many times, and Mary Warren constantly leaves the house to attend court because she is ‘important’ to the case. At the same time, Proctor bans her from leaving the house because she needs to do her job, helping Goody Proctor around the house. “Be you foolish, Mary Warren? Be you deaf? I forbid you leave the house, did I not? Why shall I pay you? I am looking for you more often than my cows!” (Miller 1098). Cows are not treated well because they are just animals, and by comparing Mary Warren to a cow, Proctor is implying that she is the same status as an animal, at the bottom of the social pyramid. Like a cow, Mary is not only ignorant but constantly wandering off doing who knows what. Furthermore, once one is found, cows are easily manipulated into returning home, and if Mary is a cow, her being weak minded usually constitutes to her being easily swayed to the side that is acting more demanding. For example, Proctor and Giles convince her to reveal the truth, yet while in court, when hard questions are directed towards her, she weakens and agrees with the side that is tougher on her. The relationship between Elizabeth and Proctor is strained, with Proctor being embarrassed by his actions and Elizabeth not knowing how to let go of her hurt. “I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed” (Miller 1117). Elizabeth wants Proctor to tell the authorities of the scheme the girls have created, but Proctor states he will think about it, leading to her belief that Proctor is still being dishonest. On the other hand, Proctor perceives this as Elizabeth believing he can not