Act One of The Crucible introduces a love triangle between John Proctor, his wife Elizabeth, and Abigail, their former servant. This results in a strained relationship for all involved and has a negative effect on all three characters as it costs Abigail her job and reputation, and it leads to a series of possible problems for the Proctor’s marriage. Abigail is introduced in The Crucible as a character who has an “endless capacity for dissembling” (9) As the former servant for the Proctor family, she is not only fired by Elizabeth Proctor because of her relationship with John Proctor but her name is also “blackened” by the somewhat spurned wife. When Proctor enters Betty Paris’s room and encounters Abigail, her “eyes widen” as she is pleased by his presence, and she expresses to Proctor that she waits for him “every night” (22). John, however, tells her to “put it out of mind” as he is not interested (22). Abigail’s words reveal she desires to be with Proctor; furthermore, she makes it a point to remind him that she was fired by his wife because of their past relationship when they had feelings for each other, and according to Abigail, they still do. This foreshadows that …show more content…
Many town members recognize his power and his intellect. Proctor shows a minor interest in Abigail when he tells her he may have “looked at her window” (23). However, he later tells her, “I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again” (23) Proctor seems confused about his feelings for Abigail as he repeatedly gives her false hope by implying he is still interested in her but then harshly rejects her. At the end of their conversation in Betty Parris’s room, Abigail begins defaming Elizabeth’s name. In response John angrily (at both himself and Abigail) defends his wife. This indicates that his mixed emotions make his marriage unstable. Whatever feelings he has for Abigail affect John in a negative