The Crucible: The Integrity of Goody Proctor

Though Elizabeth Proctor suffered much pain, she covered it up with her immense integrity. Even though she was being cheated on, recovering from a major illness and raising three little boys, she didn't let it get to her. She was honest her whole life and when she did lie for the first time, it was all so her husband's reputation wouldn't be ruined. She even stood up for those who were wrongfully accused in the village so that their reputations would be kept clean as well. Elizabeth (Goody) Proctor truly is the perfect model of integrity.

After having their third baby that winter, Elizabeth became very sick so her husband, John, hired Abigail Williams to work as their maid and help them out around the house. During that time, John seemed to be turning from his sick wife and was starting to get close to Abigail. When Elizabeth found out that it went as far as adultery, she fired Abigail and blackened her name throughout the village. Yet, she blamed herself for John's adultery on page 650, "I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept!" So even though her husband committed this awful sin, she feels she led him to it.

Abigail still hasn't gotten over John since Elizabeth fired her and she wants Elizabeth out of the picture. During a court session, Abigail stuck a needle into the poppet of Mary Warren, the Proctor's new maid, sewed for Elizabeth. That night Abigail secretly stuck a needle into her stomach, claiming that Goody Proctor's spirit did it, accusing her of witchery. When Ezekiel Cheever came with a warrant for Elizabeth's arrest, she explained that the doll was a gift from Mary, but when she realizes that they're going to arrest this naïve girl, she decides to take her place.

Before she leaves, she calmly gives John and Mary instructions while fighting back her tears on page 623, "Mary, there is bread enough for the morning, you will bake in the afternoon. Help Mr. Proctor as you were his daughter, you owe me that and much more. When the children wake, speak nothing of witchcraft, it will frighten them." She continues with great fear, "I will fear nothing. Tell the children I have gone to visit someone sick." So she took Mary's place, because she knew Abigail was bringing her into something that was meant to stay between them.

Because Elizabeth had never told a lie in her life, they brought her into court to confess to her husband's adultery. When she first came into the courtroom, she had no idea that John had already confessed to it. So she stalled her answer, waiting for a signal from John on what to say, but when the judge kept prodding her to answer him, she lied that John had never committed adultery to save his name, because she still loved him, but she then regretted her decision to lie when she found out he had already confessed to it. So Elizabeth lied in court for the first time just to save her husband's name, eve though he cheated on her. While in jail, Elizabeth became impregnated.

Three months later, Elizabeth was now pregnant in jail and hasn't seen her husband or children since. They then brought her out to have her persuade John into confessing a lie in order to spare his life. As she spoke to John, she would down her every weakening, for example when he asked for her forgiveness, she told him she couldn't until he did first on page 650, "It came naught that I should forgive you, if you'll not forgive yourself." But when he asked for her advice, she told him to make his own decision on page 650, "Do what you will. But let none be your judge. There be no higher judge under Heaven than Proctor is!"

When John finally decided to choose death rather than live a lie, Rev. Hale and Rev. Parris pleaded with Elizabeth to go to her husband and get him to confess, so that he wouldn't die, but she refused, because she knew he was doing the right thing on page 654, "He have his own goodness now. God forbid I take it from him." So even though Elizabeth wanted her husband to live and be with her, she let him choose to die, because she knew he should decide on what he wants, not on what she wants.

Though her character may seem weak, Elizabeth Proctor is a strong woman that showed much integrity throughout the play. First, she took the responsibility upon herself for her husband's actions, claiming she led him to commit adultery, rather than blaming him for not being a good enough husband when she was sick. Second, even though Mary Warren was the one who gave her the poppet, Elizabeth took upon herself the title of witchery, so that the young girl wouldn't have to. Third, even though her husband cheated on her, she lied to save his name, because she still loved him. Finally, she let her husband die doing what was right, even though she wanted him to live and be with her. Elizabeth Proctor showed more integrity than all the characters in this play put together, she is a true example for all of us.