The Crucible: Unraveling Lies and Lost Faith

What lie did John Proctor tell Elizabeth that made her lose all faith in him?

a) John was cheating on Abigail. b) John had promised Abigail a gift. c) John said he loved Abigail. d) John said he never met Abigail.

Final answer:

In Arthur Miller's play 'The Crucible', Elizabeth Proctor loses faith in her husband, John Proctor, when she discovers he had lied about meeting Abigail Williams alone. This lie creates mistrust and undermines their relationship, also playing a key role in the plot development.

Answer is d) John said he never met Abigail.

Explanation:

The question pertains to a pivotal scene in Arthur Miller's dramatic play, The Crucible. In this scene, Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor, discovers a lie told by her husband; thus, shaking her faith in him. The lie in question is John's prior meeting with Abigail Williams alone (option d), a fact he initially conceals from Elizabeth.

John Proctor told Elizabeth that he never met Abigail alone when he had, in fact, had an encounter with her. This lie is significant as it undermines the trust Elizabeth has in him, specifically considering John's past infidelity with Abigail. The dishonesty and cover-up make her lose her faith in him, as such scenarios tend to cause mistrust and skepticism in relationships.

John's lie does not just concern their personal relationship, but also plays a significant role in the main plot of The Crucible. Their conversation about this encounter sets the stage for the heated trials that take place later in the play.