The Crucible #4

"Then how do you charge me with such a promise? The promise that a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl!"(Miller 62).

What a perfect way to put it! While stallions are majestic and powerful, they are not exactly known for their loyalty to their mates. A stallion often mates with a whole herd, particularly mares that are a lot younger than it(Abagail). By using the term "stallion", Proctor is admitting his feelings for Abagail were entirely due to lust. A "stallion's promise" can be seen as a promise of tenderness and protection, but never of true devotion. It seems odd that Proctor would be able to say something like that so openly to his wife. Perhaps he has been working on a way to get over his feelings longer than the novel would have us believe.

"Elizabeth, delicately : Adultery, John. Proctor, as though a secret arrow had pained his heart : Aye"(67).

It is intereting that when listing the Commandments, Proctor forgot the law against adultery. Perhaps this is due to the fact that he committed adultery many times, and attempts to wipe the phrase out of his mind in order to cope with the guilt. Or perhaps he does not see adultery as a crime at all. Whatever the reason, by forgetting that Commandment, Proctor shows that he has strong feelings toward adultery one way or another. It is just unclear whether those feelings are good or bad. The fact that once he is reminded of adultery he feels pain makes it more likely that he has negative feelings towards the act. However, his pain could stem from his feeling misunderstood because of what he does.