Elizabeth Proctor

Salem, Massachusetts

21 September 1961
England
Margaret Bassett
_

Dearest Margaret,

How is my mother and father? Are they well? I hope all is well back home. I know I
have written you a letter not long ago, but I feel the need to get something off my chest. I need
some advice, Margaret.
I think my dear John is having an affair with our servant, Abigail Williams.
I have had my suspicions since a few month ago; The quick but subtle glances, their
awkward yet suggestive conversations, the salacious tension between them made me feel like I
was witnessing a growing relationship that feels so wrong. What first started as friend ly chats
would soon turn into flirtatious conversations between them. When I were sick in my room,
taking care of my dear children, they would be wandering around the house, doing God knows
what. Being in this house with such strange atmosphere makes me feel suffocated!
I have put my trust in this girl to take care of my home duties, to look after my children.
I even make her feel part of our family, and welcomed her wholehearted ly when no one else did.
At night, when I cannot sleep, I think to myself, Why does every good thing I try to do always
take worse turns? From my marriage to my children to my health, nothing has been going well
here in Salem.
I really hope that my suspicion does not turn out to be true. But I hope to write to you
soon again, Margaret, with good news.

Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth
 Elizabeth Proctor
Salem, Massachusetts

1 February 1962
England
Margaret Bassett
_

Dearest Margaret,

Things have changed now. I dismissed Abigail Williams just one week ago, but things
are not the same anymore.
I can feel John and Is relationship growing colder and more distant. During meals we
would not share any words except for the quiet mutters of Thank yous and Youre welcomes. I
cannot bear to look him in the eye without thinking of Abigail, and wonder what parts of his
skin she has touched.
For some peculiar reason, I feel regret and guilt. I felt guilty for suspecting my dear
husband before, and now I feel guilty for ruining what we had. My duty, given by God, is to
serve my husband and my children, but now my family is crippled because of the mistrust I had
in John.
I am trying so hard to rekind le my love with John but no matter how hard I try, I
cannot bring myself to fully forgive him for his sins. Every time we share glimpses I still feel
the lingering feeling of betrayal, and my heart feels bitter and cold even if I wish to feel
warmth.
I have prayed to God, hoping that I would wake up one morning to realise this has all
been a dream, hoping that I would once be in Johns warm embrace without a worry. Yet, I try
and I try, but every time I open my eyes, only to face this horrid reality.
I wish I could return to home, Margaret, my real home. With you and my mother and
my father and all my family. There are times at night when I wished I would have stayed and
never left England. But what can I do now? Only regret and sorrow fills my heart.

Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth
 Elizabeth Proctor
Salem, Massachusetts

10 July 1962
England
Margaret Bassett
_

Dearest Margaret,

There is madness in this town, Margaret. Young girls are accusing the town of
witchcraft. The young girls, led by Abigail - the girl whom John committed infidelity with -
have accused countless of innocent people of witchcraft. I heard that if the accused did not
confess to witchcraft, they would be sent to hang. What did they do to deserve this violent and
brutal death? My conscious tells me that this is all a scheme, some sort of evil plot conducted by
the young girls.
I have a feeling that I will be accused by Abigail, I have had this feeling all week! It
is simple, if she really does want to get rid of me. All she would have to do is call my name in
court, and the judges and God's will believe her to send me to my death. She wishes death upon
me, Margaret.
I still suspect that John and Abigail are seeing each other. John told me he had talked
to Abigail with a crowd, but the other day he tells me that he had spoken to her alone! I wish
he would go to Salem to tell the judges, and God, that these girls are frauds, but to think that
Abigail and John could encounter and spark their affair once more hurts me. And to be
reminded of the consequences when I had suspicions of John, I cannot bear to make another
mistake again.
He says I judge him, that I do not trust him no more, that I have an everlasting funeral
that marches round my heart. But I always saw him as a good man, it is however difficult to
look over the sins he committed. But I understand now; the only reason why he committed the
affair was because of the lack of love I gave to him. I never gave him passionate or honest love,
he had every reason to be dishonest with me. I do not blame him for lechery now, for I am the
one to blame.
Jealousy is a dangerous thing, and Abigails envy has took over her. I am not sure
when I will be able to write back to you soon, or if I even have the chance of write again. If this
is my final letter to you, I wish you well in the future, Margaret. Thank you for being by my
side through thick and thin. Please take good care of my mother and father.

Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth