Before I post the research i've gathered I just want to do a quick check in on my christmas break progress; I've had little free time to work thus far between the holiday, a brief vacation, and wisdom teeth surgery. But i've been back at it this week and I'm starting to really build momentum. I'm not as far on the memorization as I would like to be... its coming slower than I hoped. I've never been as meticulous at avoiding paraphrasing as I have been this week, which is slowing me up a lot... again, with the grammar being so unique, I always am questioning exactly whats being said. Tenses throw me.

Thoughts on John and Elizabeths relationship:
         The only peace John can possibly get in Salem is from his wife, all others are constantly judging and his work is grueling. What he is always going to need from her is affirmation, approval, and safety. At this point, he receives none of that from her (not until the conclusion). Abigail is the only one who offers it to him. Undoubtably, John is in love with Elizabeth. He dies for her. I think his death is more for her and his sons than it is for him.
On top of that, the gravity of the situation is difficult for any husband and wife to deal with, and there really is no way out for either of them, being that divorce is not an option. I wonder if maybe Elizabeth wishes she could leave John. She most certainly has love for him and loves him very much, but I wonder if she is totally and completely in love with him. Her ideal man would be Christ-like and in the Puritan perspective, John is anything but. Aside from lechery, Elizabeth probably suspects or has witnessed his violent tendencies. He threatens to whip Mary Warren on several occasions in front of her (see research to be posted on child-rearing). I imagine there would also be a serious lack of romance in any Puritan household, as any grand display of emotion is unwanted.