How does the relationship between John and Elizabeth reflect the conflict within their community

John and Elizabeth have a strained, tense relationship, which is a result of John's infidelity and Elizabeth's callous nature. In Act Two, the audience becomes aware that Elizabeth has not fully forgiven her husband for his affair with Abigail Williams and is a rather cold, insensitive woman. At the beginning of Act Two, John Proctor and Elizabeth try their best to act amiably and repress their emotions of disdain and anger toward one another. John represses the fact that he feels Elizabeth is callous and dull, while Elizabeth still resents her husband's decision to cheat on her. Eventually, John mentions that he was in a room alone with Abigail and Elizabeth expresses her displeasure, which sparks John's anger. John and Elizabeth's tense relationship reflects the various conflicts throughout the community of Salem. In the austere society of Salem, neighbors harbor ill-will toward each other over various disputes. The citizens repress their negative emotions in order to maintain their outward Christian appearances but seek revenge through the court proceedings and witch trials. The citizens' brewing anger and growing resentment are revealed during the witch trials. Similar to the way John and Elizabeth can no longer repress their negative emotions toward one another, the citizens of Salem use the witch trials as a means to express their repressed negative emotions toward their enemies.