In the crucial scene between Elizabeth and John Proctor, we gain insight into John's actions at the climax of the play. How are Elizabeth and John both tortured by guilt? Why can Elizabeth offer John no advice in his last moral agony?

1. Both lied trying to protect themselves and their family name, so guilt tortures them.

2. Because she believes that he is redeeming himself from his mistakes and she does not want to stop him from dying with the little honor that remains.

Explanation:

Elizabeth and John Proctor were two victims of the vindictive Abigail who after having an affair with John decided to accuse Elizabeth as a witch. Elizabeth, as a way to help her husband, ends up lying, accepting the accusation and being arrested and sentenced to death.

John as a way to save his wife lies to the court about Abigail being a prostitute, but he doesn't want to say that he had an affair with her so as not to lose his honor. However, John is also arrested and sentenced to death. While in prison he has the chance to lie and be free, but he believes he must die as a way of surrendering his mistakes.

yes

explanation:

boccaccio employs the voice of his narrator dioneo to represent his ideas on the tension between masculinity and femininity.  while dioneo excites the members of the brigata and recognizes women for their unique skills and independent ideas, he concludes the decameron with a story reminiscent of the society from which these young aristocrats escaped, revealing misogynistic overtones.  dioneo boccaccio is able to explore the gender disparity which is inherent in 14th century florentine society.