Final answer:
Elizabeth Proctor's concern regarding John Proctor's solo encounter with Abigail Williams is due to the intersecting issues of trust and public reputation in Puritan society, as depicted in 'The Crucible'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concern of Elizabeth Proctor about her husband John Proctor's private meeting with Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible has deep implications within the context of the Salem witch trials. Elizabeth's worries are significant because they highlight the themes of trust and reputation in the Puritanical society depicted in the play. John's admission that he was alone with Abigail when he learned that the girls' activities in the woods were mere sport undermines Elizabeth's trust in him, which is already fragile due to his past infidelity with Abigail.
This personal matter takes on a public dimension when John struggles to expose the truth within a society that values appearances and public opinion immensely. The play examines how private matters intersect with public hysteria, influenced by deceit and revenge, ultimately leading to a community-wide catastrophe. In her unease about John's independent verification of the girls' falsehood, Elizabeth senses the difficulty John will face in attempting to discredit Abigail without tarnishing his own already suspicious standing.