dramatically irony is when the audience is aware of something that a character does not know
In act III Elizabeth when questioned for the dismisal of Abaigail from her services she is unaware that John had previous confessed to his affair with Abigail. Elizabeth denies there being an affair with John and Abiagail to keep his name clean thus proving that John was a liar and not to be taken seriously in court. Yet, the reader is fully aware that Proctor admitted to the affair while Elizabeth is faced with bring shame to Proctors name.