when john reveals his true relationship to abigail, what do you think he also reveals about his character and his motivation?

On one hand this shows John has been covering up his sin of "lechery". On the other hand John is doing what others in the village refuse to do. John is confessing that he is human and that he is honestly ashamed of what he has done to Elizabeth. John had kept his secret, even though Elizabeth suspected, and his lies were eating at his soul.