Janae Wimbley
Mrs. Agee
English 102
13 February 2023
People Can Be Easily Fooled
In 1692 the Salem witch trials took place in eastern Massachusetts where multiple innocent women and men were arrested and hung on accounts of pursuing witchcraft. Miller based The Crucible off the events of the Salem witch trials and the McCarthy Investigations of the 1950s. He wanted to write a play considering the cultural and political events that were happening in the U.S. around the time of the government seeking to conceal communism. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses dynamic and static characters to display how people value their reputation, obtain justice, experience judgement, and are intolerant to one’s views or beliefs. Reputation was a constantly reoccurring theme in The Crucible throughout all the characters. John tries to tell the truth without telling the truth to protect his
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For example, Danforth and Hawthrone are the officials of the court, they treat witchcraft as if it is real until they get some hard evidence to prove it is fake. Danforth will not release the innocent people, because this would make the court look bad and people would have no respect for the court anymore. John Proctor, however, judges himself for his affair with Abigail. John beats himself up throughout the story about the hurt he has caused Elizabeth. John has much remorse and feels a lot of guilt for committing adultery. Elizabeth had to live with the suspicion that her husband was cheating because she could not give him what he wanted. Elizabeth tells Proctor he still judges himself, which is why he seeks forgiveness from her. Elizabeth states, “.... There be no higher judge under Heaven than Proctor is....” ( IV. pg 127). After she tells him this Proctor sees some good in himself and overcomes the judgement, he has for himself. Along with, the judgment in this play intolerance happens quite a bit
Christopher Speckert English 9-10 A Mrs. Slagel 5 November 2015 Whose Fault Were the Salem Witch Trials? In Arthur Miller's famous book; “The Crucible” many people are fighting to prove their innocence to save their lives. If they admit to being a witch and practice witchcraft then they can live, but have to be known as a witch for the rest of their lives (Miller 1234). But if they refuse to confess being a witch then they will be killed (Miller 1272).
The Crucible In a society where teenagers are envious of those who have more followers than they do on social media, reputation and status are extremely paramount. While these ideals are so prevalent in the life of modern-day high schoolers, teenagers of the 21st century did not invent the need to feel accepted. This theme of an overwhelming concern of one’s reputation can be traced all the way back to the 17th Century, during the era of the witch hunts. The renowned and esteemed novel -- The Crucible -- by Arthur Miller, provides a historical account of the Salem Witch trials while honing in on the convoluted relationships of the citizens of town.
In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller several characters risk their reputation in many different ways. One specifically, standed out the most. According to dictionary.com, “reputation” means “the estimation in which a person or thing is held, especially by the community or the public generally; repute.” In this town, reputation plays a major role. With lies bashing from left to right it is quite difficult to believe someone who is confessing without evidence to prove he or she is not guilty.
Vauvenargues once wrote, “The art of pleasing is the art of deception.” Most all of us have a natural inclination to please others and to be loved, and often we reach our goals by spilling what seem to be “little white lies,” or even more weighty ones at times. What may seem like a series of small and insignificant lies can very easily lead us into a deep chasm from which we cannot find our way out. It is at this moment we must stop and ask ourselves, “will one more lie get me out of this hole, or am I doomed to accept my fate by the hand of the truth?” In The Crucible, John Proctor struggles with this same conflict.
In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the factor that motivates people to tell the truth is their pride, and the other’s lie to protect one’s reputation. In order to preserve Proctor’s reputation, Elizabeth Proctor was dishonest in court. T In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the factor that motivates people to tell the truth is their pride, and the other’s lie to protect one’s reputation. In order to preserve her reputation, Elizabeth Proctor was dishonest in court. The Protector claimed that his wife has not lied, she's a good woman, John Proctor had admitted adultery and taken responsibility, Judge Danforth summoned Elizabeth for the hearing.
It were a cold house I kept” (Miller p 137). Elizabeth Proctor brought forth her own deepest sins before the conviction of her husband John Proctor. She says that their was no love in their marriage and she was so suspicious of his actions that she could never fully feel anything towards him again. It was a house of unforgiveness that she kept and she could never change the way things were between them. Now that these actions were in the full view of others and allowed her husband to hold onto a small amount of dignity that he still had.
Spencer Davis Mr. DeMello American Literature 3/16/2023 The Crucible Essay Rough Draft Intro Paragraph: Truth/Lies From 1692-1693, 25 people lost their lives as a result of the Salem Witch Trials. These trials were fueled by lies and misinformation. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, details the severe effects of the Salem Witch trials on a Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 1600s.
Wesley Johnson Wilson English 11 Blk. 2 3-12-23 Preserving one’s reputation is a prevalent theme in The Crucible. Examine two characters in detail who are concerned with their reputations. How does this affect how they act? How are their situations similar or different?
Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (Miller 1352). He is ultimately giving up his confession even though he knows it is not the right thing to do. A previous break to Proctor’s Christianity beliefs is when he commits adultery; however, instead of standing up for himself he gives into the court’s desire. When John Proctor confesses, his actions prove a huge weakness John Proctor has. However, his actions of confessing result in a strength.
There are many contentions and John proctor sees himself as a hypocrite and he is unable to be confident that he is good, until the last act of the play when he says, “I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.” In this declaration he is confident that there is some goodness inside of him even though past events may have tried to convince
Society today is really judgemental. If you don’t wear the right clothes or have the right car then you will get judged. It’s kinda like in the book The Crucible if you weren't a puritan then you were an outcast or you might have been a witch. One of the puritan girls Abigail Williams blamed a lot of women who were called puritans and lived the puritan way. In this case people just judged them without looking into far more research.
Proctor his ability to think rationally due to the stigma he feels, the choices he makes, and how it affects his
Shawn Jande Ms. Clancy American Literature B3 15 November 2015 The Crucible Analytical Essay Imagine, being accused of a crime you didn’t commit by your neighbors and friends out of jealousy, and desire. This is what many people in the town of Salem had to go through during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. People's motives such as: gaining and maintaining power, and aspirations for what other people had caused them to make irrational, and atrocious decisions. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, desire and power drive characters to create chaos in the community.
One example these actions being brought to life is on of page 109 when John Proctor tells Elizabeth “ My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man”. This is quote has so much meaning because previous to this quote John had admitted to the court that he had had an affair with Abigail. By him admitting this he is putting himself in the state to be arrested for adultery, which would later lead to his death. Abigail had accused John's wife Elizabeth of being a witch in hopes that she would be hanged.
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John showcases his goodness, by having a strong conscience, and firm principled beliefs. Although, John demonstrates great moral character, there are very few people in present-day society that showcase his great valour and bravery. In modern society, people are constantly made conscious of their wealth and status as a measure of their nobility and goodness. However, many societies do not realize that goodness can only come from within, when an individual is willing to face their truths and