Witch Trials ?

Does anyone notice the historical accuracy in the crucible? It is well known about the Salem witch trials which took place were a little fuzzy and confusing and very illogical. As we read it was just like wow unbelievable. It doesn't seem like anything that would happen in modern times and would automatically be dismissed if they ever did arise. What was it that made the trials such a dilemma? Was it the strict religious beliefs? Or was it something completely different ?

The Crucible Ending: John Proctor (Tyler Rooker)

I found the ending to be very powerful, mostly due to Proctor's actions and character. Proctor seemed to have suffered an ending similar to a Sophoclean tragedy, having experienced an ironic fate of a virtuous hero. Proctor had chose not to tell a lie that had been seen as a truth by society. He decided to keep the good names and truth that had been tainted by the hysteria of the Witch Craft Trials.  -Tyler Rooker

The crucible and today's justice system

Often times, i find that The Cruciable is comparable to American society. We want justice by any means, even if the accused who is innocent is declared guilty. All we want is a sense of security at the expense of others

Abigail & Proctor

Did anyone else feel as if the scene where Abigail is trying to get Proctors attention kind of exemplifies the sexual oppression within the community? I don't know I think that if the community wasn't oppressing the people then there was no need for Proctor to conduct in an affair.  But this is just a thought and what I'm basing my scene adaption on so don't take the idea ;--;

The crucible.

what is your opinion on how it ended? Did you think it was going to end diffrently?

Abigail and Proctor

I'm predicting that the romantic tension and past actions between Abigail and Proctor will come into play later. Maybe as evidence of possession or something. What do you guys think?

The Scarlet Letter Presentations

As of today The Scarlet Letter  presentations have concluded. Although I am not fully content with my performance, I do appreciate some of my fellow class mates presentations and their ideas. Many of the presentations were creatively designed and displayed many connections to the book that I had not thought about before. For instance, some of the groups brought up the many representations of the letter a, such as its evolution (which I thought was clever) and multiple meanings. The multiple meanings of the letter a consisted of words such as angel and acceptance which was very innovative. However, overall I found the most connection to the quote: "In this context,the word  moral does not mean good or evil, but rather a general standard for morality. (keep in mind that this quote is somewhat paraphrased) ~Sabrina Hernandez

the conclusion

What did you guys think about the conclusion about what we read today ?

Dimmesdale's Death

I have to say, I really wasn't expecting Dimmesdale to go out like that. The fact that he died on the platform with Hester and Pearl by his side was really touching, and pretty sad to boot. Part of me wonders how the town will recover, and part is worried about what will happen to Pearl and Hester.

Hester and Elisa

After just reading The Chrysanthemum by John Steinbeck, I automatically drew many similarities to Eliza and Hester Prynne. Two women from different eras that experience the difficulties of self identity, gender roles, and conformity. For instance, in the case of self identity, both women struggle with who they want to be and who they actually are. Gender roles plays a major role in their self identity, such as Hester's want to be feminine and sexual, but society frowns women upon express these characteristics in public (especially if it goes against rules, or is considered a sin). Whereas, Elisa wants to be a little more masculine and show a side to herself that does not conform to the roles of a women. However, although both Elisa and Hester would both like to outwardly express who they truly are, they ultimately both conform to the gender roles given to them by society. ~Sabrina Hernandez

Dimmesdale's Doubts

   I think it's really sweet and caring that Dimmesdale keeps doubting whether or not Pearl will accept him as a father, and keeps on constantly telling Hester that Pearl might not love him. However, Hester tries and gives him comfort and reassures him that he has nothing to worry about and that Pearl will love him like she loves her. Therefore, Dimmesdale recalls the fact that children aren't a fan of him, but Pearl was the first to actually return some kind of affection back to him. So it just comes to show how Dimmesdale is ready to be there for Pearl and would much rather have her love him like a father, and accept him for who he is because he loves her.

Chapter 19

" It was with a feeling which neither of them had ever before experienced, that they sat and watched Pearl's slow advance..." I actually like this opening of the third paragraph in chapter nineteen because both Hester and Dimmsdale feel a connection, emotionally, as they see their daughter, their offspring, so full of light and Pearl is careless of what is going on the world. "In her was visible the tie that united them." Pearl, reminds the two lovers how they had felt before they had realized what had been done. She shows the love these two distinct people have for one other. Almost like Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, haha x

Disappoinment & Dimmesdale.

I was really disappoint with Dimmesdale by the end of chapter 20. After having a somewhat revival of Hester and himself and making plans to flee to Europe to be together, Dimmesdale is still concerned with writing a new sermon for "Election Day". It's kind of like a slap to the face. Really Dimmesdale? You and Hester make plans to flee together off to Europe but you still won't reveal yourself and are concerned with a sermon to give to the society that is pushing you to flee because the act you have committed with Hester is a great iniquity? It's just like wow, I don't know. I feel like Dimmesdale still isn't ready to abandon his position, like he's still struggling with internal conflicts to be true to himself. You'd think if you were really read to be happy with your lover and child you'd throw that sermon to the ground with no regards. Then again there is the chance that Dimmesdale is planning to reveal himself within this new sermon he's writing. Dimmesdale was having ideas of revealing what a fake or phony he was ( I can't exactly remember what he said but it was along those lines) but who knows. I hope he does intend on revealing himself in the sermon and that's the reason hes concerned on writing it for Election Day, if not I most likely will loose hope in Dimmesdale. 

Chapter 19

Picking up on the previous chapter, chapter 19 contains an event quite odd I say so myself. After Hester removes her A and is speaking to Dimmesdale about a new life (or somewhere along those lines) he tells Dimmesdale that he must meet Pearl their "beautiful child". As Pearl approaches, she refuses to fully unite with Hester and Dimmesdale throwing almost a fit until the missing A on Hesters bosom is attached once again. After a little dispute between Hester and Pearl, Hester finally agrees to reattach the A. Dimmesdale states that the only reason Pearl wouldn't reunite with them was because "children will not abide any, the slightest, changes in the accustomed aspects of things that are daily before their eyes" although this may be true, I kind of view it as something different. Pearl so far has been, like the A, a symbol of the sinful deed Hester and Dimmesdale have committed but only in living flesh. When Hester tried to rid herself of the A, thinking that her shame would be no gone forever, she seemed to have forgotten that regardless of the A she still holds the greatest symbol, Pearl. When Pearl notices the A, to me, it seemed like Pearl felt detachment or abandoned from Hester. The A and Pearl are both in one. If Hester attempts to remove the A aiming to rid herself of it, she is also attempting to rid herself of Pearl. I don't know though, I just feel like Pearl and the A have this connection that is unbreakable and to Hester irremovable.

Chapter 18

When Hester removes the scarlet letter from her bosom she regains her former self "Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back." I think here, we really see the burden of sin and how it can truly drag a person down. The weight of the A Hester wears wore her down and stripped her of herself. Hester was no longer Hester but a product of her environment, which forced her to be a dull and lifeless soul. Here is where I somewhat relate. I've dealt with heavy burdens and I understand how they can weigh you down. I don't want to get into the whole story but the weight got to me and I became a different person I became someone I wasn't proud of, anyways back to the topic.When Hester removes the A, the forest which was "so black and dense" only shinning its little rays of light on Pearl, illuminates her. Hester doesn't feel alone either in his feeling of being revived, Dimmesdale who is also with Hester feels the same, as if his burden of sin has also come to and end. Maybe now the Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale have a slight chance of a new beginning and venture else where and be happy. Although that would be nice, it most likely wont happen. The possibility of all of them running off and having an "happy ever after"  is very dismal but who knows. 

Chapter 16

“Mother...the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom...It will not flee from me; for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” This line that Pearl states in chapter 16, I think, really represents the "light in the darkness" that Pearl has come to be. In chapter 16 while Hester and Pearl walk into the "mystery of the primeval forest" (already setting a sort of dark or gloomy tone) they walk into almost a darkness "so black and dense...disclosed such imperfect glimpses of the sky above" but within this darkness there is a few streaks of light in which we have Pearl who "stood...in the midst of it, all brightened by its splendor". Pearl takes notice that the light radiates on her but not her mother and mocks her. When Hester attempts to stretch out and grasp the light "the sunshine vanished". The A Hester wears, even after seven years is persistent on keeping her from ever being the old youthful woman she was. But yeah anyways I thought that was pretty interesting.

How I think it will end

So I'm up late at around 5:15 am on a monday and blogging. So how do you think the book will end? I think the book will end with dimmesdales confession that he is the father of pearl to the people of the puritan society and will end finally with hester, pearl, and dimmesdale being ran out of the puritan society by the people, and left to survive on their own.that's how I think the book will end, kinda dark but you know not all storys have happy endings.