The Cruicible/ Most Interesting Character

I honestly love reading about the period of time when there were witch trial occurances.  I find it interesting that a society such as the puritans were so horrfied at the idea of someone being a "witch" that they would do the extreme as to hanging them.  Further more, how it was a sin to lie in the society, yet I wouldn't put it past me that most of the people accused, lied to get them out of that situation.  However, it was the only way to get them from being hanged of something that you may or may not be and have no way of proving otherwise.  In saying this I think the most interesting character was Abigal.  She was most dynamic character from being accused of practicing witch craft, to being the innocent victim, to fleeing Salem.  Abigail causes the most problems in the book, especially for Proctor John, and at the end of the book she flees because she codemmed the one person she loved to hang. 

Karen's Input on Dyanna's Presentation

Through out the whole block, we have been studying transcendentalism as a class. We made connections to characters in The Scarlet Letter, like Hester, to making connections of the character of John Proctor in The Crucible. Today in Dyanna Pacheco's presentation she focused on one of the female civil rights leader, Rosa Parks. When I think of Parks, I think of a transcendentalist character not following the norms of society. She stands by her own ground, no matter the consequences. Especially being an African-American woman during the Civil Rights Movement, society imposed so many rules on to her. Whether it was from not drinking from a White person's water fountain or not speaking up about her rights just because of her gender, only caused her to not obey the rules. Just like Hester, Parks did whatever felt right at her heart. Do you agree with this connection?

Elizabeth & John

A prominent yet rocky relationship, which is a tragedy in itself. Instead of giving us a beloved couple which we can easily root for, Arthur Miller gives an estranged couple with a crumbling relationship. To me, it seemed that despite their failing marriage, John and Elizabeth deeply loved each other. I believe that is why John felt so hurt by Elizabeth's coldness to him before he cheated. That is also why I believe it was so hard for Elizabeth to forgive him. It seemed like they grew distant over time, and their pride stopped them from admitting and or stopping it. However, they were forced to face their failing relationship when John cheated. Yet even then they both pushed it off, and avoided really confronting it, and moving on. However, the witch trials forced them to face each other, and to really be honest with one another. And I believe that brought them together again. The prime example of this being John and Elizabeth's final dialogue before John was hanged. Despite not being romantic in the traditional sense, the underlying emotion was powerful. As I have stated before, to me, the only reason Elizabeth even tried to change John's mind was out of a personal desire to be with him again, to have him to herself again. Additionally, I believe the only reason John initially agreed was Elizabeth, and the thought of finally having her love him and accept him again. In short, the idea of forgetting everything else, and just thinking of each other was almost tempting enough for them to go against everything they believed in. However, they knew they couldn't live with themselves if they were that selfish, so they sacrificed their relationship to do what was right. Do you agree?  

The Power of The Individual

One person's word was the reasoning for countless executions. One person was able to turn a town on itself, and cause a movement that to this day lives in infamy. One person, was able to bypass the American judicial system, and lock away his enemies for crimes they have yet to commit. This idea of the power of the individual, is what makes The Crucible so powerful. Because, no matter how you look at the Salem witch trials, or McCarthyism/The Red Scare, it always came down to one persons word. Whether it be Abigail or McCarthy, one person was able to change, or make history, depending on how you look at it. Now you could say that in both cases it was the people that enacted these movements, it was the general public which incited revolution amongst themselves. However, Abigail and McCarthy where the catalysts, the excuse the people needed to take action on their fears. Do you blame the water for rippling when a stone is thrown into it? Or do you blame the person who threw the stone? For the water, it is only natural to ripple, to react to what has spurred its movement. But for the individual, it is deliberate. They want to see the water react, they want to cause a change. As for the stone, it is something always their, something that always has the potential to cause the water to move. However, it can not act on its own, because it is a tool. So in this rather elaborate analogy, the stone is fear. For fear is what causes people to react, what causes the water to ripple. But in a different perspective, the stone is a tool, a tool for those willing to use it, those who are willing or desiring the water to react. I guess with the elaborate analogy put aside, I am trying to say something that both the Salem witch trials, and McCarthyism demonstrate. We are all at risk of giving in to our fears, of allowing ourselves to be used. We are all looking for an excuse to attack our fears, despite what they might be, and that is what gives people like Abigail and McCarthy power over us. Because to them fear is a tool, something that can be used to incite the downfall of anyone. And I guess that is the main reason for the Salem witch trials, or McCarthyism, or any similar movement/event. These opposing perspectives on fear. It is what has caused many movements, and will continue to cause many more. And I personally believe that is something Arthur Miller focused heavily on in the Crucible.

Elizabeth vs Abigail

Elizabeth is the long-suffering wife of a man who betrayed her. She is a good wife and mother, with a strong sense of morality and virtue. She punishes her husband continuously after his transgression by withholding her warmth, love, and trust. Abigail plays the vindictive, jilted lover. She is determined to exact revenge on Proctor's wife and have the man for herself. She has no scruples, and is willing to do whatever necessary to rid herself of her rival..... even to emit the false accusations that will lead to her demise. Like Elizabeth, she is determined to punish Proctor. 

The Proctors' Fate

As we know, or more accurately can predict, John Proctor was hung for his alleged sins, leaving behind Elizabeth, his three sons, and the expected baby. Personally I would have appreciated some closure on the remaining Proctors' behalf. Did John's death, coupled by all the other hangings, result in a cease of the witch trials and spare Elizabeth? Or did the court wait for the baby's birth to hang Elizabeth? If so, what happened to the, now four, Proctor children, were they taken in by anyone or where they left to wander the roads aimlessly, mirroring the fate of many cattle? What do you believe happened?

I believe that Tituba was the most interesting character in the crucible so far because she is the roots of the witch trials, she was blamed for bringing the devil and the injury of a girl. But she was saying she had nothing to do with the devil and never knew one. Then they mention how they would kill her so she says she did know a devil but she had nothing to do with him, Then starts mentioning people that she knew that had an affiliation with the devil then Abigail and others start ratting out names as well. So the reason i believe she is interesting because she started the trials.

Abigial and Proctor

We learn that the affair ended seven months ago; however, Abigail makes it clear that she wants Proctor back. Proctor, on the other hand, is determined not to resume their relationship (which is just a bit different than saying he does not still want to be with). So could Abigian and Proctor possible get back together?

The Crucible:Most Interesting Character

In my opinion I think that Abigail is an interesting character. She is very unpredictable; in the first act she ratted out a lot of women in the town saying  they took part in the witchcraft just so she could take off the heat from her and put it on other people. Then we find out in act two that she accused Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, of being out in the forest with them. Abigail did this because she knew that it would cause a conflict between Elizabeth and Proctor, also she did it to get rid of Elizabeth so she could be with Proctor. Who knows what else Abigail will do to get what she wants. What are your thoughts on Abigail? Do you think that she is a horrible, selfish person or is there more to Abigail than how she is seen now?

Most interesting character

I think the most interesting character is Hale. Like Ali said in Ross's today, Hale seems to know what he's talking about when it comes to the Devil and demons. He isn't afraid to speak about those types of things which makes him interesting. Hale also seems like the type of person that takes charge, he gives off this authoritative vibe.

Proctor and Elizabeth

Today we read Act two from The Crucible, and it seemed to focus on the relationship between Elizabeth and Proctor. We discover that Elizabeth knew about the affair he with Abigail, and that there are trust issues. Their relationship of wife and husband is very tense and Proctor has had enough of Elizabeth always doubting him. She has noticed that he is always defending Abigail, that's why she wants him to confront her for bringing Elizabeth's name up. From what we can analyze from these characters, can they be compared to characters from The Scarlet Letter? Also Abigail, can she be compared to perhaps Chillingworth?

The Crucible Act 1: Abigail

The character that intrigued me the most was Abigail because she is so evil and mischievous. Abigail in my opinion is the most important character because throughout Act 1, she causes many civilians consequences for actions they have never done. After being caught doing unusual acts in the forest, she carelessly began to lie and blaming others for her own problems. She seems to have a grudge on everyone. I believe her reason for her sinful and heartless acts was because she witnessed the death of her parents. Furthermore, leaving her as an orphan and left to an uncle who cares about himself more than his own niece. Therefore, I believe that her motive is to cast a charm on anyone who crosses her or anyone who she dislikes. Her past seems to affect her, mentally. For example she drank a charm that was filled with blood to kill John Proctor's wife in order for her to be with her love, John. For Abigail to get what she wants, she needs to cast spells and wish them to be killed. She also drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor. This child is very diabolical.

Tituba

The character I found interesting was Tituba. This is because of her change in character when she was accused of being a witch.When Parris asked her if she was a witch , she at first said no,  but then had to change her answer in order to save herself. She had to confess to the reverend and give him the names of the witches she thought were the ones that harmed Betty. The situation that Tituba was in and how she reacted to it seemed interesting to me because she was a great example of how the majority of the people would react during the late 1600's when being accused. It's a cycle in which everyone accuses one another and continues until one of them (or a group of people) is found guilty and punished.

Betty

I think Betty is pretty interesting at this point. She was dancing in the woods with a kettle on a fire, creating a love potion with a so called witch, and apparently saw the devil but faints when she sees her dad? My guess is that she's faking her coma to cover up or make people pity her so they will forget what she was going. The moment she hears that by ratting out other people they will not be killed she wakes up and rats out Abigail.

Reverend John Hale

Reverend John Hale is the most interesting character because he has high knowledge towards the devil. Also, he knows about marks from the devil and he has no fear of the devil. Unlike most whom may be afraid to collaborate with the Devil, Hale has no fear or remorse for the Devil and the actions taken towards to bring out the Devil from Abigial. Any suggestions on why else he may be intriguing?

The Crucible

"Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it-and I'll Be whipped if I must be. But they're speakin' of witchcraft. Betty's not witched".

So, could this be a another England such as the England Oliver Cromwell ruled. Cromwell banned all singing, dancing, and nearly all enjoyment. Witchcraft is considered dancing? As we progress Parris states that "abominations are done in the forest" thus one can conclude that most witchcraft was done in the forest.  Therefore, as the story progresses readers will soon discover that all enjoyment is considered witchcraft. Any thoughts on what may come?

The Crucible(Background Information)

The Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists. Miller himself was questioned by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s US House of Representatives’ Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and was convicted of "contempt of Congress" for refusing to identify others present at meetings he had attended. The play was first performed on Broadway on January 22, 1953. Miller felt that this production was too stylized and cold and the reviews for it were largely hostile. Nonetheless, the production won the 1953 "Best Play" Tony Award. A year later a new production succeeded and the play became a classic. Today it is studied in high schools and universities because of its status as a revolutionary work of theatre and for its allegorical relationship to testimony given before the Committee on Un-American Activities during the 1950s. It is a central work in the canon of American drama.

Source: https://sites.google.com/site/english3gk/home/literature/the-colonial-period/the-crucible/the-crucible-notes/background-information-on-the-crucible

Chapter 23

In this chapter the Townspeople are stunned by what they have seen. Mr. Dimmesdale  has died and the Scarlet Letter on his chest in exposed for everyone to see. Many people in the crowd are astonished by this and they start to question what they have seen ,therefore, Hawthorne shows his point of view as some of the noble townspeople start defending Dimmesdale. Ironically, Toget Chillingworth has wasted nearly a decade of his life trying to torture Dimmesdale and he starts to feel an inner rage because he never go his vengeance( yeah right). Any thoughts if Chillingworth will be able to aboard the ship if Hester doesn't say anything to the crewmen? Will he find a way to aboard the ship? Thoughts.

Chapter 22

It's Election Day and the whole town is filled with smiles and music. Everyone has gathered in the Market Place to celebrate this traditional holiday. As Hester and Pearl join the festivities, the captain of a ship that is leaving for England tells Hester that Roger Chillingworth is also going along for the trip. How on Earth could Chillingworth found out about Hester's and Dimmesdale's plan to escape to England? I just have no idea how he would have known that. Does any one have any explanations? Also, what is the whole point of Election Day? Does a new governor take the place of the old one?