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?
Yes, I also believe that the story should've given us more than for what it had left. I am also curious about Elizabeth and the three sons and there whereabouts because it gives us a prediction that the children and the wife will continue with their lives but at the same time we cant assume. We need more than the ending.
ReplyDeleteI am elated to know that I am not the only one who was dissatisfied with the ending, I too would have liked more than the actual ending.
DeleteI believe the ambiguity of the ending plays on the themes of the story, and is a reflection of the uncertain end to the red scare/ McCarthyism. I think Arthur Miller wanted there to be doubt in the audience's mind, so they would wonder if things really did work out. The reason being the theme or moral corruption. In a play where everything was doomed to end terribly I don't think the Miller wanted their to be a happy ending. Furthermore, this was supposed to be a social commentary on McCarthyism, therefore, since Miller did not know what the outcome of McCarthyism would be, it would make sense that he leave the ending up to the thoughts of the audience. Also, Miller probably wanted to further his criticism of McCarthyism, therefore an ominous ending would leave the audience worried, and subsequently in doubt of the motives/outcome of McCarthyism. Personally I loved the ending, for it really is subjective, yet it still follows what Miller as trying to accomplish.
DeleteHowever, the ominous ending leaves room for doubt of there being any further repercussions. It may have been in Miller's best interests to provide a more straightforward ending, to show that McCarthyism did indeed ruin the lives of any, without bothering to water down the bitterness of the subject.
DeleteBut to give a more straightforward ending would only prolong the plot, if not completely drag it out. John's death and Elizabeth's emotional goodbye was what summed up the play. Also, John and everyone else execution that day were supposed to be the end of the witch trials. Without the witch trials, this play would have to solely focus on Elizabeth, as she is the lone surviving excused (who has not confessed). Therefore, the societal and moral implications would most likely be lost if it solely focused on one individual.
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DeleteI believe that Elizabeth was spared because if Proxyor was hung, there would be no need to hang Elizabeth for she has lost her husband due to the courts. Would Parris raise Proctors children?
ReplyDeleteThe courts do not care whether or not she has lost her husband becasue she was branded a witch by the court, and so, no moral correlation would be likely to spare her life for she is still a witch in their eyes. Unless you mean that the courts repealed her sentence due to John Proctor's death then I am not sure we are on the same page. Following your statement of Elizabeth's pardon, why would Parris need to raise John's children if their mother was still alive? However, while on the notion of the Proctor children's next possible gaurdian, I believe that Reverand John Hale would be a much more likely, and willing, choice.
DeleteI agree with Ali that they might spare Elizabeth's life, but only because the legitimacy of the witch trials was completely debunked in the end of the play. With this knowledge, the courts might try and lessen the charge of a now widowed mother to be. However, I agree with Jovanni that they would not lessen her punishment solely because her husbands death. Maybe if Elizabeth demonstrated attempts at repent they would be able to lessen her charge. Finally, I disagree with both Parris and or Hale raising the children. Parris would not associate with the children of 2 convicted witches, especially when his daughter was thought to be one. And Hale could not take on that burden. He came from another town, has presumably never been married, and knows nothing of child care. A mid-wife, or small family seems like the most likely options.
DeleteI agree with you Jovanni. I believe that the ending should have been more satisfying and told us what happened to the other characters. To answer your question, I think that Elizabeth didn't die because they realized that they killed all of those innocent people. So Proctor's death was the one to end the witch trials in that town.
ReplyDeleteIf they do end up hanging Elizabeth, I wonder what's going to happen to the new baby and the their three other kids. I would've liked for them to continue the story and tell us what happens to Elizabeth and her kids.
ReplyDeleteIf they do end up hanging Elizabeth, I wonder what's going to happen to the new baby and the their three other kids. I would've liked for them to continue the story and tell us what happens to Elizabeth and her kids.
ReplyDeleteAre you searching for some kind of happy ending? Regardless if Elizabeth dies, it is still tragic. Proctor dieing is closure enough because it shows the injustice of the time. We don't need Elizabeth and her children suffering more or carrying on to prove that.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the message was clear, and if the story were to continue it would only drag out the plot. As I have preciously stated, the goal of Arthur Miller was not to give closure or a feel good story.
DeleteWould showing Elizabeth giving birth and then hanging be too much? There might be some decency in sparing this kind of ending. Conversely, if the family survives and makes a new life for themselves, don't you think it would detract from Arthur Miller's message?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they would not kill the baby after birth since it is the child of a "witch". At the very least I would expect the town to be suspicious of the baby, and the rest of John and Elizabeth's children. Additionally, I agree it would take away from the message if characters were to have happy endings.
DeleteAlthough there might be some decency in not including such details, as you stated in your previous comment Mrs. Ross, "it is still tragic." It is simply my opinion that depicting Elizabeth's fate would have ameliorated the tragedy that could have resulted from, the witch trials once modern form, McCarthyism. Thus detracting the public further from McCarthyism and its legitimacy.
DeleteBut if the audience is given a happy ending, or even an ending which would 'ameliorates the tragedy' to loosely paraphrase. Wouldn't you agree that it would make the audience content, and less motivated to protest McCarthyism. Throughout history it seems to always take a tragedy to incite a movement, even a counter movement. Happy endings don't cause change, they maintain the status quo, I believe.
DeleteI actually really want to know what happened to Abigail. The last thing we knew about her was that she left Salem, but what about justice? I would've liked to know what her future was. But who knows, perhaps Miller kept that out of the story for our own interpretation.
ReplyDeleteConsidering this is based on actaul historical figures, I would assume that Abigail, or the person Abigail is based off of really did get away with it. Also, it seems fitting that she would get away, because without her actions being revealed to the public, the court can never admitt its mistake. So if she is not there to take the blame, justice can never be given to her victims. And the lack of justice for the innocent is a prominent theme in the play.
DeleteI agree. I think Abigail getting away was in the court's favor, especially Danforth who wanted to keep his reputation. If Abigail got away with it, it's probably because the court didnt make an effort to find her.
DeleteAbigail's escape may also have been Miller's way of drawing attention to the fact that individuals who were practicing McCarthyism did not experience any repercussions most of the time.
DeleteI agree, since most of McCarthy's followers were politicians, they were often above the law. Or at the very least the courts were reluctant to charge them, as it would cause massive public backlash.
DeleteI agree, the ending leaves the reader craving for answers. I don't think we necessarily wanted a happy ending, I think we just wanted to know what happened. I had the same questions you had. I inferred that after Proctor's death, the salem witch trials ended. On the other hand, I wanted questions to be answered. For example, what happened to Elizabeth and her kids? Did they ever punish Abigail?
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