1.In one of Judge Danforth's passages in Act III, he shows logical fallacy. In our court system, there are witnesses to help make the decision on whether the person is innocent or guilty. Judge Danforth said in his passage that there is no witnesses for witchcraft and the only person who could testify is the one being cursed by the witch because the witch would not accuse themselves. The wrong thing with that is the girls saying they are being cursed could be totally lying and say what they want to say and no one would ever know because they are the only witnesses of this trial. The best example would be Abigail and all the lies she makes and still everyone believes her. Judge Danforth shows many other examples of logical fallacy and it is easily observed.
2.When Mrs. Putnam explains the reasons for expelling Abigail, she is showing dramatic irony. Before Elizabeth even comes to the courthouse, John admits he committed adultery with Abigail to erase the accusation of Elizabeth being a witch. John also says his wife would never lie and that she is a good woman. Then Elizabeth is called in to testify whether John committed adultery or not. Then when Elizabeth is asked, she stops to think and then answers no and she has lied when John said she would not. The dramatic irony is that Elizabeth lied when everybody thought she would but she only did it because she thought she was helping her husband and doing the right thing.
3.While in the courtroom in Act IV, Mary Warren turns on Proctor and rushes to Abigail saying she would not hurt her anymore. In Arthur Miller's stage directions, it says "Abigail, out of her infinite charity, reaches out." The two words "infinite charity" is an example of dramatic irony and to the reader, verbal irony. There is much irony in this because everybody knows that Abigail was not being nice to Mary Warren and accepting her back but the only reason she did was to make it seem that she is being truthful with the whole witchhunt deal because she knew Proctor was going to force Mary Warren to explain what was really happening and then she would be in a good deal of trouble.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Crucible Act IV Quiz
1.Act IV of the play shows themes of guilt and revenge and these themes have an impact on the characters. There are a few examples of the themes I would like to show and the effect they had on the characters. My first one would be Abigail. After Act III Abigail knows that Hale knows that she is lying about the people she accused and now she wants revenge on him and tries to accuse Mr. Hale's wife of witchcraft. Abigail also begins to feel the guilt come upon her and she runs away to Barbados with Tituba. Another example would be Elizabeth and John Proctor. Both of them begin to feel guilty for one another's series of unfortunate events. Elizabeth feels that if she would not have runned a cold house(she was sick and miserable) John would not have cheated on her. John feels he has been an unloving and greedy husband and now he feels the guilt of Elizabeth's accusation. Both of them feel they are the reason for one another's accusation. The themes of Act IV truely impacted the characters and create the conclusion for the play.
2. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is an extended metaphor of the Red Scare in America during the 1950's. The Crucible could also be an extended metaphor to 9/11. The Crucible basically represents the effects of mass hysteria and 9/11 has brought about mass hysteria in America. Citizens of the United States are now afraid of terroists and what might happen in the future and now everybody in this country looks at everybody with a little bit of fear because it is possible they might be a terroist. Another thing The Crucible shows is the revenge people have on others and this can also be tied in with 9/11. After 9/11, President Bush sent our troops to the middle east to find weapons of mass destruction. The only thing with that is there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction. Could the reason for sending troops over was because of revenge and to show them how powerful the U.S. is? Also now the government has enabled the Patriot Act which enables them to basically spy on anybody who they think is a terroist. Just like the Crucible 9/11 has brought about mass hysteria and if power ends up in the wrong hands things could get worse.
2. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is an extended metaphor of the Red Scare in America during the 1950's. The Crucible could also be an extended metaphor to 9/11. The Crucible basically represents the effects of mass hysteria and 9/11 has brought about mass hysteria in America. Citizens of the United States are now afraid of terroists and what might happen in the future and now everybody in this country looks at everybody with a little bit of fear because it is possible they might be a terroist. Another thing The Crucible shows is the revenge people have on others and this can also be tied in with 9/11. After 9/11, President Bush sent our troops to the middle east to find weapons of mass destruction. The only thing with that is there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction. Could the reason for sending troops over was because of revenge and to show them how powerful the U.S. is? Also now the government has enabled the Patriot Act which enables them to basically spy on anybody who they think is a terroist. Just like the Crucible 9/11 has brought about mass hysteria and if power ends up in the wrong hands things could get worse.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Crucible Act II Quiz
1. In Act II of the Crucible, John Proctor states “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!” This quote explains many things that are happening in Salem. The first and obvious thing he points out is how the children are getting what they want by controlling the village by themselves. The next thing he points out that is true is that now that the children have a sense of power in the village the elder citizens are also too using the power and using it to get back at somebody or for something. But like Proctor said it was always like that in Salem but no one showed it until the children began to rule the village. Examples I would like to show are how Putnam uses this idea of the witchhunt to accuse people and try to get land and money. Another example would be Abigail trying to accuse Goody Proctor just to get Proctor. There are people who are ruled by greed and will do anything to get what they want.
2. Act II exemplifies and shows the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor. I would say the relationship is one of convenience. Act II provides many examples of their relationship. One would be when they are at the dinner table and they forced small talk to make it seem like a normal relationship but you could sense the tension between the two. Another example would be that Elizabeth knows that John has committed adultery with Abigail but she stays with John to keep his good name. Even though the Act looks down on the relationship of the Proctors, it seems to me that they still have love for each other.
3.Reverend Hale of Beverly is called upon his services to diminish Satan in Salem. Mr. Hale comes upon a fork in the road when he arrives the Proctor home. While at Proctor's house, Mr. Hale is questioning them on their religious beliefs. As he finds their answers a bit shaky, he senses that there is no sign of Satan in the Proctor home. But when Cheever finds the poppet and the needle, Hale begins to question Cheever not on religious beliefs but on a philosophical level and this is where he becomes concerned that somebody may be behind the witchhunt scheme.
4.Ezekiel Cheever is a good representation of the averagae Amereican. You could see during the play Cheever does what he is told to do. The average American is just the same. Many people like to follow a group or the majority of people and they do not do go with what they believe in. It is just like a teenager who is succumbed by peer pressure and goes with the crowd even though they may not like what they are doing. the average American is a follower not a leader.
2. Act II exemplifies and shows the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor. I would say the relationship is one of convenience. Act II provides many examples of their relationship. One would be when they are at the dinner table and they forced small talk to make it seem like a normal relationship but you could sense the tension between the two. Another example would be that Elizabeth knows that John has committed adultery with Abigail but she stays with John to keep his good name. Even though the Act looks down on the relationship of the Proctors, it seems to me that they still have love for each other.
3.Reverend Hale of Beverly is called upon his services to diminish Satan in Salem. Mr. Hale comes upon a fork in the road when he arrives the Proctor home. While at Proctor's house, Mr. Hale is questioning them on their religious beliefs. As he finds their answers a bit shaky, he senses that there is no sign of Satan in the Proctor home. But when Cheever finds the poppet and the needle, Hale begins to question Cheever not on religious beliefs but on a philosophical level and this is where he becomes concerned that somebody may be behind the witchhunt scheme.
4.Ezekiel Cheever is a good representation of the averagae Amereican. You could see during the play Cheever does what he is told to do. The average American is just the same. Many people like to follow a group or the majority of people and they do not do go with what they believe in. It is just like a teenager who is succumbed by peer pressure and goes with the crowd even though they may not like what they are doing. the average American is a follower not a leader.
Crucible Act I Quiz
1. The characterization of Mrs. Putnam in the first act of the play is relevant to some events that happened in the twenty-first century. In the first act Mrs. Putnam was quick to blame the chlildren's illnesses on witchcraft with no evidence that proved it. One event truely relevant to this would be the president's decision (George W. Bush) to send troops to the middle east for the search of weapons of mass destruction. The only thing was there was no evidence that proved there was weapons of mass destruction in the middle east and it seems the president is sending or own men and women over there because of what happened on 9/11. One other event that is revelant would be how citizens our making quick judgements on Obama. They are saying they would not be good leaders for this country because of non-experience. The thing with that is Obama has not had a chance to lead a country and how could people make that decision with no proof? It goes to show that many people have opinions but have nothing to support those opinions.
2. During the first act of the play Parris's daughter Betty has become ill and when someone mentions the idea that the illness is due to witchcraft it spreads throughout Salem and now people begin to have doubts for Reverend Parris because the devil has entered his home. Now Reverend Parris is struggling to keep his good name in the village. The presidential race is relevant to what Reverend Parris was doing. Now coming close to the end, Obama and McCain are now trying to explain why they voted for certain bills or why they voted to raise certain taxes and so forth. Another event would be how SNL was beginning to drop in their viewer ratings but now with the presidential race they have been using this and trying to bring up their viewer ratings. Most people want to keep their good names in the community or world and will do anything at any cost to keep it.
2. During the first act of the play Parris's daughter Betty has become ill and when someone mentions the idea that the illness is due to witchcraft it spreads throughout Salem and now people begin to have doubts for Reverend Parris because the devil has entered his home. Now Reverend Parris is struggling to keep his good name in the village. The presidential race is relevant to what Reverend Parris was doing. Now coming close to the end, Obama and McCain are now trying to explain why they voted for certain bills or why they voted to raise certain taxes and so forth. Another event would be how SNL was beginning to drop in their viewer ratings but now with the presidential race they have been using this and trying to bring up their viewer ratings. Most people want to keep their good names in the community or world and will do anything at any cost to keep it.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Of Mice and Men
At the end of Mice and Men, George kills Lennie by the pond where the novel started. Why did George do it? Was it in good intentions or was it down right cruel? I think it was a little bit of both. I thought it was in good intentions that George killed Lennie. I think George knew life would be difficult for Lennie living in a jail or even an insane institution. George knew Lennie would just become crazier whereever he ended up because the people would not have treated him the way he should be treated. Also George might of been thinking life would be easier for Lennie dead then struggling with life. On the otherhand George's action was a little bit cruel. George could not handle the fact that if he wouldn't of killed Lennie he would of had to still take care of him and not live the life he wanted to. George knew his life would be worse with Lennie alive and he just wanted to live his life. You can look at this from either side and still have a good arguement good arguement to explain whether you thought it was cruel or in good intentions.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Crucible and the Red Scare
Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible to satirize the Red Scare in America. During the Red Scare in America Joseph McCarthy began a hunt for communists in America to help him get votes with the Republicans. This hunt brought charges against innocent people and scare throughout America. The Crucible perfectly satirizes that. In the Crucible, Abigail Williams and John Proctor had an affair and after that Proctor knew what he did was wrong and wanted nothing to do with Abigail. Abigail thought otherwise though. Abigail brought about a witch hunt in Salem all just to get Proctor back. During this hunt innocent people were prosecuted and also Elizabeth Proctor who Abigail wanted prosecuted. Both Abigail and McCarthy both used their power to get what they wanted. The Crucible and the Red Scare show that a little bit of power could be used wrongly and scare a whole community or country. Also it shows how many people would stand for what they believe for.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The America that Mark Twain wrote about in Huck Finn has some similarities and differences with today's America. First I'll talk about the differences. In Mark Twain's America he shows how much racism there is and how much America was spilted and in today's America there is not as much racism and the two main races live together now. In America today people have become more intelligent than the people from back then. The main difference that came to me is that people in today's world have become more different in the way they think and the way they live. The America in Mark Twain's book people basically lived the same and also most people had the same views of life. Now I'll talk about the similarities. There is still racism in the world even though it is not as bad as back then. Some people may not show their racist views but there are people who think that way and it continues to spilt America a little. Like the King and the Dauphin who were con men in Huck Finn, there are people in America who still continue to do that and harm other people. Also there is still child abuse just like in Huck Finn. The main similarity is that people are always on the hunt to find out who they are just like Huck Finn.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Crucible, Act II
HOW THE CRUCIBLE, ACT II, REPRESENTS TODAY
What ways does the Crucible, Act II, represent today? You could say Elizabeth represents a victim of society. Hale a confused leader. Or even Cheever of being someone who believes in what they see without any reasoning. Throughout Act II, many characters represent and satirize life in America in many different ways.
Cheever represents someone who believes in what they see without reasoning. He proves this with the poppet incident at the Proctor’s house. You definitely see this a lot in America. The perfect example is an ad on TV during a commercial. People see something good and without even thinking about the consequences, they go ahead and buy and totally waste their money. Giles Corey reminds me of this type of person also. During the feud at the Parris’s household, he contributed to the witch hunt conversation by saying that his wife, Martha, reads books. He did not think about what he was doing and later that would come back and haunt him. All of these false accusations and people not thinking create victims in life.
The prime example of a victim is Elizabeth. Throughout the play, she is a loyal citizen never doing any harm but is falsely accused of being a witch all because of a mistake her husband made which led to it. A good example from American life would be what happened to the guy from Gasway outside of Saint Clair. After the 9/11 incident, he was beat up because of his race. He was falsely accused all because of what one leader chose to do. Now also because of that leader’s choice, people in the Middle East are suffering everyday having to live through a war. Now with people believing in what they see and being falsely accused, someone has to help the situation, right?
Reverend Hale of Beverly represents a leader in confusion. Throughout the Act, Hale does not know what decision he should make; do what I am told or help the people who are right but are being falsely accused. Hale, to me, satirize people who are voting for this year’s presidential election. Citizens can’t decide who the better candidate for president is. This hard decision then lead citizens to vote for who is more popular or who most people are voting for. The eligible voter should pick who they think is the right one to lead the country. Reverend Hale could also represent a teenager. Throughout my high school career, I could say that there has been many of times where I needed to make tough decisions and did not know what to do.
All of these representations can paint a picture of life in America. You could tell how Arthur Miller is trying to satirize American life and how well he does it. What I learned from the Crucible, Act II, is always stand up for what you believe in and never let anyone changed that.
What ways does the Crucible, Act II, represent today? You could say Elizabeth represents a victim of society. Hale a confused leader. Or even Cheever of being someone who believes in what they see without any reasoning. Throughout Act II, many characters represent and satirize life in America in many different ways.
Cheever represents someone who believes in what they see without reasoning. He proves this with the poppet incident at the Proctor’s house. You definitely see this a lot in America. The perfect example is an ad on TV during a commercial. People see something good and without even thinking about the consequences, they go ahead and buy and totally waste their money. Giles Corey reminds me of this type of person also. During the feud at the Parris’s household, he contributed to the witch hunt conversation by saying that his wife, Martha, reads books. He did not think about what he was doing and later that would come back and haunt him. All of these false accusations and people not thinking create victims in life.
The prime example of a victim is Elizabeth. Throughout the play, she is a loyal citizen never doing any harm but is falsely accused of being a witch all because of a mistake her husband made which led to it. A good example from American life would be what happened to the guy from Gasway outside of Saint Clair. After the 9/11 incident, he was beat up because of his race. He was falsely accused all because of what one leader chose to do. Now also because of that leader’s choice, people in the Middle East are suffering everyday having to live through a war. Now with people believing in what they see and being falsely accused, someone has to help the situation, right?
Reverend Hale of Beverly represents a leader in confusion. Throughout the Act, Hale does not know what decision he should make; do what I am told or help the people who are right but are being falsely accused. Hale, to me, satirize people who are voting for this year’s presidential election. Citizens can’t decide who the better candidate for president is. This hard decision then lead citizens to vote for who is more popular or who most people are voting for. The eligible voter should pick who they think is the right one to lead the country. Reverend Hale could also represent a teenager. Throughout my high school career, I could say that there has been many of times where I needed to make tough decisions and did not know what to do.
All of these representations can paint a picture of life in America. You could tell how Arthur Miller is trying to satirize American life and how well he does it. What I learned from the Crucible, Act II, is always stand up for what you believe in and never let anyone changed that.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I think the Crucible is still relevant to our society today. The fight against terroism represents the witch hunts back in 1692. Ever since September eleventh, everybody has the fear of terroists and the fear of the what may happen if they attack. The government has become strict with airplane travels and flying in and out of the country. Right now our Army is fighting against terroism and is trying to protect our country. All of these attacks against terroism are similiar to the attacks against witches in the Crucible. Also, the whole reason the witch hunts started in the Crucible is all because Abigail wanted John Proctor as her love and the whole reason the attacks on September eleventh began is because of differences of beliefs and the idea of more power.
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