Homework 22nd May

A hero is someone who stands up for what they believe in and does not let anyone define the. In Arthur Miller’s screenplay The Crucible, John Proctor is portrayed as the plays hero. This is exemplified through such qualities shown through, his honour and self-pride, selfless actions and his honesty. Throughout the play Proctor is constantly illustrated as a Christian man and one who believes in his values. He is very loyal to his faith “I take my own sins!..who will judge me? God in heaven, what is John Proctor, what is John Proctor? I think it is honest, I think so; I am no saint”. However his act of adultery with Abigail brings him his ultimate demise when he refuses to bring shame on his name, this proving he is a very proud man who places great emphasis on his reputation. Shown through the quote, “because it is my name! Because I can not have another in my life! Because I am not worth the dust of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Above all else, his selfless actions towards his community, in particular Elizabeth, how he influences her in a positive way and helps her overcome her worries “give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honour now, show a stony heart and sink them with it”. Though in the end his pride brings him to meet his death, but John Proctor is a hero possibly more of a tragic hero but still a hero, as he stood up for was right and put the lives of other before his own. 

Homework 16th May

When John originally confesses for witchcraft, I think he does this just so he can survive. He is being selfless by doing this because he knows he will never be able to forgive himself for lying but wants to be there for his unborn son. I think he feels that he has to be there for his children and wife, it would be selfish for him to leave them. Elizabeth still refuses to say allowed what she feels, and John seems as if he is searching her for a clear answer. As soon as John confesses he regrets it. HaTherone cries, "he will confess!Proctor will confess". After this statement it is clear the regret in Proctor's tone "Why do you cry it? It is evil! Is it not? It is evil!" . I think then it hits him that he could not live with himself for lying and the noble thing to do was to face the gallows.

14th May homework

In Elizabeth's heart I think she wants John to confess to witchcraft but knows that he is to honest to admit to a lie. She also thinks it would be selfish, for John to confess to witchcraft as it would only be so that they would still be able to be together, eventhough John would be dying inside due to the lie he told. If she could I believe that she would plead with him to confess but knows deep down that he would never. Her last words to John would be to keep his dignity to the very end and that they will see each other again one day in the near future.

14th May Homework

DANFORTH [going to her]: Goody Proctor, you are not summoned here for disputation. Be there no wifely tenderness within you? He will die with the sunrise. Your husband. Do you understand it? [She only looks at him.] What say you? Will you contend with him? [She is silent.] Are you stone? I tell you true, woman, had I no other proof of your unnatural life, your dry eyes now would be sufficient evidence that you delivered up your soul to Hell! A very ape would weep at such calamity! Have the devil dried up any tear of pity in you? [She is silent.] Take her out. It profit nothing she should speak to him! Elizabeth [Rising from her chair in a sudden outburst of rage]:To weep is to make less the depth of grief, and often a long session of weeping can often make you feel better, but I feel as if no amount of tears could make me feel any less pain and suffering. So how dare you go and accuse me of having my soul being delivered to the devil and to hell. I love my husband and he it to proud to forgive himself for the mistakes he has made in life [her chest rises and falls quickly as she gasps for breath]. I will speak with him, but let I leave you with this,my husband and I if anything are honest and when I say we have never have conspired with the devil I truly mean it.

Homework 8th May

Throughout the introduction of reverend Hale in Act 1, Arthur Miller instills his beliefs of the devil onto the reader. As Arthur Miller is widely proclaimed as a moral writer, his views stem heavily from a Jewish background, which he imposes on the audience through the concept of the devil as a very real and identifiable being in the play. This is reflected in the quote from reverend Hale, "we cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise". He talks of Lucifer and his many faced lieutenants, meaning that the devil can come in any form. "It is as impossible for most man to conceive of a morality without sin", this demonstrates Miller's belief that it is impossible to be good without bad. He continues to discuss that when worship of the devil arrises, these people should be condemned because as reverend Hale says, "Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven." Throughout the first Act Miller continues brings out the good and bad within people and displays that even deeply religious people have their own imperfections and beliefs.

Homework 30th April 2012

From the first act of the book I have responded negatively to the character Abigail. This is mainly in part due to the fact she didn't own up straight away and by doing this, putting many other lives at risk. Because she was the leader of the group she is also portrayed as overbearing and to dominant for my liking. She also puts her needs in front of everyone else's to capture the eye of an already married man, driven only by sexual desire and a lust for power. "I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!"

 The second character from the book which i respond to in a better light is John Proctor. He is an honest, upright, and blunt-spoken individual. It is clear that Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, fatal flaw. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair (which occurs before the play begins), and created Abigail’s jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion, and eventually Proctor's demise. "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. . . . She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance. . . ".

Why does Sade feel Guilty about lyng?

Sade feels bad about lying because her parents always told her to never lie. Evidence of this, in the story is when she thinks back and remembered mama telling her "Tell a lie play with fire. But don't complain of the smoke" (p113). This quotation means that