Friday, January 3, 2020

Essay The Importance of Principles in The Crucible

In the play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the character John Proctor will not lie and confess to something he did not do. Thus, he is hanged for his principles. Proctor has two main principles he felt were more important to respect and uphold than his own life. The most obvious one was his reputation. In theocratic Salem, where private and public ethics are regarded equally, one’s reputation plays an important role. In such an environment where reputation is regarded so highly many are afraid of guilt by association. Various characters base their actions on the desire to protect their own reputations, in order to keep them in the best light possible. Towards the beginning of the play, John Proctor sought to keep his good name†¦show more content†¦His refusal to give up his false signed confession and even going so far as to rip it to shreds, is a religious stand, but also a personal stand as well. Such a confession would dishonor his fellow convicted friends, such a s Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, who were also brave enough to die as a testimony to the truth rather than satisfy the court with a false confession. Not to mention a false confession would also dishonor him, not just staining public reputation, but also his very essence. Proctor, without reservation, proclaims that the integrity he is showing will convince God to allow him into heaven. Thus when he goes to the gallows to be hanged, he has no fear of death, believing he will be forgiven for previous sins. After Hale begs Elizabeth to continue with trying to convince John to sign the confession, she responds, â€Å"He have his goodness now,† and coldly finishes the play with, â€Å"God forbid I take it from him!† She realizes that John is now at peace with himself for the sins he committed in the past and feels that he needs to go through with this to get back his goodness and honesty, lost during his affair with Abigail. It is my opinion that, yes, John’s principles were worth dying for. In Salem Village, an individual’s reputation plays an important role due to the factShow MoreRelatedThe Handmaids Tale And The Crucible1695 Words   |  7 PagesIs Resistance Futile? What do The Handmaid’s Tale and The Crucible suggest about the nature of resisting and rebelling against social order? Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Arthur Miller’s ,The Crucible, explore the consequences surrounding the nature of resisting and rebelling against social order. Resistance the refusal to accept or comply with something or to actively and passively fight against something. Atwood’s new government of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale enforces unthinkableRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1070 Words   |  5 PagesAugustin Eichwald Mrs. Hillsey English III-G 23 November 2014 Definition Essay: The Crucible Strange and peculiar happenings occur in The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller. In this story of hypocrisy, guilt, and revenge, innocent people are accused of the bizarre crime of witchcraft. In Salem, Massachusetts, hysteria sets in among every person over fear of being accused of these shocking accusations. Each and every person experiences a severe test or trial in order to live to see another day. InRead MoreJohn Proctor And The Scarlett Letter1299 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the 16th and 17th century a group of reformed protestant called Puritans had a profound effect on the establishment of Religion, this influenced early American society. Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlett Letter texts prevail the theme of Religion and Adultery. These particular authors wrote during the Puritan times and conveyed this time period in their texts while exploring the similarities and difference of Religion and Adultery in the Puritan CommunityRea d MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1639 Words   |  7 PagesThe Importance of Intentions By the standards of virtually any society, lying is an act that is almost certain to result in some form of contempt, hatred, or even ostracism. However, not all liars are regarded in the same way- there is an obvious difference of morality between a fraudulent politician and one lying to protect his own life. In his play The Crucible, Arthur Miller demonstrates the moral and societal differences between and consequences of different types of lies: A liar’s virtue isRead MoreCharacterization Of The Crucible757 Words   |  4 PagesShadman Raakin Ms. Brayer American Lit. 11 October 2017 Title In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the characterization of Abigail Williams, Thomas Putnam, and Governor Danforth, to show how people protect themselves during times of hysteria, which helps to continue the chaos that broke throughout Salem. Miller shows the importance of maintaining values and principles in order help end the chaos. Miller connects The Crucible with the events of the witch hunts from the 1690s where citizens were accusedRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1054 Words   |  5 Pagesacceptable solution to get rid of a strange friend or neighbor whom you feared be reporting them to authorities as a murderer? Would you let someone go to jail or even face the death penalty on behalf of your fear of their â€Å"odd† behavior? In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a group of young, Puritan girls is found dancing around a fire in the forests of Salem, Massachusetts. To prevent getting in trouble, the girls pretend to be overtaken by the Devil and accuse several othe r people in their town forRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of John Proctor983 Words   |  4 Pagesmust see the flaws within their traits to judge their character and the characters of others. Though a character can have significant moral flaws, they can be wise enough to recognize their flaws and change their ways. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the events that occurred during the Salem witch trials are dramatized, and the truth of judgement and vengeance is examined in a web of lies amongst the townspeople. The play’s dynamic protagonist, John Proctor, is a tormented individual who succumbsRead MoreMoral Conflict in the The Crucible Essay examples1500 Words   |  6 PagesMoral Conflict in the The Crucible Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, is a great portrayal of humans and their struggles. This play takes place in the 1690’s in Salem, a small Puritan community based on a rigid social system, where an outbreak of rumors claiming witchcraft contaminated the small village. The witch hysteria was initiated by a group of young girls (headed by Abigail Williams,) who were afraid of being accused of swaying from the strict regulations. This causedRead MoreThe Family Crucible: a Systemic Approach Essay1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe Brice Family: A systemic approach Juli Baines MFCC/561 January 9, 2013 Jenny Brenn, MFT, LCADC The Brice Family: A systemic approach The Family Crucible, written by Augustus Napier and Carl Whitaker (1978), exemplifies a fragmented family system. The family consists of David a VIP lawyer, Carolyn an angry mother, Claudia an enraged teenager, Don the 11-year-old peacemaker, and six-year-old Laura. Co-therapists, Napier and Whitaker have taken on the task of working with the family usingRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Miller s The Crucible 1122 Words   |  5 PagesKelleher English II Honors Mrs. Hagerty 14 January 2015 Corruption in The Crucible Good leaders are essential to the functionality and prosperity of a community. They should be honest, genuine, and selfless. Good leaders keep the interests of the people they lead in mind when making all decisions instead of focusing on their own personal goals. It can be quite disastrous when leaders have ulterior motives or bad principles. When leaders are dishonest, deceitful, and selfish, it causes problems for

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.