Week 6 Homework

The final and most important decision of John Proctor proves that he is a hero in the play, 'The Crucible'. A hero can be defined as one who does what is thought to be right, even if it goes against what the majority wants. John Proctor proves himself as a hero, especially towards to the end when he makes choices that cause him his life, but save several others. Proctor decides to not confess to witchcraft, accepting the fact that he will have to be hanged with others that are accused. When trying to find justice, he is not afraid to let himself be punished, as at one point he confesses to have had an affair with Abigail. He states, 'I have known her sir, I have known her' (p. 97). Upon being asked as to whether Rebecca Nurse had any connection with witchcraft to his knowledge, he refuses to say anything and states, 'I speak my own sins; I cannon judge another. I have no tongue for it' (p.123). The statement of Proctor shows that he thinks of others before himself, and will not do unjust actions, even if it means that he has to sacrifice his life, which he later does.

Week 5 Homework

John Proctor at first decides to confess to witchcraft and live, instead of being hanged like others who have failed to confess. After speaking to his wife, Elizabeth, he says that he will sign the confession. However, while signing the confession, he hesitates, especially when he sees that Rebecca Nurse is going to witness him signing the confession. When asked whether she will confess, Rebecca Nurse says, 'Why, it is a lie... I cannot, I cannot.' More reluctant after seeing the horror in Rebecca's eyes, John finally refuses to sign the confession. He says, 'Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another one in my life... I have given you my should, leave me my name!' Through this quote, you can see that John is desperate in at least keeping his name clean and good, as his reputation once was.

Week 4 Homework Part 2

In her heart, Elizabeth would like for John to confess and save himself. However, she knows and trusts that he is a good man at heart and would not live to tell lies and feel guilt for the rest of his life. She knows that her opinion will not change his mind and what he thinks, and so she trusts him to choose on his own and decide what is best for him. She also trusts that his decision will be the right thing to do, even if she does not like it.

Week 4 Homework

Elizabeth: You say that I bear no wifely tenderness within myself. That I am stone, but yet I love my husband as much as any good wife would love their husbands. John is a good and righteous man, and I trust him enough to take care of himself without my care. I will not speak what is not true when surely my good husband can save himself if he thinks of it. I proceed with what he thinks is right, and if John does not think to save himself, then neither can I.

Term 2 Homework No.2

To me, it seems that Arthur Miller has somewhat a belief that the idea of devil/evil spirits is all in accordance to society's view of the good and bad. The passage mainly talks of how the Devil is portrayed in society, and society's view regarding the Devil. Miller himself believes that a connection with devilish spirits in Salem did indeed happen, as he says, "I have no doubt that people were communing with, and even worshipping, the Devil in Salem, and if the whole truth could be known in this case, as it is in others, we should discover a regular and conventionalised propitiation of the dark spirit." Arthur Miller goes on to list the different examples of proof regarding the practice of witch-craft and connections with the Devil. However, the passage does seem to present a view point in which this may all be close to imagination. He states, "it is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without sky." Continuing, he says, "the concept of unity, in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force, in which good and evil are relative, ever-changing, and always joined to the same phenomenon - such a concept is still reserved to the physical sciences and to the few who have grasped the history of ideas." He claims that society needs the Devil in order to make an excuse for anything opposing the good. "Ours is a divided empire in which certain ideas and emotion and actions are of God, and their opposites are of Lucifer."

Homework Task

Positive:

A character I respond to positively is John Proctor. This is because as the audience, I see him as one who seeks the good way in everything and wants to live in justice. When Abigail talks to John Proctor and speaks about their affair, Proctor, now a married man seeks to do the right thing and rejects her. He says, “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you more”.  

Negative:

Abigail is a character in the play to which I respond negatively. The main reason as to why I respond this way is because how the text has portrayed her personality and her characterization. The play presents her as a liar; fearful of the consequences of the choices she has made to be involved in witchcraft. She continuously denies her involvement, saying, “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”. As the audience, we know that her statement is false, and that they did conjure up spells and use witchcraft. Throughout the play she keeps on lying and ends up accusing innocent people.