Friday, September 21, 2012

Crucible Act 2 Discussion Thread


Today we are going to have a discussion thread based on Act 2 of The Crucible. I want you to respond to at least 3 others, make comments, using textual support, and I always want you to end with a question-intepretative or critical.
I do not want one word responses; I expect formal writing and intelligent thought showing your discerning observations and analysis. Please keep in mind the ideological statements and central questions as a means of helping you to analyze further. To start:

How far reaching has this epidemic become? Everyone should start here with comments and then take the thread where it will go.

166 comments:

  1. Do you guys think that Abby is manipulating the situation in order to gain John's "love"? Maybe through blackmail?

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    1. (Quote blackmail idea came from-"I have known it sir. She'll ruin you with it, I know she will," Page 80 Mary Warren)

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  2. @Taylor. I do think that now, her motive is to blackmail John for his love, but I do not think that those were her original intentions. I am really not sure why the girls decided to start this whole thing.Why did they blame witchcraft for their illnesses?

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  3. Taylor,
    I think that is very true. She knows that she has the power to make Goody Proctor seem guilty and I believe she will use that to gain John's "love" again.

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  4. @Taylor: Definitely. When she and Betty are talking on page 19, Betty says that she drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor. She seems willing to do anything to get to John away from Elizabeth.

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  5. Toward the end of Act 2, on page 77, John Proctor attempts to defend his wife, " If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail?" This is the first time we hear John speak up about the witch trials. He is the only one questioning the girls. I was wondering, do we always believe evidence in line with our own thoughts, and believe evidence against us is invalid? John is attempting to show people that they shouldn't believe everything they hear, but do we do that in society today?

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    1. I believe that no matter how much you believe in something, if someone else has a logical point of view that goes against our own view, it affects us. When John Proctor stood against the girls, I'm sure that there were other people that took it into consideration and even some that believed him all together. In society today, there are many more resources and facts that can be used to prove or disprove something. It is much easier now then it has ever been to prove something to be true or false. My question is why so many people believed them in the first place. Considering that they both participated in the 'dancing', hasn't anyone else thought that they could also be guilty?

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  6. I feel like the whole thing has gone way too far. Even Hale realized it, but he convinced himself that the law will be just. The people in the town are basing their beliefs on very little proof. On page 73, Proctor says, "On what proof? What proof?" When there is a scapegoat involved, will most people be more willing to conform?

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    1. Casey,
      Why do you think that Hale convinced himself to think like that? I think that it might be something from Hale's past in Beverly that lead him to find the first Witch. In this act, Proctor does have a good head on his shoulders but he doesn't think like the rest of the townspeople, and what the townspeople want is a scapegoat. Therefore, the proof found, if there is any, will not matter because the proof that is needed to prove that someone is bewitching the teenage girls is a lot easier to find than someone who does not practice witchcraft.

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  7. Mrs. Comp, I believe the epidemic is just beginning and has only traveled around Salem and in the farms around Salem. As we know, word of mouth travels fast, so soon neighboring towns will hear of this witch epidemic but for now it is still only in Salem. How are other towns going to react when they hear the news of witch craft?

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  8. Taylor
    I don't think that she is trying to gain John's love back but she wants him to confess the fact that they once had something. Black mail is a strong motif almost because everyone is trying to protect their reputation and they would be willing to do anything to save it from being mocked by others. I think Abby realizes this and will stop at nothing until he confesses.

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  9. How far reaching has this epidemic become?

    I believe that this epidemic has come so far that it is at the point where almost anyone could be accused as a witch. It is a game, not a fun game, but a game of survival of the fittest and people are going to drastic measures to take the blame off themselves, even if it means hurting others.

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    1. sam-

      Don't you think that husbands such as Francis Nurse, Giles, and Proctor are trying to keep their wives and other family close? or do you think that at some point if they get accused themselves, that they wont care as much about their girls?

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  10. People have become so desperate to find a scapegoat that they believe anything they hear, even if it isn't supposed by solid evidence. "This is a strange time, mister. No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark... There is too much evidence now to deny it. Will you agree sir?" (Miller 64). Even though there is no concrete proof, the people are still placing blame, just to gain a little closure. Should innocent people have to pay the price of criminals, even if it means gaining some closure?

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  11. This epidemic has become extremely far reaching. No one can escape from it, not even Rebecca, who is the most kind-hearted charitable person in the society. This means that no one is safe; everyone can be targeted by this hysteria. I wonder why the Putnams have not been accused

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    1. Jack,
      I agree with you on the character of Rebecca. How will this hysteria come to an end inside of this play? I believe that the Putnams have not been accused because they are part of the group that accuses others of witchcraft. "Let God blame me, not you, not you, Rebecca! I'll not have you judging me no more. TO HALE: Is it a natural work to lose seven children before they live a day?" (Miller, 39) Mrs. Putnam saw Rebecca as a scapegoat to take the blame of her children's deaths; therefore, the Putnams will not be accused of bewitching because they can put the blame on Rebecca.

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  12. Looking back on the first scene of the movie that we watched, we saw Parris come up upon the girls in the woods. Do you think that people will begin to question his motives for being out in the woods at that time?

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  13. Taylor-
    I really do think Abigail is completely manipulating the situation. I don't know if she intended to use blackmail against John Proctor, but maybe she is just trying to get rid of the competition. Elizabeth knows this to be true. On page 60 she even states, "She wants me dead. I knew all week it would come to this!" How do you think Proctor will act towards Abigail in court after she accused his own wife?

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  14. This epidemic has now gained the ability to spread past the barriers of decency and common sense. This is because of a non-existent authority that the subject has gained, and the fear that it is continually spreading through it.Finally, do you think that Hale's perspective is believable, when he leaves Proctor's home saying, "Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all."?

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  15. @Taylor, I think it's pretty obvious that Abigail is attempting to "take Elizabeth's place" Although this evidence is in Act 1, while Abigail is speaking with John about their love, she says," Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-" However, I want to ask you, which do you think John loves more? It's pretty obvious that he still has feelings for Abigail, but would he choose her over Elizabeth?

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  16. Taylor,
    I think that this could easily be the case, however, I think there is also a part of Abby that is doing this to hurt Proctor. I think that she is upset and partially hurt that John had an affair with her, yet his loyalty is with his wife. I think that she could feel used by John even though she was just as equally involved in the situation.

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  17. Casey, I think that if there is a scapegoat for the people to blame, then the people will go along with it, in order to conform. If they dont, then people may look down on them, even if they think that its wrong. Class, do you think that in order to protect one's self in time of distress, will people blame their own family and friends in order to protect themselves from that blame?

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  18. Andrew,
    I think that people will believe everything they hear in a crisis situation like what is happening in Salem. The citizens of Salem are at the point where the only thing they have on their mind is being as "normal" as possible so they are not accused. This has lead to basically mob mentality where if you can stay with the group then you have a much better chance of surviving.

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  19. The epidemic has become so out of control that people are acting through fear. John started shaking Mary Warren around in fear that if she doesn't confess, Elizabeth will die. Abby is manipulating the court because she fears she will lose John forever. Parris is afraid that he will lose his reputation so he jumps to witchcraft. How do you think fear has played a part in The Crucible?

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  20. I think that this epidemic has reached the point of no return. Once you accuse someone, they can not be saved. People are taking these accusations as if God himself accused them of working with the devil. If one's name is accused, he will go to extraordinary measures to free his name because they are all well aware of the consequences of being a supposed witch.

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  21. @ Taylor
    I think that Abigail is very untrustworthy. I feel like love is not her only motive. Since John won't suddenly decide to love her, I think that she might start to target him. She's like an unstable bomb, ready to explode.

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  22. Casey, I think once something or someone is blamed people do indeed join in on the blaming. It's like once the seed is planted then everyone else goes along with it. Maybe they don't know who else to blame or actually believe it was the scapegoat. Either way people follow the crowd in blaming the most common scapegoat. Why does society let people blame things or other people?

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  23. This epidemic has come to the point where it reaches and affects everyone. Many characters have either been accused or have friends and family who have been accused. Also, now that charges can be brought against someone for seemingly no reason, it causes those who have not yet been accused to filter their speech. They are intimidated of what might happen if they dare speak out against the madness. As Ezekiel Cheever said on page 69, "You know yourself that I must do as I'm told. You surely know that, Giles" Ezekiel comment shows that he may not agree with the witch-hunt, but he must follow along in order to not be accused himself. There is a strong intimidation factor that is letting this hysteria run rampant. I wonder who has this power of intimidation? In other words whose influence is it that is most powerful at this point in the story?

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  24. Hale says, "Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Think on cause man and let you help me to discover it." How do you see Rev. Hale's role in this chaos? He ultimately started the hysteria and charging. Do you see Rev. Hale changing in this Act?

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  25. Mrs. Comp- This epidemic has become sever in Salem already but it can become even bigger. Again with hysteria people in other, nearby towns will most likely hear about these witch trials and then will become nervous of what could happen to their town. Once its starts here it could spread onto other towns and case panic there.

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  26. Melissa
    I think at first, when outside towns start to hear about these witchcraft trials, they might think little of them because it is one of those situations where they think they have to see it to believe it. Do you think that "seeing is believing" can be put down as probable evidence in these trials? Can we trust people who claim they saw it without hard concrete proof?

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  27. The epidemic has spread beyond the initial accusations and questions. The town of Salem is quickly getting caught up in the hysteria. Every action is being put under a microscope and it has has come to a point where nobody is totally safe from these accusations.

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    1. Is really no one safe? Do you think that Hale will be accused at any point in the book?

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    2. Kaley- I think that because he has great influence in Salem, he won't be considered or accused at first. Hale can't avoid peoples judgment since he is right in the middle of the action.

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  28. @Trevor, I was actually wondering that as well. I believe that he will not be suspected however. Remember, on page 66, Hale defends Parris by saying, " I must say it, Mr. Proctor; that is not for you to decide. The man's ordained, therefore the light of God is in him." This shows that even if they do suspect, these sheep will always follow his word because he is ordained. They do not believe he could do any evil.

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  29. This epidemic has obviously gone way to far. The fact that people are blaming random others just to get the focus off them is way wrong, especially if one of the women being accused is a very loyal member of the church. on page 70 when Hale was over at Elizabeth and Proctor's house, and Giles and Francis Nurse enter "Giles: They take my wife. And his Rebecca!" the numbers are starting to rapidly increase of woman that are being sentenced or accused. Also, to go back to my point of how important or loyal people are being accused. On the next page, page 71, Francis Nurse is very upset because him and Rebecca are loyal to the church and not to the devil. " Francis: My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, Mr. Hale-indicating Giles- and Martha Corey, there cannot be a woman closer to God yet than Martha." The fact that Hale and the accusers don't see that if someone such as herself was so close to god then she wouldn't make a pact with the devil.

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  30. The epidemic started with self-preservation, when Abigail blamed Tibuta for the witchcraft and Tibuta confessed (p43-45). Abigail gained power through this act, and grew greedy for more. Soon she began calling out other names, including Elizabeth Proctor, who is her rival in John's affections.On page 77, Proctor wonders at Abigail's motives by saying "Is the accuser always holy?" This epidemic has spread throughout the community so that old rivalries are upturned. Abigail's corrupt motive of getting rid of Elizabeth has spread throughout the community so that people are blaming their rivals as being witches. How does corrupt motives cause the downfall of society?

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  31. Taylor -
    I think that Abigail is just upset with Proctor for not giving in to her. "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys o the kingdom..." (Miller 77). Proctor challenges Hale's accusations, I think he realizes that Abigail is out to get him. Do you think that Abigail will take any other actions to try and get Proctor to have another affair with her? Or will it stop after Elizabeth is taken away?

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  32. Taylor: I definitely have to agree with the fact that Abby is using the situation to her advantage to gain John's love. I mean she has set up the situation so that whatever Proctor does, she can blackmail him into doing what she wants. If Proctor has Mary Warren try to charge Abby with murder, then Abby can tell the secret about her and Proctor which would ruin his reputation. Like on page 80, Mary says, "She'll kill me for saying that!... Abby'll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!" Why do you think that Proctor has let Abby start to control him in such a way that influences his decisions?

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  33. @Andrew: I think that to some extent, our minds cannot be changed by even the most glaring evidence, because of some other belief that takes a deeper root in us. Along these lines, how much impact does a person's initial reaction to an event dictate their later opinions?

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  34. This epidemic has spread through the entire town of Salem and it is based of false beliefs. On page 58 when Mary is telling Proctor and Elizabeth about the trial she states, "But what does she mumble? You must remember, Goody Proctor. Last month-a Monday, I think-she walked away, and I thought my guts would burst for two days after." When Sarah Good was mumbling Mary had no idea what she was saying and even in court Sarah Good could not repeat what she had said. Could it be possible Good was not saying anything harmful and Mary only brings these encounters up at the trial because her mind is telling her it was witchcraft? Perhaps that's what has happened in Salem... Someone says witchcraft and automatically everyone's minds go back to previous encounters with the "witches" and believe they are victim of a spell.

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    1. Gabriella-

      When you mentioned the part where Mary is telling proctor and Elizabeth about the trials, it made me in a way connect "..I thought my guts would burst for two days after." to the face that people make things manifest in their mind body and soul. I feel as if someone were to think about something or worry about something long enough then they can convince themselves that it is true and happening to them. I think that is what Tituba was doing once her little "redemption" and "being saved" episode was coming to a close. i think that since everyone was making her feel as if she was a witch then she started to believe it and that may be another thing that saved her life. was that she wanted to be saved even though she didn't need to be.

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  35. Annie, I think Proctor will act out violently, IF Elizabeth is accused. However, I believe Proctor will do everything in his power to make sure people know that Abby is a fake. Do you think people will believe his accusations on Abby?

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  36. The epidemic of bewitching found inside of the Puritan village has infected the trait of trust and comfort inside of this community. The townspeople can no longer trust each other about who will accuse each other of being a witch, and for those who are accused their fate lies in the hands of the Abigail and other teenage girls inside of the village. Why does the judicial system in the community allow Abigail and her friends to have all of the power? Is there any way possible that Elizabeth can be saved from being found guilty of being a witch?

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  37. @Sean
    Yes, I definitely think that people will turn in their own family and friends to save themselves. Not all of them will, but there are definitely people out there who's ties are very loose and easily breakable.

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  38. Trevor - you make a good point with this. However, I tend to think that society doesn't really feel the need to look for flaws within Parris - because he is already considered one of the most clean people in the community because he is the minister. Why is it in our society that we tend to only blame the people that don't hold an outstanding position above the rest of the community?

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  39. I think that this epidemic has gotten out of hand. On page 77, Proctor says, "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now?" Proctor is beginning to realize that there is little to no evidence to support the accusations. I like what Sanjay says about it going past the barriers of common sense. Proctor is trying to tell Hale that there is no common sense in this situation, and it needs to be changed. I think people can build anxiety based off of a lack of common sense. Is anyone to blame? Did one person's lack of common sense lead to other's lack?

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  40. This epidemic has become widespread not only through the towns in the story, but also through time. The epidemic has reached out beyond the reaches of Salem, as stated on page 52, "Elizabeth: They've sent out four judges from Boston, she says, weighty magistrates of the General Court, and at the head sits the Deputy Governor of the Province." This shows that the accusations of witches have reached the ears of the Boston courts and even they are taking action. As for the the epidemic spreading throughout time, a man who did this same thing was Hitler. Seeing how this was published in 1952, a few years after World War 2 and when the full monstrosity of the Nazi's came to light, could Miller be warning us about this same thing repeating over time? Have we learned out lesson?

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  41. Fear plays a huge role in The Crucible. Not only does it dictate people's actions, it can make them turn on their neighbors, friends, and even their family. Because of this fear, no one is safe from the blame of witchcraft. Even so, I've noticed that not Hale or Parris have been mentioned to have been involved in witchcraft. Do these people have that much trust in their religion that they believe their pastors are unable to commit such acts? what does this say about the power that religion can have over people?

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  42. Sanjay

    It seems like Hale is taking an almost parental attitude when he talks to the villiagers because he is trying to boost his credibility. He had never found a real witch before, and he needs to create a name for himself. So, he makes an implied accusation to the villiagers to make them feel guilty and raise himself above them

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  43. This epidemic has reached very far, and has spread and has become very serious because there has been 39 arrest and people have already been sentenced to hang. Also this epidemic has grown from just "witches sending out there spirits and bewitching the girls, to murder. " For murder,she's charged, for the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam's babies" this is Francis explaining what Rebecca Nurse has been charged with and surly this epidemic is becoming more serious and dramatic.

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  44. Sean-
    I think it truly depends on the type of person they are as a whole. Many people would die for their family and friends in a heartbeat. Then again several others do not have the gift of great friends and family members. It honestly all comes down to any selflessness inside of that would be willing to take the fall if it meant others would stay safe. How does this concept coincide with other characters in the book? Are people confessing merely to save themselves or the people they love too?

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  45. @Taylor I don't think that people will believe Abby is a fake because like what Andrew pointed out on page 66, Hale says that Parris is ordained and has the light of God in him. The people will not believe Proctor because Abby is closely related to the Reverend.

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  46. How is it John Proctor, who is the best example of hypocrisy, would be the one to really see things as they are? What is Proctor's internal conflict? What must he do?

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  47. @Chase, I think that the people who have the most power in this story are Abigail and the other girls. If you noticed on page 73, Proctor is trying to fight the arrest of his wife, he asks who charged her and Cheever says, " Why, Abigail Williams charge her." It seems as though they will accept anything the girls say! Yet when Proctor raises the concern with them, they brush it off. I may at first think that the court has all the power, but truly, Abigail and the other girls hold it all.

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  48. @Jack
    The Putnams are not accused because they hold the power in this society. Like Abigail, the person who points the finger of blame first gains the power. John Proctor, the one who looks for reason asks on page 77, "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent of Abigail?" Parris and Abigail are pointing the blame and therefore avoiding being blamed themselves.
    How does the power shift between the accuser and the accused?
    What role does a confession play in that power?

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  49. @Anna
    Unfortunately, I don't think that there's any way for Elizabeth to avoid the hanging. Even if John submits to Abigail's will, she will still make sure that Elizabeth goes to the noose. If Elizabeth were to be found not guilty, I'm sure that Abigail would just start wailing and pretending to be cursed. She will do anything to see Elizabeth hanged.

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  50. Rebekah-what does the "justice" system of the court reveal about the abuse of power and how power is manifesting?

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    1. Jessie-
      just on the whole idea of court system, on page 71 Hale was saying "Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it." i feel as if Hale is relying too much on the court and the justice system to do the right thing and "send her home" when i feel and i think proctor feels that no one can be trusted now to help the accused.

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  51. Klarissa-I think we tend to stay away from blaming those higher up in our society because they tend to have more power. They tend to have more ties to the law. I think people get scared when they blame someone of higher stature because they're afraid of what will happen to them. Do you think if enough people listened to Proctor and what he has to say about proof and about Abby, more people will question authority and the events that are happening?

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  52. Casey- I think people will start to conform to what others believe if there is a scapegoat involved because it they don't they could possibly become that scapegoat. The people who seem the least afraid of something always look the most suspicious because it seems like they know what is going on. People hear all the bad things that could happen just by word of mouth so they become nervous.

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  53. Trevor -
    I don't think that Parris will be questioned for being out in the woods. If the town finds someone guilty, I think they will stop searching. They are just looking for any possible solution to the girl's illnesses. "Why, a poppet-a poppet may signify-Now, woman, will you please come with me?" (Miller 73). Even though, Hale doesn't think Elizabeth is guilty, he asks her to come with him anyway because of his need to find a solution.

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  54. Colleen

    I think this is very true. No one really knows why the girls were acting so strangely, so no one is to say it isn't witchcraft. So one person goes into a panic, and that makes other people panic, and so the panic spreads like a plague, infecting the villagers at an exponential rate. How can something like this be stopped?

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  55. May Warren says on page 52, "I must go to Salem, Goody Proctor; I am an official of the court!", this shows the empowerment of women/children, who previously had very little power, especially in a court. How has this spread, and how far will these accusers go until they have had enough?

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  56. @Class
    How far will one go to keep up a lie? What will Abigail do if she is accused of lying about the witches?

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    1. As many of us have been taught, one lie can/will lead to another, becoming bigger and bigger until trying to keep them up is impossible. At this point, Abigail would probably keep lying to continue protecting herself. How will the townspeople's opinions change as these accusations continue? Will they strengthen their belief of the witchcraft, or make them realize the lies of the accusers?

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  57. This epidemic has spiraled out of control in an extremely short amount of time. On page 56 Mary says that there are already 39 women arrested, and later when Cheever comes to arrest Elizabeth he states that he has another 16 warrants for that night alone. Especially with women like Rebecca Nurse arrested, it seems no one is safe, and that this hysteria has infected the whole town. Even Cheever, who Proctor seems to know well and considered going to for help has become involved in the trials as a court clerk.

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  58. Sean-
    Religion is the lifeblood of this community. As Hale said to Proctor when Proctor mentioned his distaste for Parris. "I must say it , Mr Proctor; that is not for you to decide. The man is ordained, therefore the light of God is in him." These reverends are put on such a high platform that they can do no wrong. What might be the dangers of this mentality in our modern society?

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  59. Joanna, Proctor is letting Abby influence him because she has one of his secrets. They had an affair and if Proctor calls out Abby, Abby will tell the town about the affair. Even if Proctor brings up that he and Abby had an affair before Abby does, the whole town still will know he cheated on his wife. Proctor has to decide if he wants to stick up for his wife and call out Abby or protect his reputation and stay quiet. Do you believe it's better to put others ahead of yourself?

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  60. This epidemic of blame, and power has reached the point where the townspeople are questioning their own authority they blindly followed in past times. Proctor even goes to telling Hale that he does not trust Parris, "I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light in that man. I'll not conceal it" (Pg. 65). Hale defends Parris and himself, saying their is rock solid evidence that the Devil runs wild in Salem, yet not trying to calm down the hysteria that has manifested fame over the situation. The situation has gotten so out of hand that every detail of life that was overlooked in the past is now under a microscope. The amount of suspicion towards reason to have a warrant over people is looked over by town officials and superiors, claiming they have proof. "Hale: Theology, sir is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small...(Pg. 67). Trust that was firm in the past now may be counted as evidence against.Boundaries of friendship, values, goals and reality is now muddied.
    *Does religion count for human error?
    *What is there to say about societal pressure vs. standing grounded on your moral basics?
    *What power does Hale, and Parris have over the situation? Do you think that this event has been elevated to a certain point of fame?

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  61. This epidemic seems to be a circle of round robin where anybody can blame anybody for any reason they like. It seems highly pointless considering that whole community could wipe themselves out entirely. Why do the people of Salem feel the need to blame each other? Why is it that culture strives to push us to try to reveal the flaws in people's live?

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  62. Jessie C,
    In this Act I've noticed Hale becoming more tense and guilty about the situation at hand. "It is Mr. Hale. He is different now-drawn a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt, about his manner now" (Pg. 62). At first when Betty was sick no one wanted to point to witch craft until finally Hale agreed that could be the cause. I believe that once Hale saw the effects of blaming witch craft and finding a scapegoat he felt bad for what was happening to innocent people. I find it interesting that he turns to John and Goody Proctor for support. Does he see that Proctor is one of the only level headed people in Salem at that time?

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    1. @ Gabriella
      I agree because I think Hale may develop and find fault with the court system, but at the moment he does not seem to be changing much just trying to sort through the truth more then anyone else. Like when Elizabeth is mentioned he is the only one that even bothers to go and look deeper for more proof but still relies on court when she is arrested. But once he see innocent people like Rebecca and Elizabeth be called guilty when he already doesn't think they are he will turn and support Proctor.

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  63. @Collen: I like what you infer about a chain reaction. To me, this seems to be the most likely cause for the Salem Witch Trials. In the spur of the moment, most people in a society lose sight of what they would normally do, because of what everyone else is doing. Does human nature require us to be mob-oriented? Or is this something that the development of civilization and culture has instilled in us?

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  64. What do you think Cheever's stance is on all of this? Do you think he is going along with it because he is afraid and wants to save himself, or because he actually wants to free the town of the devil's presence.

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  65. I would say that things are really changing for Salem in a Social aspect because in The Crucible on page 71 it says," Nurse, though our hearts break, we cannot flinch, these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships." This shows how even Hale thinks there is no one to trust around the town of Salem. As of today, when something tragic occurs like an American Ambassador dies or when the a shooting occurs in a movie theater, the best thing to do is to stick together and solve ways to prevent things like this from happening again. Unlike the characters in the book who feel the need to turn on everyone and accuse everyone.

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    1. I definitely agree with you on this. I think that the lack of trust in this society perpetuates the fear of witchcraft. Their is great tension throughout Salem, but we can also see tension in characters such as Proctor and Elizabeth. On page 55 Proctor says " Spare me!You forget nothin'. Learn charity, women. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven months since she has gone." His affair obviously has caused much of this tension between the two, and we can see it in all of their interactions. In the midst of the witch trials, these family members can't even trust each other to make the right choices.

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    2. Rachel,
      I agree with you about the character of Hale. I find it interesting that if Hale doesn't think that anyone can be trusted then why doesn't he flee back home to Beverly? What is keeping him there in Salem, a promise?

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  66. I would have to agree with Kaley on this one! I truly do think that the epidemic has gotten way out of hand! Especially at the end of Act one, which I know we are not supposed to be talking about, all of the characters start going on a spree of throwing out random names to accuse anyone but themselves. On page 48, in specific, an entire page full of names is given to blame others. Later on in the play, Abby has started to develop a control over Proctor because of what has happened, and Parris's fear has gotten way out of hand because of what has happened in the village. People, I think, are going a little too far to protect themselves from blame. What kinds of things would you do to not be accused of something?

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  67. @Jeremy
    I do think that the young women are enjoying the power they currently posses. How far will they go to keep that power? I'm not sure. But if they've never had this kind of power before, I'd guess that they would go pretty far.

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  68. Mrs Comp,
    I believe that John Proctor is able to stay so level headed because he was able to see at the very start what Parris's ambitions were and how they were corrupt. His internal conflict is between Abigail and Elizabeth and which one he must hurt. He also will hurt his reputation if he admits his adultery to the public.

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  69. @Comp, I don't really know why he is the only one to recognize what is happening. Although, I must say, the person who gets him to act in the first place is his wife Elizabeth, on page 61, she begs, " John, with so many in the jail, more than Cheever's help is needed now, I think. would you favor me with this? Go to Abigail." Then with the arrest of his wife, I think this is his drive to stop the madness. I was wondering, is it only when we or our loved ones are effected that we take action? Should we try to take action against evil earlier?

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  70. Gabriella-I think that it is very possible that it was only Mary's mind telling her that it was witchcraft. In intense social situations, or any situation for that matter, people usually just want an answer. Even though there is little evidence, witchcraft is pretty much the only answer they have. On page 73, Proctor says, "On what proof, what proof?" Proctor seems to be the only one that doesn't look to witchcraft as an answer, but rather he wants something with concrete evidence. How are Proctor's fears different from the rest of the town's? What stands out about Proctor?

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  71. @Casey: I think eventually Abigail will be accused; most likely by John. She could turn on him and bring up their affair in order to discredit him by blaming him for the whole thing and making herself out to be the victim of it. However, she seems to have strong feelings for him still, and I doubt she would want to hurt him in any way.

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  72. Casey-
    If Abigail is accused of lying, won't she simply accuse the accuser of being a witch? I think she has the town's trust and fear. I believe she has the most power right now. She can single-handedly accuse someone of witchcraft, so the town will side with her out of intimidation. Anyone who accuses her of lying will be, himself, accused of witchcraft.

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  73. Rebekah

    Confession plays a large role in power. When someone accuses another, not everyone believes them, there is just suspicion. But when the accused confesses, that validates the accusation. That makes the accuser believable and gives him/her more power. If no one confessed in the first place, would this have become such an epidemic?

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  74. Jeremy - this is an interesting observation. I think you bring out a good point in this play. It seems that the women almost tend to hold more power in this society. They tend to be the ones that can easily persuade other people to agree with their point of view. Why do you think women generally hold this power more so than men do?

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  75. Casey-I think one will go as far as they need to to keep up a lie and I don't think Abigail will back down any time soon. I think she'll be able to carry out this lie for as long as she wants to. It's up to John (at this point) to decide if she gets found out, or if he lets it happen. So, is it better for John to tell everyone about Abigail and have her tell everyone about their affair, OR is it better for John to tell Elizabeth to confess to witchcraft so she lives, but is stuck with that "name tag". John could also say nothing and watch his wife die...

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  76. Melissa: I would have to say specifically to this situation, that it just depends on who you would protect over yourself. In Proctor's case, I think it would be better to stay quite, because I don't know if he truly loves his wife anyways, but if he does still love Elizabeth, then he should stick up for her. I mean if you love someone, you would do anything for them! I would do anything for my family!

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  77. @Mrs. Comp
    The "justice" system of the court shows that abusing power leads to social downfall. On page 77, John Proctor says that "...now crazy little children are jangling the keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law". Proctor is refering to Abigail, who is abusing power in order to get rid of a rival. The "justice" system of the court lets her get away with it. In turn, society goes downhill because the court can't stop people with power from abusing it.

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  78. @Rachel
    I agree that it's important to stick together, but I don't think that it's very realistic to expect that from us as humans. It's part of our nature to be distrustful in my opinion, especially when a scapegoat is involved. Do you think the way humans judge others is a way of expressing distrust?

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  79. @Mrs.Comp
    I can defiantly see Hale changing in this act, He see where this is expanding beyond what they first believed but he doesn't seem against it because he still is holding full faith in the court("let you rest upon the justice if the court" pg.71) and that will be able to tell who is innocent or not.

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  80. Chase

    Didn't Abigail already confess to being a witch herself? On page 48 she says, "I have danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book..." Doesn't this lessen her credibility? Why do they not lock her up for witchcraft?

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  81. Klarissa
    I think the people of Salem blame each other to take the suspicion off themselves. For instance at first Abigail was trying to say she and Betty danced in the woods and tried to play if off as not being bad; however when she realized she was raising more red flags she quickly turned to a scapegoat. "Mrs. Putnam enters with Tituba, and instantly Abigail points at Tituba. She made me do it! She made Betty do it!" (Pg. 43). As soon as Abigail sees Tituba she doesn't even hesitate to place blame. Why was Abigail so worried about not being blamed? What made Tituba the easiest/first scapegoat?

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  82. In Salem, people are prosecuted with out fact-the proof is hearsay. Why is there such credulity at these proceedings?

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  83. What causes the human heart to feel the need to pass judgment? Why is it that often times we don't even realize when we are judging others? Do we judge out of fear for our own sake?

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    Replies
    1. Klarissa,
      I think that we judge out of jealousy and fear. Most times we as humans want what we can't have and it is the reason for judgment.

      Delete
  84. Klarissa- I feel that the reason the women have more power than the men in this play is because of the fact that fir s long men had the power and women particularly could not hold an opinion without being degraded. Recently in the play I get the feeling that since the Salem witch trials mainly focus on women, they have more to say, and therefor make them want to be heard.

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    Replies
    1. Rachel-
      What does this then say about humility vs. the need to hold the set position and attitude that society thinks you should have?

      What other factors contribute to females' stronger lead in this book? What is the connection to the amount of power they hold, and what has happened to them? An example being of Mrs. Putnam grasping at every piece of evidence she can that her children were murdered due to anything but circumstance.





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  85. Jeremy,
    I believe that this will go as far as possible until the mass majority of people realize how ridiculous it actually is. As for Mary Warren coming to power, it seems that many people are suddenly taking interest in this, maybe in an attempt to seem normal and innocent? Even Cheever who was described as a level headed man seems to have changed his ways to seem innocent. On page 72 he says "I do, Proctor, aye. I am a clerk of the court now, y'know."

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  86. Casey, People will keep on lying until they are caught. If Abigail is accused, she will probably act innocent and perfect as she did in Act 1 when Betty was ill and Hale and Parris were questioning her. Abby won't just come out and say the truth, and so far she hasn't been caught so she doesn't see a reason in telling the truth. People get so caught up in their lies, they usually are not able to escape. What would be the best way to escape living in your own lies?

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  87. Casey -
    I think that Abigail has proven herself to be extremely sneaky. "She'll kill me for sayin' that! Abby'll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!" (Miller 80). After reading this, I don't think that Abigail will be accused of lying about the witches because Mary Warren is too scared to come forward with information. Throughout the play, Abigail has already proved to have a position of control. I think that she will find a way to get out of any sticky situation. However, do you think Abigail will reach a breaking point? Will she confess to lying, and also having an affair with a married man?

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  88. People are admitting falsely to save their lives; what does this say about people's moral code and religious implications of salvation? What doe sit say about "true" morals of "devoted" Christians?

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  89. I want to talk about the idea of "innocent until proven guilty". These people, Cheever and the rest, are only going off of the word of a young girl, yet they are arresting people for suspicion of witchcraft. On page 74, after Cheever finds the poppet with the needle, he comes to the conclusion that Elizabeth is in fact a witch, " Proctor, I had my doubts, but here's calamity. To Hale, showing the needle: You see it, sir, it is a needle!" Without finding out if the poppet is truly hers, without even questioning, he believes he has concrete evidence that she is a witch. This brings back the idea of "innocent until proven guilty" Do you think that mentality exists at all during this time period? Does it truly exist today?

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  90. Joanna-
    Well the difference is being accused of something you did and something you didn't. I think that if I was strongly accused for something I did not do I would put every effort into proving my innocence. Never would I go back on what personally believe just to stay alive a couple more years. However if i was accused of something i did do, then I would try and remind myself that I took my own actions and I should have been aware of any consequences. That said, how do you feel about members of this Puritan society confessing to acts they did not commit just to avoid death? What does this say about their devotion to their religion?

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  91. @Klarissa
    Humans blame one another for self preservation and to gain power. Abigail blaimed Tibuta to preserve her good name, but then she blamed Elizabeth Proctor to gain power over John.
    How do corrupt motives depend on who is to blame?

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  92. Taylor- I definitely think that if enough people listened to Proctor, more people would question authority. In this case, he would be gaining power through respect, where Abigail gained her power through fear. On page 80, Mary Warren says, "She'll ruin you with it." Abigail has blackmail on Proctor, and that has embedded fear into him. In this situation, which is more effective? Power through fear, or power through respect?

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  93. HunterK- I think that there are many events that have similarities to the Salem Witch Trials, including Hitler in World War 2. Another event that comes to mind is the Japanese Internment Camps and the Red Scare. The difference is in what time frame it happened in. During the time of the the Red Scare people were nervous because it impacted their lives and they were scared of what could happen to their country but if people where being called witches then they would not have been as scared just because it was a different time when other things mattered more.

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  94. Mrs Comp,
    I think that there is so much credulity at these court cases because people are trying to make it seem as though they are completely innocent and almost forming groups to take the blame off themselves.

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  95. Jack-
    Abigail confessed. In the minds of this pious society, confession is far more important than death. By confessing, she has the town's trust as she seems to want to use her knowledge of witches to cleanse Salem from the devil. To them she is a hero and she uses this status and her power to accuse to hold the town in the palm of her hand.

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  96. Mrs. Comp-There is such credulity because at that time, everyone was considered pure and there was no way one could just lie and walk away. It's hard for them to think of their neighbor as a liar because they then think their neighbor is condemned. I'm not sure any of them have lost that trust in each other yet or even understand that people are lying. When will someone other than Proctor notice this?

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  97. Class: Herrick, the man who came to arrest Goody Proctor claims, "You cannot keep her. The law binds me, John, I cannot budge" (p.77). Are the characters of the court, including Herrick, feeling pressure to fit into their roles, thus blinding them to the truth?

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  98. Johanna

    I disagree. I think that Proctor should accuse Abigail. He should do what is right and best for the society. Right now she has all the power, and she is using it to hurt people. He should not let his love for her cause the death of his wife and friends. Where do we draw the line of loyalty between sticking up for who we love and doing what is moral?

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  99. @JackH: I agree. If someone confesses to witchcraft it makes it more believable for them to identify others because they could claim it was an organized group where all the members knew each other. That makes their story more believable because people are more inclined to believe that the witches schemed and performed spells together than that they all learned on their own and figured out all the spells and everything themselves, thus creating the idea of a secret group. The girls can also claim to see visions like Tituba did at the end of act 1. Personally when I think of witches I think of a bunch of old ladies around a fire, and I think that they are portrayed that way for most of us.

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  100. Hunter,

    I do agree that Miller may be warning that different kinds of event sequences and events may be repeated in the future. Our culture is one of micro-analyzing so many things such as religion, economics, and history that we tend to draw inspiration from the past. I do however, think that from past events we take pieces of it- this is how our cultures' fashion, ideas and relativity get circulated throughout time. Miller in his book accounted for the trauma of the Red Scare, connecting it to the basics of good and evil. Would you connect Miller's encounter with the Red Scare to feed information into this book?
    * Should there be a limit into what we can create from "evil" influences in our society?
    *How does culture change when the foundation of human behavior has already been set?

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  101. @Annie
    Well, in the case of John Proctor, I believe he is willing to sacrifice himself to save the ones he loves. On page 80, Proctor states, "Good. Then her saintliness is done with. We will slide together into our pit;you will tell the court what you know." This shows Proctor as a man who is willing to give himself up and taint his own name just to prove Abagail a liar and to save his wife. This begs the question; is Proctor and man who will give himself for the only purpose of saving his wife? Or does he have the alternative motive of spite?

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  102. On page 78, Elizabeth says, "I will fear nothing." What is significant about this statement? What themes does this relate to? How does it reflect on the motives of the townspeople?

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  103. Sam-don't you find it strange in people's willingness to believe? What do you think regrading power in this case?

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  104. On page 67 Hale states, "Theology sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small." Why is it that in the Puritan culture, the people tend to use their religion as a means to blame and pass judgment on others? What justifies this?

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  105. Jack H,
    I don't think that locking up Abigail is out of the question just not at this time. On page 10 Parris states, "Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it." Parris knows Abigail was wrong and he plans to punish her in time. In the midst of the blaming though he is more worried about his image and not having his reputation ruined. Who do you think his enemies are? Could he be referring to Proctor or someone else?

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  106. Klarissa- I do believe that we judge out of fear. It's almost as if we want to be the ones that do it first so that people are afraid of us and don't want to judge us. We feel that if we pass judgment then the thing we are judging will change but in many instances it never does. In our own perfect world we are hoping that by making judgments, people will look at us in a superior way. Why do we do this if we know most we can't control everything? Is there a difference between judgments and opinions? Where is the line?

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  107. @Mrs. Comp. It surprises me that these people are falsely admitting to working with the devil. In this society, where they do not know if they will be saved or not, I would think that they would stay honest until their death, because God would save them. However, a lot of these people that are being accused, are being accused because they do not attend church as often as the others. This raises suspicion and potential tention among neighbors.

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  108. Image means a lot the characters in this play. Can this tie into how far people will to to protect themselves, friends or family?

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  109. Klarissa: I would have to say that the reason the human heart is so quick to judge others is because that is the way we are raised and that's what we picked up from our family, friends, and surroundings. I think that it just comes naturally to us. When you see someone, your brain tries to associate them with something, whether it be positive or negative. I think in someways we do judge people out of fear, because maybe we are insecure about what others think about us. I know I am. What do you think it is from a society's perspective that makes us so critical of ourselves? How does that differ from the way we judge others?

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  110. Jack - That is a very valid point, I didn't think of that. I wonder why Abigail isn't suspected of witchcraft herself. Maybe since she is providing information about other "witches", she will be excused. "And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?" (Miller 69). I think that since Abigail confessed as well as accused someone else, she will be pardoned. However, I think that she should have to go to court like everybody else. Do you think Abigail blackmailed someone to keep them from taking her to jail? Is she controlling the situation?

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  111. Colleen-I think, as always, power through fear is much easier to gain and much harder to lose. Respect takes a lot to gain and almost nothing to lose. Fear will take nothing to gain and last forever. Take Hitler for example, he used fear and gained thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of followers. Most people will follow the "scary" person so they don't die, instead of the person they respect because he won't take something from them.

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  112. @Taylor: Quite honestly, I don't think that anyone else will notice. This is because the time of avoiding the societal tidal wave has already passed. John's level-headed past has helped him avoid it, but the circumstances do not allow for others to join him. At what point in life do you think we join into this socetal tidal waves in our time period? Can we even tell when we do?

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  113. @Andrew
    I don't think that the idea of "innocent until proven guilty" will ever be truly untainted from people who have stereotypes and one sided opinions. The problem with the needle in the doll is that it is a spiritual issue that is intangeable. There is no way for there to be physical proof. But I think it is fear of death and the unknown that is driving people to accept the idea of witchcraft without proof.
    How does fear influence the acceptance of irrational proof?
    How does fear drive a mob mentality?

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  114. @Annie,
    On of the reasons I think that they confessed to the witchcraft was so that they could live a few more years in order to redeem themselves from that experience, so that they could make it into heaven, even though they weren't witches. This really shows how devoted the people of Salem were to their religion. But that brings me to the question, should these people stand up for themselves and try to prove that they didnt commit witchcraft? Or should they accept their fate and hope that their god is kind and will accpet them into heaven?

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  115. Mrs Comp,
    I do find it strange that people are so easily swayed to one side, but I think that it is just their instincts kicking in telling them "this way might not be the most moral, but it will keep you safe". Regarding power, I think it is very unstable at this point and will shift to whoever is able to play the victim best, which happens to be Abigail now.

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  116. @Taylor
    I definitely don't think that John will sit by. On page 78, he says,"I will fall like an ocean on that court! Fear nothing, Elizabeth." It really seems like he does love her. But will it be enough? Tying into the betrayal of family, how far will someone go to protect their family, especially when a menacing judicial system is in play?

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  117. Why do we have a tendency to rally around figure of power for our righteousness instead of finding our own morality?

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  118. Andrew-
    The idea of innocent until proven guilty is missing in this book. That is clear from the evidence you provided. I want to question whether that idea still stands today. Technically, our legal system is supposed to be based on the idea of innocent until proven guilty. But don't we make judgement before a person goes to trail? The media convicted Casey Anthony before the trial, but she was found not guilty. George Zimmerman hasn't even stood trail, yet the nation believes he is guilty for killing Trayvon Martin. I don't think the ideal of innocent until proven guilty exists in society today.

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  119. @Sanjay, I definitely feel that they feel like they must do their roles to the best of their ability. On page 60, Mary Warren is being questioned by John and his wife, she states, " I am bound by law, I cannot tell it." I feel like they are feeling a false sense of justice, as though they truly believe what they are doing is right. Do you think anyone in the court is questioning their actions such as Proctor? Will they stand with him later in the book?

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  120. Who holds the ultimate power in this play, thus far?

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  121. @Class: What role do you think the restricting nature of puritan culture plays in the building up of resentments and old grudges that are carried out in court? Would the trials have gone the way they did without the restrictions that puritans had in their religion and their lives, outside of religious beliefs about witchcraft?

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  122. When Elizabeth is pushing Proctor to turn in Abigail he responds with an interesting point. "I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband" (Pg. 54). What does this say about Proctors feelings for Abigail and his wife? He starts by saying he has good reason to not turn Abigail but does not elaborate. What could we infer his reasoning is?

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  123. Mrs. Comp, I think it is totally okay, in this situation, to admit to witchcraft if it saves your life. Yes, some might say they are abandoning their morals but if it's life or death, go for life. Although now for the rest of their life they will be thought of as being a witch. In that case then you have to choose if you want to live but be shunned for the rest of your life or die. Admitting to witch craft, I don't see as a moral sin but as a necessity if you want to live.

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  124. Ms. Jessie

    I don't find it strange that they so willingly believe. The villagers can't explain why these things are happening, and they are very religious. This makes them superstitious and easily convinced of something like witchcraft. After accused witches confess, this solidifies the suspicion that there are witches, and makes them more suseptible (sorry forgot how to spell it) to believing that more upstanding people are witches.

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  125. @Rachel
    I like your question about opinion vs. judgment. I think personally I tend to associate opinions as being a more positive thing, and judgments being a more negative thing. However, when you look at it from a broad spectrum - there really isn't much of a difference between the two. Do you think that opinions are any better than judgments, or are they the same?

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  126. Mrs. Comp-I undoubtedly think Abigail holds the most power in this play. She has black mail on John, if she screams in court then someone must be a witch. Everything is seemingly going by her word and action. Is Hale losing his power over the town?

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  127. I was wondering,do you guys think that Elizabeth should forgive Proctor for his relationship with Abigail? When talking in terms of a successful marriage, do you think in order to love unconditionally, that we must learn to forgive in order to forget, or do you think that cheating is something that can't be fixed through problem solving?

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  128. p56 "But not Sarah Good, for she confessed". Is it more important to save your life or society's outlook on your soul? How does Good feel when she knows that she isn't a witch, but her spirit is choking people?

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  129. So Trevor, your comment poses a moral dilemma. Do I die knowing that I didn't lie (which is a sin) or do I save my life and risk the damnation of my soul? How might a Puritan struggle with this?

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    Replies
    1. This does pose a huge obstacle for a puritan society. I would have thought that they would have not lied and died to save there soul, but the play proved me wrong and caught me off guard, in that regard.

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  130. Anne - I think that image is going to play a huge role in the outcome of these trials. Elizabeth is being put on trial because she isn't "spiritual enough". "In the book of record that Mr. Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in church on the Sabbath day." (Miller 64). I think that image is going to control who gets questioned. How do you think that people's images are going to change, even if they are proven innocent? Will the fact that they are being questioned change anything? Even if they aren't found guilty?

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  131. That's the thing is that, the fact that there is no proof, makes this whole situation of witchcraft blown up into a bigger issue because now people are being hung for it and people are being thrown in jail for it. Is it true to say that we, as a culture, have allowed ourselves to become more precise in our evidence today because technology has advanced so much and continues to advance that it's no longer good enough to just claim somethings to be true?

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  132. Comp- I think that Proctor's internal conflict is whether or not he should admit to his hypocrisy and bad actions. He has to decide what is worth the risk. Once Elizabeth is being taken away, I think that he realizes that his reputation and possibly his life are worth the risk of saving Elizabeth. On page 80, he says, "My wife will never die for me!" This relates to a few of our idealogical statements, such as people who do cruel things can still be good people, and you should always defend your friends and family, even if it means lying or hurting others. How do these actions and situations shape culture?

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  133. @Chase. You have a good point about today's society. I definitely agree that the media portrays people like Anthony or Zimmerman in a potentially false way. However, I believe that that is why the court system is here. To provide balance in our justice department. So many innocent people would be convicted if our courts didn't maintain the "innocent until proven guilty" standard. I think the public needs to look into multiple sides of the story before shaping there opinion and ruining innocent people's lives.

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  134. I think that the people who first accused have the most power. These people are the Putnams, the Betty, and Abigail. Why were Betty and Abigail so ready to accuse people that they have no bad blood with, like Goody Howe, or Goody Sibber, or Martha Bellows?

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  135. @Sean
    I'm not so sure that they were just thinking about their religion at that moment in time. I think they were just scared of going to the noose, not scared that they won't go to heaven. I'm sure that some of them were very dedicated to their religion, but I feel that they were trying to save themselves. At what point in the story is religion put on the line? Was it when the accusations began to occur, or was it always there? Proctor said he stopped going to church,did he not?

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  136. But Melissa-doesn't this go against values of the time; if you lie to save your life, aren't you damning your soul any way?

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  137. @Colleen H.
    In the case of standing with Abagail, or standing with John Proctor, I believe that the more potent power here is power through fear. Here, power through respect is not even acknowledged. Look at page 78 when Herrick says, "In God's name, John, I cannot help myself. I must chain them all." This shows that even when Herrick has the chance to allow Elizabeth to go without chains through respect toward Proctor, he won't. However, the court is trusting everything to how Abagail reacts to people in the court. This Just shows how when people are fearing for for their own lives, they will do anything to stay alive. How does this show how society breaks down when in the face of a crisis?

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  138. @Mrs. Jessie - I think that thus far in the play, Reverend Hale holds the most power. I think that he holds the most power because he has the ability to tie people to guilt through religion. On page 66-67 Hale mercilessly questions Proctor on the Ten Commandments - which then makes him look guilty through the eyes of God. What do you think justifies Hale to hold this power of passing blame through the means of religion?

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  139. Mrs. Comp-
    I believe Abagail holds the ultimate power in this play thus far. She can accuse anyone she wants to and get away with it. I thought Hale had the majority of the power because he was the "expert" but he is just as amazed at the accusations as are Giles and Proctor. "Believe me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." Hale, clearly, is not in charge. But I believe Abigail is.

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  140. Jessie-
    I personally believe we rally around figures of power because we refuse to believe that our lives mean nothing. We search for the greater power, whatever it may be, in order for reassurance. Religion can be there for us to give us hope for immortality; to tell us that our lives are not to waste. That we are actually here for a purpose and not just to inhabit the earth. I think everyone is in search for some reassurance, and most find it through religion. But what does this say about all religions as a whole? How does our strive for eternal life form what we believe in?

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  141. Joanna, although cheating shouldn't really happen in the first place, it can be repaired in a marriage, in my opinion. The way that Elizabeth is not forgiving Proctor is outrageous. He apologizes multiple times per page, yet she still does not forgive him. Although, I can't see her not forgiving him after what happened toward the end of Act 2, passionately trying to free her from the mad people of Salem. Do you believe she will forgive him before the end? More importantly, what will be the interaction between the two if Elizabeth is sentenced to hanging?

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  142. Mrs. Comp: I think that the people who hold the ultimate power are the people that want to have power. Everyone is in control of themselves, it just depends on how much of yourself you are in control of. Proctor is letting Abigail take complete control of him, but if he hadn't set himself up for that in the first place, then he wouldn't be in this particular situation in the first place.

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  143. @Rebekah: I think that depends on the person. Some people may care greatly what others think of them and some may not. For example Tituba is already at the bottom of this society, so it doesn't effect her reputation too much if she confesses, however if Rebecca Nurse confessed, the high level of respect the community has for her could be lost completely.

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  144. @Rebekah
    Fear drives a mob mentality because like we discussed a couple of weeks ago in class fear tends to make people unreasonable and not think through some of there decisions and actions, and when there are one a few people acting rationally( Proctor in this case) then it will be hard to keep control and the people will press for the issue to be resolved, and that is how fear usually drives the mob mentality, especially in the Crucible. But who do you think is controlling and manipulating this fear more? Parris and Hale or the girls, or someone else?

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  145. @ColleenR: The landscape of the trials would have been a lot different with different values. When Hale is suspicious of Proctor, he says, "...I note that you are rarely in church on Sabbath Day" (p.64). Their absence at church was one of the key pieces of evidence against them, something that was expected as part of their religious affiliation. Does religion still play a large role in people's opinion of each other today?

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  146. Why wasn't Abigail considered a witch, and why are the witches allowed to live while the ones who don't confess die?
    How does power shift between the bewitched and the witches based on false accusations or confessions?

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  147. Mrs. Comp, yes and I believe that is just part of the puritan culture. It would be a much different outcome if this was happening today. People today have different religions and different morals which would be a big factor if deciding how it would end now days.

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  148. Joey- I don't think that Proctor and Elizabeth will be able to totally mend their relationship. I do think that its important that they understand what went wrong in their relationship, and that will take patience and time.

    How would this situation be different for them if they were not in the midst of the Salem Witch trials?

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  149. Rebekah,
    I feel the reason that Abigail wasn't considered a witch ties into the saying of "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". Due to the fact that Abigail had both motive, smarts, and the ability to persuade, she was easily able to play off of other peoples' fears of the accused. The witches who confessed were thought to have taken the first step in their revival towards God, admitting something is a sure step in the opposite directions- or so the townspeople thought.

    Power from the witches to the bewitched was able to shift so suddenly and often was due to the blame game the court let the people play. The court seems to be happy to let people pass accusations on another, this presented them even more proof to solidify their fear that the Devil was in Salem. The accused "witches" were so willing to push off their fear that there was not much time to think of the legitimacy of their actions and how it tied into why the accusers held so much power. The confessions read in the book sometimes sit merely on the fact of peoples' superstitions and personal feelings about someone, or something they did.
    How is superstition able to manifest itself into an action?
    What is the connection of the legitimacy of the accusers' accusations, and the fact that by doing this, they are breaking apart as a community?
    What aspects of community are they missing? How does this give power to the "bewitched"?

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  150. Who holds the majority of the power in this act?
    What kind of power?
    Is there something to say that if people rise up against the instigator- that they hold the real power?
    How are Hale and Parris able to feed the trials through the obedience of the church, and the fear of solitude in mind, spirit, and opinion?
    What is the backbone of the fear of solitude, what are we able to do as humans with the support of others? With criticism?

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