" I have gone this three month like our lord into the wilderness. I have sought a Christian way, for damnations doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie." I picked up this play and had the hardest time starting to read it. The vocabulary it was written in slowed me way down until I reached the second act. I think the relationship between Abigail and Proctor was interesting because of his choice in the female to commit adultery with..... Those were definentely different times, but was Abigail not seventeen? I was also suprised that Proctor's confession about fornification with Abigail to save his wife, did not blow up. Everyone kind of just disregarded it. I really disliked Mercy Lewis because she was so cowardly. She knew she needed to be honest but when Abigail turned on her she did not stick to that path of honesty. These girls just drove me crazy. How can these adults, leaders of the church, not handle this with one shred of intelligence? While these girls were throwin tantraums on the floor, people were loosing their lives! If I were a Elizabeth at the end of the play, I don't know that I could have let my husband go and do the right thing. I would have no doubt begged him to lie in order to save his life. My love for him would have damned myself because I do think thats what Proctor needed to do. The charecter I most admire is Giles Corey.(I cant believe that is how he died it real life btw!) I thought his spirit and his determination to free his wife was very admirable. Especially in the end when they asked him for a confession and he told them to add more weight.
I think the setting was important because it showed us how early colonial Americans in this period took Puritan beliefs to an extreme. I found the whole situation to feel like an inescapable nightmare. It was so unrealistic to think everyone would just deny common sense and put innocent people on trial and hang them because little girls decided to put on a show...
The first act confused me a little. I understood what was going on but again the dialogue threw me off. I disliked the idea that you had to lead a perfect life to be considered a " Christian man or woman." I thought it was scary that they would make up tests and different rules that would convict one of witchcraft. For example they said if you kept poppets (dolls) in your home, you were surely a witch. God forbid you had left a sewing needle in one because that would be the end of you. I for the life of me could not find another piece of work in my memory that reminded me of The Crucible. The Salem Witch trials were a living nightmare. These people were literally tested against their beliefs. You either confessed to being a witch or became a martyr in history.
The Crucible was written because the author wanted to entertain and convey the horrors of the Salem Witch trials. This play displayed human reaction to fear and tragedy.
Why, do you think, that the girls were believed? Is it not true that girls are innocent and need to be protected from the evils of the world? So of course, the church would defend the young ladies who have never done anything wrong before, right? I understand how you feel; these girls were a nightmare. But, not all of them were lying; some really believed what the town was saying happened to them. This goes to show you that the power of suggestion is a very powerful thing.
ReplyDeleteBTW, get on your Separate Peace blog!