... Arthur Miller, the characters are indulged in their Puritan lifestyle, behaviors and thinking patterns. Yet their struggles are curiously similar to concerns and difficulties evidenced in our own popular culture. Songwriter Billy Joel explores fear, hatred and the ease with which some people go along with the crowd in his song, "An ... new comes along they shun it of try to destroy it rather than have their belief system disproved. When the witchcraft scare came through the town the town's first reaction was to hang any witch, even when John Proctor brought logic and reason to the court....

• Word Count: 786
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... you to review the present actions of what our Christian town is becoming. The situation of our community and the court is being undermined by these ludicrous alligations of witchery and is being solely conducted by Abigail Williams and her loyal friends. At this time in our community it is either to lie about our interactions with the devil and witchcraft or condemn ... us to death. Please let us firstly look at how the cry of "witchery" came to our reserved town by the girls. Abigail confided in me that she and the girls were merely dancing in the woods when they became fearful after b...

• Word Count: 711
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... you to review the present actions of what our Christian town is becoming. The situation of our community and the court is being undermined by these ludicrous alligations of witchery and is being solely conducted by Abigail Williams and her loyal friends. At this time in our community it is either to lie about our interactions with the devil and witchcraft or condemn ... us to death. Please let us firstly look at how the cry of "witchery" came to our reserved town by the girls. Abigail confided in me that she and the girls were merely dancing in the woods when they became fearful after b...

• Word Count: 713
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... In January of 1692 Betty Paris was afflicted with psychotic fits. Soon after, several of the other girls began to have similar fits. When the town physician could not diagnose the girls, it was assumed they were victims of witchcraft. As Rosemary Guiley notes "It is impossible to know if the ... . The thought of witchcraft and the devil lurking among them in their small village caused an outburst of hysteria in which no one in the town was above suspicion. The Puritan religion, now far less popular than in seventeenth century Salem, dictated the lives of its followers. Their lives were ...

• Word Count: 1927
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... The force that drove Salem was both the Devil and God. Hoffer's thesis is supported in many ways throughout this book. Salem was a religious town and people were respectful of this religion of they would be accused a witch. The idea that God and the Devil drove Salem is supported right ... the trial Cotton Mather even warned everyone that "an Army of Devils is horribly broke in upon the place which is our center" (Hoffer, 77). The beliefs of these men and the town of Salem is what led to the devastating circumstances that followed. Innocent people were killed with no strong evidence aga...

• Word Count: 912
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... hands when she became involved with a preacher, is the victim of society's harsh feelings and treatments and is perhaps the only decent Puritan in the town because she gives everyone a chance and looks down on no one. Despite his long absorption in Puritan writings, it is pretty clear that Hawthorne had ... Letter and created in Hester a somewhat Transcendental heroine (Waggoner 14). So, by portraying Hester Prynne as the victim in the novel, and not a town enemy, Hawthorne conveys his views on how Puritans should follow their teachings and act toward one another. He shows that they are v...

• Word Count: 3188
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Commonly, God is thought of as our protector, somebody who looks down upon us and protects his people from the horrors of life. If this is true, however, then why do things such as the Holocaust, ... "illness." When Hale arrives, he believes himself to be almighty and powerful: almost Godly. His unbelievable confidence leads him to believe that he is helping the people of the town by naming people who have been affected by Satin. Referring to the devil, Hale says, "Have no fear now- we shall find him out if he has come among ... mouth; it's God's work I do" (115). As it turns out, Abigail i...

• Word Count: 1589
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... Elizabeth's feelings and actions. Hysteria's chokehold motivates Proctor, Rebecca, and Elizabeth to act as they did, and brings about significant events (i.e., the death of our protagonist, the rise of a rebellion against the government). Hysteria overcomes social order and promotes anarchy. There is a reason that church and state are separated in ... is due to her and the girls that 12 people have been killed and neighbor is set against neighbor. The town of Salem falls into mass hysteria, and the behavioural rules and moral code which sustain a stable society fly out of the window. Th...

• Word Count: 2297
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... In The Crucible, John Proctor is a well-respected farmer of Salem, Massachusetts. His affair with Abigail Williams, which is unknown to the rest of the town, leaves him with a stone of guilt to carry. Proctor needs to decide which is more important to him; his reputation in Salem or his own ... throughout his inner struggle. This sacrifice is made by the hero out of the fear of being displaced, a "disaster inherent in being torn away from our chosen image of what and who we are in this world- (Tragedy and the Common Man, 307). In The Crucible, John Proctor feels so much ... discontent f...

• Word Count: 968
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... not only of witches, but also of love, lust and above all betrayal. The characters in this drama all play curious roles in this depressing time in our country's history. The movie version of The Crucible produced in 1996 is also written by Miller. Certain scenes that were only discussed in the play are acted ... theatrical version only mentions as having happened or will be happening. The depiction of the hangings provides insight into the feelings of the town. They are seen cheering every time another of their townspeople dies. This is revolting and sad. The theatrical version has no men...

• Word Count: 2560
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... be functional members of society. One of the most famous examples of this blind persecution is the Salem witch trials. During this period in our history members of communities would be accused of witch craft and would face punishments, however these accusations would be based on spiritual and biblical based ... factual evidence. Since the accusations were not based on realistic evidence members of Salem began to question the idea of witches. Certain members in the town of Salem began to speak out against the allegations in order to stop the chaos. However these members most first change ...

• Word Count: 1084
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Dear Honorable Governor, I believe sir that you have done only beneficial acts for our stunning town of Salem, Massachusetts, and I am proud to be a resident of this place with you as the governor of our people. Our town is becoming more and more beautiful, and with such a great Governor, and such a great town, Salem must let nothing be in its way to change the greatness of ... being blamed was a witch? No, there has not. The only proof in the trial came from those who testified against the ones being accused. Is that enough evidence to put our children in suffering and embarrassment th...

• Word Count: 570
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... significantly politically infamous. The Senator was responsible for the investiga ons to find communists in the State Department, Hollywood, and the U.S. Army. These investigations created fear and suspicion within our society. McCarthy was eventually found guilty of misusing his authority (Watts vii). Before being found guilty S ator McCarthy accused the Democratic administration of sheltering and helping Communists in the American ... Puritan government ruled the church in 1692 and relig n believed that women who dance with the Devil are witches. Fearing being hanged the girls blamed e...

• Word Count: 11015
• Approx Pages: 44
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Tragedy occurs in many literary works throughout our history. Generally, the classic tragic hero in literature is characterized as a noble man, of many virtues and high position. However, according to Arthur Miller in his ... Maycomb, Alabama. He is characterized as a stable and mature figure who is able to cope with the unreasonable and highly emotional element of the town. Atticus is one of the few people of the town who understands the individual worth of a person, regardless of the color of his skin. Thus, when Tom Robinson, a black man, was accused ... why Atticus is willing to defend T...

• Word Count: 1090
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... is desperately in love with John, even though he wants nothing to do with her, because his sins of adultery have pulled them apart. She lies to the town about seeing the devil, and there being witchcraft and John thinks she should be hung. John Proctor is a hero because he speaks out for what he believes, ... to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud-God damns our kind especially- (119-20). The citizens, along with Danforth, follow the laws of the bible, and do only what it says is right. John speaks...

• Word Count: 921
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Greed can be a very destructive part of everyone's life. It can control our every action at times. Some people let their greed get out of control, which was exactlywhat happened in Salem during the witch trials. Three people's greed brought ... got them to help dig up dirt on the accused. One final person whom I believe let her greed for attention and power control the outcome of that small town was Abigail Williams. She was the first person who was caught dancing in the woods to realize that if she turned on the others, her own life would be ... spared. She started making things up so that...

• Word Count: 752
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... transform a peaceful neighborhood into a nightmare resembling the Bertrande Red Scare. Lastly, in Arthur Miller's, The Crucible the immoral Abigail William turns the once quiet town of Salem into an inferno of violent mobs attacking those that they deemed "witches". In each of these three examples, one can see the ... all deny it, and blame it on Reverend Parris's slave, Tituba. The word about this so called "witchcraft" spread quickly around the small town. The claims of people being "witches" begins, and it leads to an uncontrollable situation. The people of Salem were easily frightened...

• Word Count: 1442
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... greed for power along with many others, greed was shown rampant in Salem during these times. I believe that greed, in all the forms presented in the book, destroyed the town and the people of Salem, Massachusetts. This book really shows the effect that greed can have on people and how easily it can ruin a person. Many people who were ... hand she would do anything even to the point of murder to save her own life. Abigail's greed for the love of John Proctor single-handedly ruined the thriving town of Salem and ruined the reputations of many prominent and respectable people that lived ther...

• Word Count: 1303
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... long ago. Sacrificing his life for a greater cause, John was trying to restabilising peace in Salem. Although he is no longer with us, he will always be remembered in this town, as a hero, and a role model for all. The "Proctor" family name always will be held highly with much authority in my heart. Although I may not have known John for ... ever, he provided all he could making the best life for their children and setting such a good role model, he became not only there father, but idol. Throughout the town his name was respected, never was his name talked about lightly, and not once ...

• Word Count: 676
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... girls are dancing in the woods. They conjure up spirits while dancing naked and they are discovered by Reverend Parris. This leads the people of the town to believe the girls are witches. Reverend Parris calls in Reverend Hale as an expert witness. He at first believes they are witches. To save themselves ... the girls accuse other women of the town of being witches. This leads to trials of these women with the girls as the jury. Abigail worked for John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth. John ... their neck. This was a powerful ending to the film. It was like a kick in the judge's face for...

• Word Count: 1157
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... across the sky every night alongside the devil himself. They believed that these mere humans could send their "specter- out and haunt the children of their town. Proof of their belief follows, in an excerpt from Cotton Mather's Memorable Providences: Go tell Mankind, that there are Devils and Witches; and that tho ... of Indians, where the pagan Powaws often raise their masters, in the shapes of Bears and Snakes and Fires, but the House of Christians, where our God has had his constant Worship, have undergone the Annoyance of Evil spirits. Go tell the world, What Prays can do beyond all...

• Word Count: 1824
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... believer confronting the evilness for the first time. In fact, Young Goodman Brown is the main character of this story. He is a inhabitant of the Puritan town of Salem. He has recently married "Faith" three moths ago, a very pure and innocent woman. They love each other very much. One day he ... with the Devil. In this part we know about the main characters, as well as the location of the story (Salem Village and the nearest town), the time of the day (nightfall) and more less the period of the story (seventeenth/eighteenth century). The characters are first developed and the ... from ...

• Word Count: 2367
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , under the impression that they were witches. God is seeking to punish us for our sins, sending Satan into our humble town of Salem to wreak havoc and chaos around us. Except Satan is amongst us all, living in our own hearts, making us commit sin. Myself, and many others around me have come ... their human bodies. I know that I have indeed wrongly accused her as a witch, of her sending her spirit out to slaughter our chickens, for these witch trials ascended into ridiculous accusations, especially with my aunts dear sister, Goody Nurse, and not in any way related to purging the ... can n...

• Word Count: 943
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... minister. He is worried about his daughter, Betty. The night before, his daughter and niece, Abigail, were caught dancing in the nude in the forest with some of the other town girls. Since this, Betty has slept in what seems like a trance. Thomas Putnam, a ruthless landowner, and his wife Ann, arrive with news that their daughter is ill as well. Although ... , since Parris" own flesh is involved, he denies any thoughts of it. This is when Mary Warren, the Proctor's present servant, enters, announcing that talk of witches is all over town. When the girls are left alone, they talk of revea...

• Word Count: 2029
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... Salem Village during the 1690s was a case in point." (Nash and Graves, 50) Many events that occurred in the late 17th Century were results of animosity and aggression between Salem Town and Salem Village. The tension between the two villages created an idea of one being possessed by the devil. With that, unjustified events such as Salem witch trails took place ... . I believe that the Salem witch trail was illogical to a point where superstitions led them to kill innocent civilians. How can a society let its religious faith take over its decisions making? A town should have rules, guidel...

• Word Count: 563
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School