Post-Reading Reactions
We finished the play! Congrats! Now go back to your anticipation guide. How have your opinions changed after reading the play and thinking about Miller's argument about justice, power, guilt, and hysteria. Which statement do you feel differently about now? If you haven't changed your mind, explain your rationale for sticking to your original opinion. Write a paragraph explanation of how the play affected your opinions or not.
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For the pre-reading reaction, I chose to write about how the justice system in America is not always fair. The play has not affected my opinion. Originally, I used the Scottsboro Boys as an example when the justice system has not been fair and the play only gives me more evidence. Although John Proctor and the other accused people of Salem did not commit witchcraft, they were accused of doing so by Abigail and many were punished for these crimes that they did not commit. By Act Two, 39 people have been arrested and Giles Corey is pressed to death before Act Four. This displays the justice system's weaknesses in a time of religious hysteria.
ReplyDeleteMy pre-reading reaction that I felt most strongly about was the statement about how going to church helps make one a better person. Reading the crucible didn't change my opinion that just because one doesn't go to church does not mean they are doomed to be not the best person they can be and just because one does go to church doesn't mean it is not possible for them to be evil. Reading this play did not only not change my opinion but it made my opinion stronger because it further proved my point. Abigail Williams is known as a good puritan woman but the reader of the play finds out quickly she is an evil, munipulative girl; church definitely didn't fix her personality.
ReplyDeleteThe pre-reading reaction that i wrote about was the statement about how going to church makes someone a better person. After reading The Crucible i still believe that it is no the church itself that makes a good person. For example Danforth was a judge and attended church. reghardless of his backround he was ignorant and cruel when making judgements on the court cases. The Crucible has only solidified my view that attending church does not make someone a good person.
ReplyDeleteThe pre-reading statement that i chose was "Justice is best determined in a court of law." Before reading The Crucible my opinion was that a court of law is a place where everyone is treated fairly and the convicted are innocent until proven guilty. After reading The Crucible, i began to rethink my opinion. I now believe that, depending upon the circumstances, it is better to determine justice outside of a court. For example, justice was wrongly served to those convicted of witchcraft because they had never committed the crime to begin with. With the knowledge i have gained from reading The Crucible i believe that justice should be determined outside the court if there are extenuating circumstances.
ReplyDeleteIn the pre-reading assignment, I discussed how I disagreed with the statement that the choice between right and wrong is not always clear. Upon completion of the play, I still agree with that statement. In fact, throughout the play characters are struggling with this. Mary Warren does it during prosecution by Danforth; Elizibeth faces it when asked if John Commited adultery. Just about every character in the play is faced with a difficult decision, and it is obvious that the right decision to make is difficult for those character to make
ReplyDeleteOne of the pre-reading statements that I strongly disagreed with was the assertion that going too church makes you a better person (# 11). I still strongly disagree with this statement. A person can go to church and not follow through with any of the rules outside of church or even really believe in god. Some may go to conform to the wishes of others (parents/society), and, as always, some may go purely out of faith. However, as seen in the crucible, church obviously does not make better people out of its attendees. If anything, it serves as a stage where the susceptible audience blindly watches and believes the corrupted actors as they spin their web of vengeance. The church believed the girls and, thus, encouraged the rising hysteria in Salem. For some, going to church was putting on a performance and for others it was the place where the evils of the devil would be told and, at times, unleashed. Thus, although church now is not so dramatic, I still believe that simply going will not magically make you a better person. Only devotion to an honest and pure lifestyle will do that. However, as always, it does depend on your personal opinion.
ReplyDeleteMy pre reading statement that I felt was the least true was statement eleven, which makes the case that going to church can make one a better person; however my opinion on this topic has not changed. In fact, I think after reading this novel I can conclude that those who actually attend church regularly in salem are faster to pass judgements than those who do not. As I felt before, a person's character is defined by how he/she is raised, not by the religion they believe in. Reverend Parris was self centered and he only cared about his image, whereas John Proctor was morally sound and had a strong character, yet did not attend church on sondays.
ReplyDeleteThe pre-reading assignment outlined one thing which I questioned, and was unsure of my opinion. After completing the play, I have made my decisions. One of the topics which I thought was questionable was whether the difference between right and wrong is clear. I now believe it is not. It was difficult for Elizabeth Proctor to decide whether to tell the truth and condemn her husband’s name or tell a lie and save it, not knowing the consequences of her lie. This only proved that the decision between right and wrong is not only clear but depends on the situation which one finds themself in. Other than that topic, the rest of my opinions stayed the same or even strengthened.
ReplyDeleteIn the Pre-reading assignment I strongly agreed that what doesnt destroy us only makes us stronger. I still strongly agree with this statement, because in the story "The Crucible" John Proctor faced a great deal of lies and corruptness that caused him to end up in jail. This amount of devistation did not weaken and make him lose hope, but it made him into a stronger individual. When he was asked to confess after three months of being in jail he was described as lifeless and miserable. The amount of frusuration and dissapointment he faced from his experiences with the court and trying to prove the condemened innocent may have dampened his spirits and broken his hope, but he still had enough pride to not sign the confession document and accept his death as a brave and innocent man, rather then give in and live a life full of lies and banishment. John Proctor faced a lot of obstacles within his life that could have destroyed the hopes of the strongest man, but he was able to pick himself up from this difficult situation and die as a proud and brave individual.
ReplyDeleteThe pre-reading statement that I disagreed with was 'Whatever does not kill you will make you stronger.' Previously I believe that weaker minded people will not be able to comeback from harsh circumstances and often conform or become depressed. I still feel this way after reading 'The Crucible'. The play gives evidence through the conformity of Mary Warren. In the court house when Abigail was pretending of having Mary Warren's spirit attack her, Mary Warren becomes weak and decides to conform to Abigail's side fearing punishment. This event shows the weakness of Mary Warren, conforming in the face of adversity which contradicts the statement above.
ReplyDeleteThe Pre-Reading statement that i strongly agreed with was the third one, "It is better to die for what you believe in rather than to lie to save your life". While I still completely agree with this statement, I feel that "The Crucible" has reinforced my opinion. John Proctor demonstrates this quality at the end of the play when he refuses to sign and give up the confession. I respect his ability to finally chose pride over his life and his character is part of the reason I strongly support statement three. I know I would truly rather die then give up my dignity and pride and John Proctor in "The Crucible", has helped me to further understand why it is so important to.
ReplyDeleteIn the pre-reading anticipation reaction, I said that "it's more difficult to forgive yourself if the person you have hurt doesn't forgive you". After reading the play, The Crucible, my ideas regarding this statement have not changed in the slightest. During the play, feelings such as these are witnessed. For example, John Proctor finds it difficult to forget his dabbling in adultery because his wife, Elizabeth, acted cold and bitter. The fact that his wife did not forgive him made it difficult to forgive himself. However, toward the end of the play, when John Proctor is questioned, he admits this affair with Abigail Williams and is able to come to terms with himself. The play, The Crucible, has further reenforced my ideas that it is more difficult to forgive yourself if the person you hurt doesn't forgive you.
ReplyDeleteOriginally I had said that people are innocent until proven guilty in the courts today. Although in the Crucible it is the opposite. people are arrested and thrown in jail without a single piece of reasonable evidence. Those that are accused in the play are essentially guilty until proven guilty because either they will be hanged sent to jail or they will be freed and their name will be dirt for the rest of their lives. I still agree that in courts today people are innocent until proven guilty despite some of the restricting precautions they must take. Although the courts are mostly effective today, during the Salem Witch trials people were not innocent until proven guilty.
ReplyDeleteOne of the pre-reading statements that I strongly agreed with was "it is better to die for what you believe in rather than to lie to save your life." "The Crucible" has not changed my view on this, in fact it has reassured me that personal pride and integrity are more important than life. John Proctor is the perfect example of this, once his confession is written he completely goes against it and rips it to shreds. Proctor realizes that his pride and integrity are more important than his life.
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ReplyDeleteWhen i first filled out the anticipation guide, I strongly disagreed with number 4; "Truth is absolute; there is only one correct way to interpret the truth." After reading The Crucible, I still do not believe that there is one way to interpret truth. Abigail and John lied to many people which caused hysteria in the end. Because of their lies, people didn't know what to believe and what truth was. Abigail's reputation of honesty was exposed and ruined when John accused her publicly of being involved in his affair. John's dishonesty impacted Elizabeth's testimony in court. Overall, dishonestly unravels into an inevitable problem that becomes more difficult to solve with time. The Crucible proves that there is not one way to interpret the truth.
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