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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Comparison/Contrast of McCarthyism vs. Salem Witch Trials

McCarthyism:

~McCarthy suspected many people of being communists
~McCarthy had those who were suspected of being communists blacklisted
~this was mainly focused on Hollywood stars/directors
~those who were feared were the communists
~people feared the Soviet Union during this time period
~the media was afraid to stand up to McCarthy because media members feared they would be considered communists
~over 320 people were accused of trying to overthrow the United States government
~McCarthy was a government official




Salem Witch Trials:

~Abigail Williams accused many people of being witches
~those who were suspected of being witches were jailed and hanged if they did not admit to being a witch
~people feared the forest
~townspeople feared standing up against it
~Abigail wanted John as her husband so she decided to seek revenge against Elizabeth
~laws made witchcraft a crime
~many people are accused because their neighbors wanted their land
~over 100 people were accused of being witches
~Abigail was a common girl






















Both:

~there is no real proof, just suspicion
~both Abigail and McCarthy were popular at first, but after events ended, they both became nothing (Abigail became a prostitute; McCarthy became a nobody)
~both Abigail and McCarthy spread fear, hatred, and evil
~there were hearings
~those who were believed to be witches were feared, while those who were believed to be communists were also feared
~the public believed both Abigail and McCarthy
~"The Crucible" was written in 1953, while McCarthyism was occurring
~Arthur Miller (writer of "The Crucible") was blacklisted
~in both cases, one person caused major destruction

Concepts of Comparison and Contrast

Concept 1: Vengeance

~Abigail states, "Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-" (Miller 23).
This quote is indicative to the concept of vengeance because Abigail talks to John in a bitter matter about his wife. Abigail does this because she is jealous of Elizabeth and she wants John to herself. Abigail basically wants Elizabeth out of the way.

~When Proctor asks who has charged his wife, Cheever states, "Why, Abigail Williams charge her" (Miller 73).
This quote is indicative to the concept of vengeance because Abigail set Elizabeth up. Abigail saw Mary sew the poppet during the trial, then Mary gave the poppet to Elizabeth. Abigail claimed that Elizabeth used the poppet to harm her, so she charged Elizabeth with witchcraft. Abigail did this because she wants John to be her husband.

~Abigail says to John, "The jab your wife gave me's not healed yet, y'know" (Miller149).
This quote is indicative to the concept of vengeance because Abigail is trying to gain sympathy from John. She wants him for herself and is willing to harm anyone in the process.

~Abigail exclaims to John, "Oh, John, I will make you such a wife when the world is white again! You will be amazed to see me every day, a light of heaven in your house, a-" (Miller 150).
This quote is indicative to the concept of vengeance because Abigail is telling John that she will be his wife one day. Abigail completely disregards Elizabeth and shows no sympathy to John when John tells Abigail that Elizabeth in jail.

Vengeance is indicative to both the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism because Abigail wanted to seek revenge on people who she disliked. McCarthy sent many people who worked on Hollywood films to jail. Both Abigail and McCarthy were willing to try any attempt to jail these people. Both Abigail and McCarthy also disliked any person who was willing to doubt their beliefs. McCarthy and Abigail were both jealous of people who were threats to them. Elizabeth was a threat to Abigail because Abigail wanted John to herself. All in all, both Williams and McCarthy were sadistic, vengeful people.


Concept 2: Hysteria

~Mary exclaims to Abigail about Betty, "What's got her? Abby, she's going to die! It'a a sin to conjure, and we-" (Miller 20).
This quote is indicative to the concept of hysteria because Mary is becoming worked up because Betty is sick. Mary is mad because she feels that the dancing and conjuring in the woods is what has caused Betty to fall ill.

~Parris states, "Go directly home and speak nothing of unnatural causes" (Miller 9).
This quote is indicative of the concept of hysteria because Parris begins to panic because he feels that his daughter, Betty, may be ill due to supernatural causes. The entire town is speaking of Betty's illness and Parris does not want the town to believe that there is any type of supernatural cause involved with her illness.

~Abigail states, "Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot stop my mouth; it's God's work I do" (Miller 115).
This quote is indicative of hysterics because Abigail has gone completely insane in this scene. She says that Mary has turned into a yellow bird that will harm her. The judge believes Abigail because her scheme is so conniving and convincing to the judge.

~"Gradually Abigail and the girls lead off, until only Mary is left there, staring up at the "bird," screaming madly. All watch her, horrified by this evident fit" (Miller 118).
This quote is indicative of hysteria because the girls continued to pester Mary until she cracked and went into full-blown hysterics. She screamed and then she ended up saying that John was evil so that Abby and the other girls would stop bothering her.

Hysteria is indicative to both the Salem Witch Trials "The Crucible" and McCarthyism because widespread panic, fear, and madness ensued when both of these events occurred. People would lie to ensure their well-being and to ensure that nobody would plot against them.


Concept 3: Deceit

~Giles states, "My proof is here! If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property-that's law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land" (Miller 96).
This quote is indicative to the concept of deceit because Mr. Putnam went to the court to enlist Jacobs as a witch. The only reason why Putnam did this is because he wanted Jacobs's land. Putnam had no problem lying and causing murder in order to gain a greater piece of land.

~Abigail shouts, "I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!" (Miller 48).
This quote is indicative to the concept of deceit because Abigail just said names in order to make it seem like she was telling the truth. Many people that Abigail named were people that she previously had problems with.

~Betty shouts, "I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil!" (Miller 48).
This quote is indicative to the concept of deceit because Betty just named people to follow Abby's lead. The girls had previously discussed that they were going to have to do something because they were the ones who actually started the witchcraft. Since they did not want to be accused of the crime, the decided to blame it on others.

~Hale asks Francis, "How is Rebecca charged, Mr. Nurse?" Francis states, "For the murderous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam's babies" (Miller 71).
This is indicative to the concept of deceit because Rebecca Nurse always worked at the Church and then was randomly charged. The Putnams have accused both Jacobs and Rebecca. Mr. Putnam wants Jacobs's land, while Mrs. Putnam is jealous of all of the children that Rebecca had, so she charged Rebecca with witchcraft.

Deceit is indicative to both the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism because people used this to their advantage. In both cases, people would lie about people's beliefs in order to get an advantage from it. Whether it was for land, money, or other various reasons, many people lied for their own sick and greedy advantage.


Concept 4: Sociality

~Francis states, "My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, Mr. Hale-and Martha Corey, there cannot be a woman closer yet to God than Martha" (Miller 71).
This quote is indicative of the concept of sociality because this quote explains how people who were highly respected were thrown into jail right away with hardly any trial to prove their innocence.

~Proctor explains, "Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and-" (Miller 91).
This quote is indicative of the concept of sociality because this quote explains that these women were well-respected in society and were thrown in jail with no regards whatsoever. Proctor is trying to tell the judge that it is odd that the judge is believing silly girls instead of well-respected women.

~Proctor states, "And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hand; have you never thought of that?" (Miller 69).
This quote is indicative of the concept of sociality because it explains that those who denied being a witch were hanged, but those that admitted it were granted life. This idea is opposite to what society usually is like.

~Hale states, "By my oath to Heaven, I believe him now, and I pray you call back his wife before we-" (Miller 114).
This quote is indicative of the concept of sociality because prestigious people were being overlooked by the judge and the government in order to accommodate to the lying, wretched girls. Hale was never even heard out. A holy man was called a lier by Dansforth.

Sociality is indicative to the Salem Witch Trials and "The Crucible" because there are always different ranks in society. People who were well-respected were accused of crimes. In McCarthyism, many movie stars were accused of communism, while in the Salem Witch Trials, many well-respected women were accused of being witches.

The Tenets of Puritanism

1. The Supremacy of Divine Will: People must completely obey God. All things are possible because of God.

2. The Depravity of Man: Since Adam disobeyed God, man is naturally depraved.

3. Election: Even though man broke his covenant in the Garden of Eden, through the sacrifice of Christ, a second covenant was made. Only few would be saved, though.

4. Free Grace: Those who believe in God are visited by God's grace.

5. Predestination: God knows where people will be destined.

Summary of "The Crucible"

"The Crucible" basically tells the tale of the Salem, Massachusetts community in the year 1692. During this year the infamous Salem Witch Trials took place. Salem was quite a peaceful town until Abigail Williams and her friends began to accuse people of witchery. If a person was in fact accused of witchery, he or she was jailed and hanged, unless he or she confessed to witchery. Many innocent lives were taken during this time period. "The Crucible" displays the Salem Witch Trials for what they were: a period of betrayal, deceit, and corruption in society.

Abigail Williams was a vengeful little liar, who everyone in Salem, Massachusetts seemed to believe. When she was caught conjuring spells in the woods, she accused others of witchery in order to save herself. She convinced her friends to also follow her incomprehensible scheme, which caused many people in Salem to believe her false antics. Abigail and her friends sat in on the trials and began their antics in order to falsely accuse innocent people of witchery. Their sick and twisted schemes caused many innocent people such as John and Elizabeth Proctor to go to jail. Abigail wanted John to be her husband, so she proclaimed to the court that Elizabeth Proctor was a witch. Not all schemes go according to plan, though.

John testified to the court and eventually went to jail. John and Elizabeth were both accused of witchery. John did not want to die so he decided to confess to witchery (even though he was not a witch) in order to be granted his life. John signed the paper, but then decided to rip the paper up, so therefore, his freedom was not granted. John Proctor, along with many other people, was hanged for witchery (even though the accusations were false). Abigail Williams left before John was hanged and later became a prostitute. Abigail's horrible lie caused great disaster, despair, and destruction to the small town of Salem.

Defining Crucible

A crucible is a severe test or trial. This particular word is applicable to the story for numerous reasons. One reason why this word is applicable to the story is because the Salem Witch Trials were extremely severe. It was detrimental to a person's life whether or not he or she was proven guilty at the trial.The trials were difficult because it was hard for people to convince the judges that they were not witches. The word is also applicable to the story because the Salem Witch Trials tested peoples morals. Those who claimed that others were witches often times did this to use to their own advantage by gaining the land of the accused. Overall, the title "The Crucible" is highly appropriate for this particular novel.

Character Development

John Proctor:

John desired a better life for his family at the start of "The Crucible". John later desired to free his wife from jail towards the middle of the story. Toward the end, John desired his own life, but then he decided that it was better to die in order to protect his pride. John was a common farmer, but he later became a martyr in order to protect his good name. John did not believe in witches, and he never changed his mind about that. He took his life for granted throughout the story, but towards the end, he realized how truly precious life is. He realized how much he loved and cared for his family when it came to the final few minutes of his life. Although he did not go to Church on a regular basis, he prayed and repented towards the end of his life. When John spoke to Elizabeth about his crucial decision, it was a very emotional moment in the story. Although John had to make a tough decision, Rebecca Nurse also had to do so. Rebecca and John both decided that it was better to die to save their pride instead of living a lie. John was a strong-minded person and his actions truly represented his strength.


Abigail Williams:

Abigail desired to save her own name at the start of "The Crucible". She later decided to use her false accusations toward her advantage in order to acquire John as her husband. When Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchery, her ugly actions were even further displayed. Abigail did whatever she could in order to get her way and get ahead in society. She was conniving from the start, and that never changed. Her actions and false accusations were crucial to the story, because without these, the Salem Witch Trials may have never occurred. Abigail was a weak girl, so she decided to run from her problems. At the end of "The Crucible", Abigail left Salem for another city. Abigail was not the only character who fled Salem, though, Tituba also left. Abigail eventually became a prostitute.

Works Cited

http://iws.ccccd.edu
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk
http://www.law.umkc.edu
www.foxvalleyhistory.org
lynnspirit.blogspot.com
www.kent.ac.uk