Write about an idea that you took away from our Crucible discussion today. You could write about a new insight that you gained or something that the group discussed that you were interested in. Pick something that you can discuss with some depth and that you can develop through textual references. This blog will be longer and more developed that previous ones that you have written.
Write your blog entry on a word document and then copy/paste it into the comment section of this blog (no worries about lost writing that way)!
Be sure to...
1. Discuss your own thinking about the topic as well as what your classmates said. It's okay to still have questions--but take the time to explore possible answers to those questions.
2. Discuss and ANALYZE specific scenes and lines of dialogue from the play and/or the article. Talk about how certain details and words lead to your interpretations.
3. Develop your ideas with depth (about 300 words).
4. Break up ideas into logical paragraphs (no one big block of print).
5. Check to make sure your sentences are clearly written and that you used correct punctuation and spelling.
6. Give your blog entry a fitting title.
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ReplyDeleteChelsea Snide
ReplyDeleteThe Confession of John Proctor
At the end of the crucible John Proctor decided to confess and then tear up his confession. At first he confesses after talking to his wife because he wants to be alive for her but he then tears it up after he finds out it will be hung on the church door. He doesn’t like this idea at all because it will blacken his name and will forever be there. At this point the only thing he has left is his name and he doesn’t want to lose that. John Proctor says “Because it’s my name! Because I can’t have another in my life!” (page 143). His name is really important to him and he still wants his name with some pride. He doesn’t want to sign his name to lies anymore. I think the reason he wanted to confess was so he can sign his sins for God in order to clear his conscious and start on a clean slate. I think he starts to realize at this point that he wouldn’t want to keep living in lies and having to go through life having people thinking he was a witch but instead die an honest and honorable man. Also he wouldn’t want his family judged if he did signed. He see’s that lying and keeping the truth to himself has gotten him into all of this and the only way to end it was with honesty.
An interesting question that was posed was what if John Proctor didn’t have to sign, would he confess or would he not? I think that if he didn’t need to sign it he would confess. When arguing with Danforth, Proctor says “You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot-” (page 143). This shows that he really only cares if his name is signed to lies for the public or not and his reputation. Not only this but he wants to be with his love, Elizabeth, his children and baby on the way.
Nick Paquin
ReplyDeleteGoodness
In the Crucible by Arthur Miller many themes and topics center around the problems in Salem. Of all of them I think the topic of goodness or what I believe is morality is the most important to many of the characters in the play. This mostly pertains to Proctor and his travel as a dynamic character through the play. His morality insecurity begins when he has his affair with Abigail, seven months before the beginning the play. This can be seen through dialogue between Elizabeth and Proctor during the second act. “Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!” (pg 54 Proctor) This quote from the argument between Elizabeth and Proctor shows how morality is judge by others. The fact that they haven’t work it out after seven months and that they still dwell on the topic makes Proctor very insecure about his moment of weakness. The whole problem of the affair plays out through the play leading Proctor to become a better person and to his ultimate demise. This is seen through the last line of the play by Elizabeth. “ He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” here Elizabeth acknowledges that Proctor has finally found his morality and is doing the right thing for Salem as a whole so the hanging won't continue. She wants him to live but as she states in the line she doesn't want to condemn him witchcraft, and ruins everyone’s name. So Proctor makes the ultimate sacrifice and becomes a martyr to everything will end.
The topic of goodness wasn't talked about a lot during class but the topic of a name and morality go hand and hand. So in Act Four Proctor fights for his name and that of the others in Salem to make sure that they do not have a bad reputation after their death. This final decision by Proctor is part of his morality in the situation. During class we discussed this final act by Proctor and how it affected the outcome of the play. In seeing what others said, I've come to the conclusion that Proctors final act was out of goodness for everyone and that under immense stress people can convert to a good choice instead of taking the easy way out and being selfish.
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ReplyDeleteContemplating the Confession
ReplyDeleteDuring the seminar we talked a lot about John Proctor and his confession because it was such an important part of the play. John Proctor is forced to sign his name on his confession but after he signs the confession he rips it up. At first John Proctor is unsure if he should confess to save himself or if he should do the right thing and stand up to Danforth and the church. Proctor signs his name but after hearing that his confession will be posted on the churches door he tears up the confession. I think that Proctor was accepting his fate but the minute he heard Danforth say that he wants to hang it on the churches door for everyone to see Proctor realized that he could not confess. If Proctor confessed the whole town would believe that Danforth was doing the right thing by hanging all of the “witches”. Proctor saw that Danforth was going to use his confession against all of the respected townspeople who had been convicted by making them look guilty even though they were innocent.
When Proctor decided to confess he was only looking to show that he was guilty, he didn’t want to hurt anyone else’s reputation. Proctor did not give in to Danforth’s questioning by giving Danforth the names he wanted to hear. Danforth asked “Mr. Proctor. When the Devil came to you did you see Rebecca Nurse in his company?” and “Did you ever see Martha Corey with the Devil”. To both of his questions Proctor responded no because he had no right to hurt them and it would have done him no good to drag them down with him. He was ashamed at what he was doing because he would not look at Rebecca Nurse or Martha Corey as he was confessing to Danforth. He was completely ashamed when just two people were looking down on him but if he let Danforth post his confession on the church he would not be able to bear the hateful thoughts that the town would have of him. I think it was then that he realized that he must die fighting because he would not be able to live with himself knowing he helped the enemy justify killing innocent people.
Celine Fletcher
ReplyDeleteFear is the Reason for Destruction
The Crucible by Arthur Miller they are many problems and conflicts with their true origins not explained, but I believe it to fear. Everyone is suffering from fear, which Arthur Miller talks about in his article “Why I Wrote The Crucible”. His quote talks into the reason the witch-hunt spread so fast. He said “fear doesn’t travel well; just as it can warp judgment, its absence can diminish memory’s truth” (page 28, front page). This quote truly describes the situation going on in Salem. People were afraid to question the court and if they were questioned about someone’s allegiance to the devil their memories were wiped away from fear. They couldn’t remember what the potential witch was like before the witch-hunt because they were scared. This idea of false confession comes into play with Danforth. People couldn’t question the court with enough evidence because as shown with the list of 91 witnesses that Proctor and Nurse brought to Danforth, they were all arrested. No one wanted to testify or tell the court about anyone who had any evidence. As proven with Giles Corey, he wouldn’t give the name of the man with evidence against Putnam because he was fearful that the witness would be arrested. On page 96 of the Crucible there is an exchange of text between Giles and the court. “The proof is there! I have it from an honest who heard Putnam say it. The day his cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land.” “And the name of this man?” “What name?” “The man that give you this information.” “ Why I, I cannot give you him name.” “And why not?” “You know well why not! He’ll lay I jail if I give his name!” Giles was afraid for his witness that he refused to his name and died with it. For this reason, the trials weren’t questioned for a long time. Proctor’s final encounter with the court was concluded with a decision attributed to fear. The reason Proctor as originally arrested was Mary Warren fell in with fear. Fear is the most legitimate reason for the trials to begin and the reason they were prolonged for some many months.
During the discussion we discussed Proctor’s confession. We ran out of time to discuss it fully but I believe that his reasoning for confession can also be attributed to fear. He was trying to save his life by confessing but realized when he was told to sign that he was scared because he would be living a lie for the rest of his life. He decided to go with what was true and face the wrong court the eventually end the fear and witch scare. He knew that his hanging along with the two other most influential and trustworthy people in town would end the fear the entire town had of each other. It pushes that fear to the court and end the trials, which were wrong from the beginning.
Elizabeth’s Ambiguity
ReplyDeleteDuring the class discussion, the question was posed of whether or not Elizabeth wanted John to confess, and why she was being so vague with her responses. Some people believed that she wanted him to confess so that he would live and she would not lose her husband as well as the father of her child. Some thought she had no preference and wanted to leave the choice to him, because of her cryptic and ambiguous responses. To others it was still entirely unclear what she wanted, or if she preferred one outcome over the other. My interpretation is that she did not want him to confess, but she will not say this because she wants him to make his decision based on his own morals and beliefs as opposed to hers.
When John first says that he thinks he will confess, Elizabeth says things like, “As you will, I would have it.” She is clearly making an effort to avoid directly answering him because she disagrees with his first notion to confess but wants to leave it up to him. When he asks her what she thinks, she says “I am not your judge” so that he does not feel guilty one way or the other. As he is being taken away after ripping up his confession, Parris and Hale plead with her to try and change his mind. Instead of talking him into confessing in order to live, she lets him leave having made his own decision. The final thing that makes it clear that Elizabeth wanted John to tell the truth and die with dignity is that at the very end, as they beg her, she shows that she is proud of John. She says, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”
Lexie Guest
ReplyDeleteThe Final Destination of John Proctor
Throughout the entire play The Crucible by Arthur Miller John Proctor has come out a dynamic character. In the beginning of the play he was really a childish self-centered person, but as the play started getting to the end, he really was able to change and come out a new person until finally he died a honest man. When it came to that very second that Danforth and the court insisted him on signing his name and giving them a confession Proctor suddenly realized he was not going to have his name blackened even more with sins and lies that he will have to live with forever. He learns that he would rather die a well respected man than live a life of lies. Even though he knows what has to be done and he is willing to stick to the truth even if that means death, it will be the hardest thing for him to not be with Elizabeth and their baby that is on the way.
What I was able to learn from The Crucible was that everyone can change for the better, and John Proctor is proof of that. Everyone has a destination and something that they are suppose to do in life. John Proctor’s was to tell the truth, which he can now say he successfully did. If he Danforth did not make him sign his name he probably would have gone on with the lie because there was nothing to make him remember what he had said. But with his confession hanging up on the church it would be something that he would have to see everyday, and how can someone live with that?
During the circle discussion we talked the quote that Proctor said on page 143 when he says;
“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!......I have given you my soul; now let me keep my name!” This is just another way to show that Proctor is doing the right thing. He will not give the only thing he has left, which is his name. By signing this he will have given everything he owns to the court that just will carry on this lie forever until Danforth can say its done. Even if Danforth’s done having John Proctor’s confession will make his reputation more popular knowing that one of the most respected men like John Proctor have confessed to him.
Michael Purvey
ReplyDeleteThe Last Confession of John Proctor
During our seminar, we have talked many topics about The Crucible by Arthur Miller; one of the topics that I found interesting that we have talked about was John Proctor’s Confession. At the end of Act Four, John Proctor was sentenced to death because he was “involved in witchcraft.” However, he had two choices. One of the choices was that he could have either signed the Confession that Judge Danforth gave to him stating that he would confess to witchcraft and stay alive in jail. The other choice was that he would not have to sign the Confession and then get hung and die.
At first, John Proctor says “I will have my life.” (pg. 137) to Judge Danforth, meaning that he wanted to live in which he meant that he would sign the Confession. Proctor argued for himself for not signing the confession because he says to Danforth “You have all witnessed it; what more is needed?” (pg. 142) because he already said he was involved in witchcraft and did not want them to have actual proof that he confessed it.
After the little argument between Judge Danforth and John Proctor, John Proctor finally signed the Confession and then snatches it as Danforth reached for the Confession. When Danforth demanded him to give it to him, John Proctor says, “No, no. I have signed it. You have seen me. It is done! You have no need for this,” (pg. 142) because he just wanted Danforth to know that he had signed the Confession and to not let Danforth have the actual copy of the signed Confession because it would have been nailed on the church door where everyone would see it. In this quote, he is really trying to get away with confessing to witchcraft without him signing the Confession so that Danforth would not have his name in print for actual evidence. John Proctor and Judge Danforth have another argument with each other Proctor not giving the signed Confession to Danforth. When Danforth asks, “Then explain to me, Mr. Proctor, why you will not let-” (pg. 143) then Proctor interrupts him saying, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (pg. 143); he said this because he did not want to give up his name and make his name become hateful so that everyone will remember him as a liar and a coward and for being the reason for everyone’s death. In that quote, he is implying that he really does not want to give up his name at all; all he is asking is for him to not be forced to put his name out in public for him to be blamed for so many deaths. After him saying that, he then tears up the Confession and is sentenced to death.
The reason why John Proctor had ripped up the Confession was because he knew that many people were dying because of a lie by Abigail Williams and her friends. He knew that all the people who had died were innocent and did not deserve to die. He felt guilty to all the deaths because he figured that if he would have told the Judges or Mr. Hale about him and Abigail’s lechery that many of the people in Salem would not have gotten accused of witchcraft and hung, but because he told them too late, he felt that it was his fault that many people died in Salem. John Proctor had an opportunity to live by signing the Confession, but instead he decided to sign it then rip it to shreds and to die as a good man who is honest and not a coward.
brandon farah:
ReplyDeleteMessage The Book Left
I really liked how during the discussion when we talked about why proctor ripped up the paper at the end and what message he was trying to send. It was really nice to hear what everyone had to say and all the different ways that the author could have made you interpret the end and how everyone used pass example in other acts and parts of the book to make one scene logical and how everyone could pull lines right out of the text that matched what they were saying perfectly. Also how two people could sound right but yet both of them have two completely different interpretations on the book or what it was saying. The thing that blew my mind was all the different ways that the author could have ended the book. He could have changed just a couple lines in different parts of the book and it would have been a totally different ending.
Also all the different ways the author could have made you interpret the signals the book was sending on how the characters acted was amazing. It started to make me think why he chose this exact reason for making the book exactly how it was? It made me think, why didn’t he use one of the other dozen ways to end the book? I never found the answer. I think that nobody, even the author will know why he went that exact route, but there has to be some reason why he was thinking those exact things while he was writing the book and I really wish I could put myself in his head at that time but I can’t.
Austine Bodenstab
ReplyDeleteJohn Proctors final decision
John Proctor had a major decision to make at the end of the Crucible. He can either chose to confess to witchcraft, and live, or not confess to witchcraft, which would leave him dead. In the end, he tears up the confession to witchcraft that he had to sign, and by doing this showed he wasn't a witch. During our discussion, I realized that John Proctor tour up his confession because he realized that if he lived the rest of his life knowing he lied about being a witch, it would be like hell on Earth.
All I could think about when ever anyone talked about Proctor tearing up the confession, I could picture the actor in the movie. How at that part he was in complete distress. When people started bringing up how by confessing to witchcraft he is losing his soul, all I could picture was that distressed face. In that moment, he realized that if he let this continue his friends would die looking like witches, and his family would have to watch him suffer for the rest of his life. He knew when he tour up that piece of paper that he made the right decision. By tearing up the paper, he doesn't have to live with the guilt of lying. He is free now. Even though he is dead, he is free. He no longer has any lies that are eating away at him. He is now some what purer. Some what less evil. He know this, and even Elizabeth knows this. In the end, she says, "He have his goodness now, God forbid I take it from him." She know that by dying without the lies of witchcraft and adulatory, is much better than living with them always hanging over your head for the rest of your life.
Matt McDermott
ReplyDeleteDanforth and the Devil
The Crucible is a story of many metaphors, symbols and double meanings. When a character speaks or acts, often they are implying something else entirely. At the end of Act 4 when John is forced to sign his name in the judge’s book, although to the town Danforth holds a position of great power and authority, to the reader he seems to very well fit the description of the same devil that Proctor was accused of working with.
Although Danforth is clearly not Satan, as one of the main points of this play is that witches simply do not exist, there are still many similarities between Danforth and the supposed Devil. For example, on page 139 where Proctor is forced to sign his name into the record book it seems oddly similar to how earlier in the play he was accused to sign his name into the Devil’s book in the exact same way. The juxtaposition of the questions Danforth is asking if Proctor signed his name in the Devil’s book, and Proctor’s simple “I did” just as he is officially submitting to Danforth on his confession create a good bit of dramatic irony for the reader.
In addition, Danforth can be seen as an embodiment of the evil for the isolated town of Salem in how he briefly enters the village, creates a vast amount of chaos and disorder ruining the lives of hundreds, and then leaves and continues his life back in the distant city of Boston as if nothing had happened. Unlike the people he convicted who had no bad motivation other than to save their own lives, much of the reason all of the chaos occurred in the town was a result of Danforth’s greed of wanting to keep his job as judge, something he would lose if he chose to do the right thing and let the innocent people of Salem go.
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ReplyDeleteBen VanDeBogart
ReplyDeleteThe Final Decision of John Proctor
In our discussion of The Crucible a lot was covered, but the two things i want to touch apon is why Elizabeth didn't help John decide to confess to witchcraft and why John Proctor ripped the confession. I believe that Elizabeth didn't tell John what to do because she didn't want to make John do what she wanted to do and not follow what he believes is right. Elizabeth says "I cannot judge you, John.(p 135) which clearly shows this. It seems actually unknown what Elizabeth wanted for John this is because some people believe that she wanted John to confess and live, but others believe what i believe. There are two different beliefs because Elizabeth has short responses toward John on what to do which makes the topic questionable.
John Proctor ripping the confession was also another big topic that was discussed. In my opinion John Proctor ripped the confession because he was trying to knock some sense into Danforth. Proctor believes that by saying this lie about him being in league with the devil and by writing his name on the confession he is selling his soul to the devil. Proctor doesn't want his name being posted to the church because he doesn't want to be known as an example of someone who lies to save his own life. By doing this he also ruins his name for his sons. Proctor says "Because it is my name! Because i can't have another in my life! Because i lie and sell myself to lies! Because i am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may i live without my name? I have given you my soul;leave my name! (p 143) This quote shows that Proctor at least wants his name, and that its too late for him to gain anything else. I think Proctor wanted to confess because he wanted to sign his sins to god and start over
In our descusion about the Crucible we disscused alot of subjects. One rather large topic being John Proctor's cofession and reasons for tearing it up. Proctor's confession is a very complex and interesting scene mainly because it can be interpreted in different ways. It also makes people ask many different questions for this reason the biggest question of all always being; why? Why did Proctor confess? Why did he proceed to rip up the confession after signing it? And many different answers are given as well. In my opinion Proctor confessed mainy so he could live to raise his kids, however, when he relized that Danforth and Parris only wanted to use him to gain thier power back he tore the confession up.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Marshall:
ReplyDeleteWhat interested me the most in class is when we talked about John Proctor and why he would rip up the confession. John had said he has given them his soul but wont give his name. His name is the only thing he has now. "How may i Live without my name, I have given you my soul, leave me my name." (Page 143) His name is his identity and if he were to put his name on the confession he'd be known as a liar, and lose himself completely and what he believes in. He wants to live and be with his wife but he will have lost all respect from others around him and he doesn't want to live by a lie. Being under all the pressure of everyone telling him to lie and confess is what made him sign his name until then he realizes it is not the right thing to do and it will give Danforth what he wants. His wife wanted him to what he he felt was the right thing to do and whatever he chose she could not judge him for it. He wants him to live but she knows how important it is to John to keep his name and not blacken it even more then it has been. John had lost all of the respect he had after cheating on his wife and asks Elizabeth for forgiveness but she told him that he needs to forgive himself for his sins. And so by ripping up the confession and not giving in and telling a lie just to live, he dies for the truth and what he knows is right. He gets rid of all of his sins and dies with peace and dignity. Elizabeth says "He have his goodness now, God forbid I take it from him!" (Page 145) He had gained his respect back from the people and possibly have saved others lives as well by not confessing, because then everyone will see that maybe it all has been a lie from the beginning.
John Proctor’s Confession
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Act 4, John Proctor didn’t want to be hanged for not confessing, but he also didn’t want his fake confession on the front door of the church. “Damn the village! I confess to God, and God has seen my name on this! It is enough!”(142). That was the reason why John Proctor tore up his confession. He wanted to save his wife because he loved her so much. I thought that Elizabeth wanted John to confess to the judges that he was a witch as seen by this quote: “Do what you will. But let none be your judge...”(137). The reason why Proctor tore up the confession was because he would blacken his name. He realized he couldn’t live with himself with his lies. Another part I realized from the discussion was that Hale and Proctor were similar.
The Similarities between John and Hale was that Hale believed in the witchcraft at Salem, but after John Proctor told him what was really happening, Hale started to agree with him. “Excellency, this child’s gone wild!”(119) Mary Warren didn’t want to get hanged for “putting” witchcraft on Abigail and the other girls, so she turned the blame to John Proctor, who was trying to let Mary Warren to tell the judges that the girls were lying.
Maeve Gurbey
ReplyDeleteOne topic discussed in class that intrigued me was the question “Does Elizabeth want John to confess or not?” There were a couple of different opinions about whether Elizabeth did or did not want him to confess, leading our class to a small debate. Many people thought that based on the line, “I cannot judge you, John.” (page 135) she does not want him to confess because that would be the wrong thing to do. Others were unsure of this question, thinking that it could go either way. However, in my personal opinion I think that this question is very simple. Elizabeth does want John to confess. If the question being asked were to be “Does Elizabeth wasn’t John to do the right thing?” it would be debatable. That is not the question. To John, Elizabeth says, “I want you living, John. That’s for sure.” (page 136) which clearly implies that she wants John to confess so he will be able to live.
Try to see this from Elizabeth’s point of view. When I put myself in her position I decided that I would want my husband to confess so he would be able to stay alive. Who wants to watch their husband die? Especially during such an important time for their family. Together they have children at home, and a child on the way. At this time she needed John more than ever before. Elizabeth tells John what she wants, but she does not tell him what is the right thing to do. She believes that since it is his life, it should be his decision. This is proven when she says, “ It is not my soul, John, it is yours. Only be sure of this, for I know it now: whatever you will do, it is a good man does it,” (page 136). This shows that even though she does not want him to confess she knows that it is his choice. She knows he will do the right thing because she knows he is a good man. She shows this when she says to Reverend Hale, “He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (page 145). For the question “ Does Elizabeth want John to confess or not?” the answer is yes. For the question “Does she want John to do the right thing?” that is debatable, because it is never clearly stated in the play. She wants him to do what he think is the best for himself.
In our discussion we talked about how John Proctor's 'goodness' came out. I think he was good in the end, but mid book, I don't think so. He had an affair with Abby, and that was a sin against God. It was against one of the commandments, it was adultry. To be a better person, he confessed. "God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now." (page 110)
ReplyDeleteOnce he confessed he became good. He felt he was forgiven by God and he didn't want to go back on that. That's why he didn't sign the paper because he did not want to lie anymore. People in class interpretted the end of the book differently. They said John could have confessed and said he was a witch, but that would have been selfish. I think he did the right thing because he died with the other people and hisgood reputation. "I have confessed myself! Is there no good petinence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" (page 142) At the end he didn't want to have to prove anything to anyone but himself and Elizabeth, and she thought he was good too.
MARCUS CHARLAND
ReplyDeleteWe covered a lot in our discussion like why John Procter did not confess. I think that john Procter did not confess because he did not want to blacken his name and that he does not want to live his life with sorrows and regret. In the end Procter comes to the conclusion that he can die for what is right. He thinks it is more important to die with pride than to live in shame. Pg144 Procter shows this when he says,” I can. And there’s your first marvel that I can. He means that he can sacrifice his life for his happiness.
Michael Walsh
ReplyDeleteThe Mind of John Proctor
In our discussion, one topic that tickled my fancy was the reasoning behind John Proctor’s decision to confess, and then to rip up said confession. I believe that the reasoning behind it is that John wanted to live, but did not want it to be a public thing. Once the fact that his name was going to appear on the door of the church, and that he had to give the names of people that he saw with the devil became a necessity, he pulled out and wanted nothing to do with it.
Another topic that came up in our discussion was whether or not Elizabeth wanted John to confess. I am honestly not sure what she wanted. She gave both impressions because she said that it speaks goodness to him that he has not already confessed, but she also says that she wants him to be living. It seems to me that what Elizabeth really wants is for John to live, and to also refrain from lying. If you think about it, who wouldn’t want that?
Owen McKinney
ReplyDeleteTHE PAPER OF “TRUTH”
One of the many topics that we discussed on Friday was, when we were talking about if Elizabeth wanted John to confess or not, and why she won’t tell him what to do. Well I think that Elizabeth doesn’t care if he confesses or not, because whatever choice he makes will be for the better of him in his own way, and I feel she would respect him for that. I just basically thought she just wanted him to do what he thinks is right for his future and his peers overall.
This conversation led to how John Proctor confessed to witchcraft and tore up the confession with his name on it. I think the reason John Proctor tore the confession was to stop living a sinful life of lies and become a better person. He refuses to play the immoral game by naming others and tears up his false confession. Elizabeth is urged to try to persuade him, but she refuses and understands his need for redemption of his good name. I also thought that Proctor goes through a major transformation of character, recovering his self-respect back from the affair with Abigail. He feels restored in his faith, realizing that the only way to save himself from true evil is to battle the temptation to lie to save his life. Proctor ends up surrendering his life to save his soul. Which I think was the better for him, because if he loses his name that puts his children in a bad place. He would have been the one who confessed to save his own life and let others get killed for not confessing. He would be a coward and a liar.
Through Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteAlthough I wasn’t there during the class discuss, I am going to discuss the question one on the prep worksheet, does Elizabeth want John to confess.At the beginning of this novel Elizabeth seems to act indifferent towards John still waiting for him to redeem himself this can be seen when she replies in their argument “ I see what, I see” (pg54) in a way this let’s John know that she can only understand the situation, her ability to trust him from what she sees. In this scene she also says “ I cannot judge you…” (pg55) although she says yet another time in the novel it means two different things. In this case it is said scornfully in a way, and John too can sense that she is judging him because of the things he is saying and lack of action he is taking against the impending situation. When John does show up in court and Elizabeth is called into the court, I think she is confused because John was so set on not coming into Salem and the court plus he is up there with Abigail. Although it seems in the beginning of the novel she is very angry and cold with him for what he did, she puts it aside her because she still loves him, so she lies. When John tells her what he has done, she realizes that John was trying redeem himself to her, and that now she was the one at fault.
All of this leads up to, the simple question does Elizabeth want John to confess. I do not even think she even knew what was right. Although she said on page 136 that she wanted him living, she began to realize that either way he was good man, but also either way he was condemned, one in the name of disgrace the other to his death. When she says “ I cannot judge you John.” (pg 138) she literally means this because she knows this decision is one she should not influence so heavily although she loves him as she put it “ ...It is not my soul, it is yours.” (136) she knows the consequences either way. If he lives he will be lost because he did not stand by his morals, he will lose himself, and his soul. But if he does not confess he will be hanged, he will be gone, and dead. She says that she cannot forgive him until he forgives himself, which many might take as her simply being hard on him, but what she’s saying is that once he does what he believes to be the best for himself not for what others believe, when truly thinks he is a better man than she will also truly believe he is a better man, even if that ultimately means on the end of the noose.
The last line of the novel really I think captures the book and what ultimately Elizabeth perceives John, “ He has his goodness now, God forbid I take it from him. “ ( pg 145) she finally has forgiven him because he has forgiven himself and has done what he has perceives to be right and true to his morals. She also means that he has found himself to be a better man, what right does she have to take that away from him. I also interrupt this line as you are your own person, no one has a right to it take away from you. Elizabeth has come to realize that John is dying by his means and truly himself, no matter what Danforth, Parris or anyone else does or says they have no right to take him from himself, so he rather die true and I think Elizabeth did come to realize this, that is why she tells him it is not her decision although she loves him, it is his soul and he should decide what he is able to live with or die for.
Chad Rockwell- John Proctors' Dilemma
ReplyDeleteIn act four, John Proctor decided to lie and confess that he compacted with the devil. Immediately after though, he tore up his confession. He confesses after talking with Elizabeth because he wants to be alive for her. After he finds out that the paper he signed was to be posted on the church door, he changes his mind. He does not want his name listed on the paper because it blackens his name and everyone would be able to see it. At this point the only thing he has left is his name and of coarse, does not wish to have that taken away from him. John Proctor responds to the others questioning his reason in saying “Because it’s my name! Because I can’t have another in my life!” (page 143). His name is really important to him and he still wants his name to hold some pride. He doesn’t want to sign his name to lies anymore. I think the reason he wanted to confess was so he can sign his sins for God in order to clear his conscious and start on a clean slate. I think he starts to realize at this point that he wouldn’t want to be living a lie and having to go through life having people connecting the name John Proctor with a witch. Instead he chooses to die an honest and honorable man. Also he wouldn’t want his family judged if he did sign. He see’s that lying and keeping the truth to himself has gotten him into all of this and the only way to end it was with honesty.One question I had was; would he confess if he did not have to sign his name on the paper? When arguing with Danforth, Proctor says “You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot-” (page 143). This shows that he certainly cares about his reputation and cares too much to lie himself. Most of all though, he cares about his soon to be three children and Elizabeth. I believe that if he did not need to sign that paper, he would choose to confess.
Chad Rockwell- John Proctors' Dilemma
ReplyDeleteIn act four, John Proctor decided to lie and confess that he compacted with the devil. Immediately after though, he tore up his confession. He confesses after talking with Elizabeth because he wants to be alive for her. After he finds out that the paper he signed was to be posted on the church door, he changes his mind. He does not want his name listed on the paper because it blackens his name and everyone would be able to see it. At this point the only thing he has left is his name and of coarse, does not wish to have that taken away from him. John Proctor responds to the others questioning his reason in saying “Because it’s my name! Because I can’t have another in my life!” (page 143). His name is really important to him and he still wants his name to hold some pride. He doesn’t want to sign his name to lies anymore. I think the reason he wanted to confess was so he can sign his sins for God in order to clear his conscious and start on a clean slate. I think he starts to realize at this point that he wouldn’t want to be living a lie and having to go through life having people connecting the name John Proctor with a witch. Instead he chooses to die an honest and honorable man. Also he wouldn’t want his family judged if he did sign. He see’s that lying and keeping the truth to himself has gotten him into all of this and the only way to end it was with honesty.One question I had was; would he confess if he did not have to sign his name on the paper? When arguing with Danforth, Proctor says “You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot-” (page 143). This shows that he certainly cares about his reputation and cares too much to lie himself. Most of all though, he cares about his soon to be three children and Elizabeth. I believe that if he did not need to sign that paper, he would choose to confess.