Excluding the 2 major characters (Abigail and John Proctor), who is your favorite character in the play and why? Briefly, how is the character important in the play?
Easy, None! I don't like any of the characters besides Proctor. They are all too religious, too stupid, too meek, or too reformed for my taste. But, if I had to choose a character I liked it would be Elizabeth also known as Goody Proctor. Also she is too subservient and refined she understands the madness and stupidity of the witch trials. She doesn't believe in witches. I admire her for her strength she will not confess even to save her won life because she knows its a lie. Above all else she has the strength to watch her husband either do one of two things. One, confess and loose his dignity and lie or two, die. She allows him to make the decision for himself without intervening with her opinions. This strength makes her my favorite character.
I believe that Reverend Hale, though not the most heroic of characters in The Crucible, still makes a profound influence on the text as a whole. At first I was annoyed by his aura of intelligence and superiority, and his tendency to dramatically create unnecessary hysteria. However, the point at which Hale realizes his ambition to preserve goodness in the Salem community has instead brought forth the accusation of innocent peoples, he immediately attempts to bring a sense of justice back to the courtroom where he formerly allowed it to deteriorate. I admire this attempt at correcting one’s mistakes, and his earnest endeavor to make a personal transformation. In spite of that, Hale disappoints me at the end when he tries to persuade Proctor to cowardly admit to witchcraft just so he can save his own life. So I guess he’s my “kind of sort of favorite character”…
My favorite character from the crucible was Reverend Hale, but since he has already been taken I will analyze my second favorite character Reverend Paris. I feel Reverend Paris is a very misunderstood character. His intentions are good but often misinterpreted. For example when Paris sends for Reverend John Hale of Beverly, an expert on witchcraft, many people in Salem believe it is to not only determine if he daughter Betty is bewitched but to find other witches hiding in Salem which was not the case. His sole intention was to determine if his daughter was indeed witched or a witch. Also his belief that no person should lift a finger during services without his permission is clearly a little extreme but as the minister of the church in Salem in 1692 it is his choice how he conducts his service and the negativity that stems from his strict service rules is unnecessary. Reverend Paris is simply misinterpreted.
Like Erica, I too was mostly annoyed with the characters in the play as they were exceptionally myopic and stupid enough to become so enthralled with eradicating the devil that they forgot about the truth. However, I do think that Mary Warren deserves some recognition as she does, for a while, support John and Elizabeth Proctor's truth that Abigail Williams is lying. She shows extraordinary courage to be able to stand up for what is right even though she knows that by doing so, she loses the protection of her peers. One of my fears in the play was that, when the poppet was found in Goody Proctor's possession, Mary would deny giving it to her and therefore increase the crime against Elizabeth. I was glad to see that she was truthful and honest. However, like all the characters in the play (aside from John and Elizabeth Proctor, perhaps) Mary did have her tragic downfall when she became too frightened to speak the truth and instead sided with Abigail's lie. I still commend her for, though only a short period, speaking the truth and also her courage to stand up against her peers. However, I'm not quite sure if she qualifies as my favorite character, I'm just merely proud of her. It's a shame that she did not have enough courage to correct the situation altogether.
my favorite character was Giles. i liked his uncompromising attitude in the end especially when he sentenced to be pressed to death for not answering his indictment and with his last breath he said "more weight".
I also liked Giles. In the beginning he seems uneducated and annoying, yet his passionate defense of his wife and his heroic end provide a transformative redemption. In the beginning I found Giles annoying because he complained to Hale that his wife was reading. I had no sympathy for any man who would tell a witch hunter that his own wife was displaying suspicious behavior. I began to find his curmudgeonly ways more endearing when he arrives at Proctor's house, roaring "They take my wife!" Giles uses every asset he has to free Martha. This devotion, and the sorrow he feels for telling Hale about the books, makes Giles a very likable character. Giles was eighty. He was old and wizened. It would have been very easy for him to pity himself or watch the ongoing trials with fear. Instead he takes responsibility for Martha's arrest and eventually dies protecting the future of his family. He was no coward, even as he called for his death, "more weight."
I liked Reverend Hale because he always acted based on what he thought was right, and he realized his mistakes and attempted to fix them. Even though original actions did help increase hysteria, he had good intentions in mind. He tried to be honest about his work, and once mentioned that it was possible that he may not find signs of withcraft. While he was deceived by the girls, when he realized his error he attempted to fix it, aiding Proctor in his defense and then later urging Proctor to save his life. It is tragic that the actions of Hale, though good intentioned, lead to so much terror, and his attempts to fix it failed.
My favorite character in the crucible is Rebecca Nurse. While she is a fringe character having few main lines, she represents honesty and bravery that few of the other characters portrayed. She won’t confess to being a witch because she knows she’s not. She realizes to she will die for sticking to the truth. When on page 129 she is being walked out to meet her death and in the italics its says she can’t even support herself. Danforth asks her if she will confess and she replies “Why , it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot” (129). While I’m not religious and Rebecca is the most pious in the play, it’s the fact that she has the courage to do what’s morally right, even if it means her death, that I find admirable.
I thought one of the most interesting characters was Mary Warren. Mary really embodied the way that oppressive Puritan values impacted both the youth and women. While Abigail was consistently portrayed as an anomaly for a young woman (she was always strong) through the hysteria, Mary was able to empower herself, something Puritanism otherwise prevented her from doing. As Elizabeth Proctor says of Mary Warren after Mary has been involved in the trials, "It is a mouse no more" (50). The contrast between how Elizabeth viewed Mary before and after the hysteria is indicative of how the hysteria allowed these young girls to feel valued.
The only character I find somewhat respectable, and thus my favorite, is John Proctor. Throughout the play he condemns the radical Puritans and questions religion and isn't a "blind-follower" like the rest of the characters. He demonstrates this ideal throughout the play. My favorite example, "I say - I say - God is dead!" (119). I think that quote symbolizes a loss of faith in God due to the outrages that have happened in the name of God to him and his wife (and fellow people of Salem).
Just realized that it was excluding John Proctor (I thought it said someone else). In that case I'd argue Giles for the same reason as John Proctor. He realizes that the whole thing is a lie and doesn't conform like the rest (and does so with courage). I believe he is important because of this. Evidence for this is shown on two occasions.
"Giles makes a rush for Putnam. PROCTOR: No, Giles! GILES, over Proctor's shoulder at Putnam: I'll cut your thraot, Putnam, I'll kill you yet... ... GILES: Say nothin' more, John. Point at Danforth. He's only layin' you! He means to hang us all!" (98). This quotation shows how Giles isn't afraid to speak out against what he knows is wrong and can stand up for justice when no one else does. Also when he is being pressed and says "More weight" just goes to show his braveness in going about speaking out against what's wrong.
My favorite character from The Crucible is, by far, John Proctor. Since he cannot be my favorite character for this prompt, my second favorite character is Mary Warren, as many people stated before. It is quite impressive when she admits that she gave Elizabeth the poppet because she could have easily lied, like the other girls of the time, yet does not because she genuinely feels remorese; therefore, proving herself to be honest. Although, in the end, she sides with Abigail's story, she marks the beginning of a society that is changing.
However, as I stated before, John Proctor is easily my favorite character, so it was difficult to pick another favorite character. (I did not like most of them...)
The character I felt the most sympathy for was Mary Warren. Of all the girls, she seemed the most legitimately concerned about the morality of accusing townspeople of witchcraft. Like Ezgi said, she's more honest than any of the other girls in the play, and seems to feel the weight of her actions and their consequences. At the beginning, she says, "Abby, we've got to tell. Witchery's a hangin' error.... We must tell the truth, Abby!"(18). Mary is concerned not just for her own safety but for what could happen to others if the situation escalates.
Even after the situation has gotten out of hand, Mary attempts to come clean and stop the hangings. However, Abigail and the other girls begin to accuse her and in order to save herself, she joins them in accusing Proctor. Although Mary ends up assisting in the turmoil and destruction of the Salem witch trials, she did so only because her life was in danger. The other girls gave her a difficult choice, and she chose the very human act of saving herself, despite the moral consequences.
My favorite character besides from Proctor is Corey Giles. He believed that this witch hysteria was a hoax. He spoke out against what he knew as wrong by claiming that Putnam is actually accusing some people as witches in order to claim land, saying, "he's killing his neighbor's for land" (89). He is very couragous for saying this because he knew the danger of challenging the courts and the "bewitched" girls' legitamcy; however, he took a stand in order to save his wife from being executed. He also had a lot of pride in himself and a desire to not let the courts defeat him. For example when Giles was being pressed to death, he was plead to either admit he was a witch or wasn't, however he said with a smile, "more weight" (125). His indeffernce proves his great amount of pride to not tarnish his own reputation, and his victory over the court system. Even while being executed he did not allow the legal system to bend his beliefs, instead he died as a man, not a witch. This to me is a hero.
Mr. Hale is one of my favorite characters in The Crucible because of his honesty. Mr. Hale is a religious man, who truly believes in witchcraft. Therefore, when he believes that he has seen the work of the devil, he speaks his mind. While this might not be that respectable, Mr. Hale does try to protect the people he feels are innocent. For example, when Elizabeth said Mr. Proctor did not commit adultery because she wanted to save his name, Hale stands up for both of them. He says to Danforth, “Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned!...From the beginning this man has struck me true. By my oath to Heaven, I believe him now…”(106). Even though it means going against the court here, Hale does everything in his power to save the innocent. Later, he even suggests that Proctor should lie to the court in order to save his life.
My favorite character in this play would be Proctor's wife Elizabeth, solely due to the fact that I had the most sympathy for her than any other character. Knowing of the affair her husband had with Abigail, she still felt it was her duty to be faithful to him. Although she tries to protect Proctor by lying about his affair, she only gets him in more trouble, which I find extrmely tragic. She refuses to make him confess something he did not do to save his life, and is forced to watch her husband suffer an internal struggle of dying for something he did not do or living in shame. Elizabeth is a true Puritan who blames herself for anything possible. She only sees the good in her cheating husband and the bad in herself. When speaking to her husband for the last time she says, "...Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it. I have read my heart this three month, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery" (126).
I wouldn't say a particularly liked any of the characters excluding John Proctor. it's true he's flawed and that he cheated on his wife, but heck people make mistakes, Michael Vick killed dogs for money for Pete's sake, but the point is he's human and he refuses to quit he's determined and stead fast and even though he ends the play by completely going against human instinct and common sense i guess it's a pretty honorable action. Even though i hate the character of reverend Paris, I somewhat appreciate the addition of a character such as him into the play. he shows in my opinion the truth of human nature. he's selfish materialistic and greedy. he cares of nothing other than power, money, respect and influence and quite honestly does nothing to improve himself. he's quite honestly as close to pure evil as they come. he has no redeeming qualities and is just a loser who was put into power.
My favorite character would have to be Giles Corey. He deserves none of what he gets, as he is just an old farmer who has worked very hard for the duration of his life. After his wife's conviction, he too is accused of witchcraft. However, he represents some of the protest of the play, as he refuses to plead to something that he should not have to. His stubborness, as stones are piled upon him, is truly admirable.
Personally my favorite character was Reverend Hale. He is my favorite character because I believe that he is the strongest character, excluding Proctor. Despite the fact that he was originally sucked into the hype of the witch accusations, in the end he realizes how absurd all of this really is. Besides his importance of being a member of the church and originally assisting in the trials, he is also important because he was the first person who originally believed to snap out of the spell. By openly admitting that the accusations were preposterous he then made it acceptable for other to deny them as well.
I also agree with Erica that most of the characters in the Crucible are extremely meek, subservient, and paranoid. My favorite character of these people, however, would be Giles Corey. Because Giles would not submit to the pressures of society or religious incentive, I feel that he represent a man who had chosen his own beliefs and had resisted the pressures of conforming to Purtan society. This is not say that he wasn't a believer it just seems that he understood the way that the Puritan society worked.
Another reason why i feel that Giles was important was because of the matter of his death. I feel that the way that Giles was killed symbolizes the huge amount of pressure that was put on the citizens of Salem in order for them to conform to Puritan beliefs. Because Giles was able to protest against this weight shows his ability to withstand Puritan pressure.
Other than Proctor, the only character who I relatively liked was Rebecca Nurse. She acted as a metaphor for the more original puritan ways. in the first act she states, "let us go to god for the cause of it. There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I fear it. Let us blame ourselves and" (28). she looks inward, within in the community. She tells the other characters that this is communal sin rather than individual sin. Also at the end, she is one of the last who hasn't confessed to their "sins". She is one of the few who reamains relatively constant throughout the story
Besides Proctor, Reverend Hale is my favorite character because he represents the virtue and honesty in the midst of the corruption of the Salem witch trials. Although he is slightly tempted by his elevated status within Salem's community (given his power in determining the guilty and the inncocent) after Elizabeth Proctor's arrest, he quickly begins to realize he is no longer in charge of the court's proceedings. Essentially the court cannot exist without the deceitful and outrageous accusations of witch craft within the community. I like Hale because his honest, along with Proctor's, ultimately ends the cycle of lies in Salem society.
Easy, None! I don't like any of the characters besides Proctor. They are all too religious, too stupid, too meek, or too reformed for my taste. But, if I had to choose a character I liked it would be Elizabeth also known as Goody Proctor. Also she is too subservient and refined she understands the madness and stupidity of the witch trials. She doesn't believe in witches. I admire her for her strength she will not confess even to save her won life because she knows its a lie. Above all else she has the strength to watch her husband either do one of two things. One, confess and loose his dignity and lie or two, die. She allows him to make the decision for himself without intervening with her opinions. This strength makes her my favorite character.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Reverend Hale, though not the most heroic of characters in The Crucible, still makes a profound influence on the text as a whole. At first I was annoyed by his aura of intelligence and superiority, and his tendency to dramatically create unnecessary hysteria. However, the point at which Hale realizes his ambition to preserve goodness in the Salem community has instead brought forth the accusation of innocent peoples, he immediately attempts to bring a sense of justice back to the courtroom where he formerly allowed it to deteriorate. I admire this attempt at correcting one’s mistakes, and his earnest endeavor to make a personal transformation. In spite of that, Hale disappoints me at the end when he tries to persuade Proctor to cowardly admit to witchcraft just so he can save his own life. So I guess he’s my “kind of sort of favorite character”…
ReplyDeleteMy favorite character from the crucible was Reverend Hale, but since he has already been taken I will analyze my second favorite character Reverend Paris. I feel Reverend Paris is a very misunderstood character. His intentions are good but often misinterpreted. For example when Paris sends for Reverend John Hale of Beverly, an expert on witchcraft, many people in Salem believe it is to not only determine if he daughter Betty is bewitched but to find other witches hiding in Salem which was not the case. His sole intention was to determine if his daughter was indeed witched or a witch. Also his belief that no person should lift a finger during services without his permission is clearly a little extreme but as the minister of the church in Salem in 1692 it is his choice how he conducts his service and the negativity that stems from his strict service rules is unnecessary. Reverend Paris is simply misinterpreted.
ReplyDeleteDo not shy away from selecting a character already discussed. You just need to put your own "spin" on him or her.
ReplyDeleteLike Erica, I too was mostly annoyed with the characters in the play as they were exceptionally myopic and stupid enough to become so enthralled with eradicating the devil that they forgot about the truth.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do think that Mary Warren deserves some recognition as she does, for a while, support John and Elizabeth Proctor's truth that Abigail Williams is lying. She shows extraordinary courage to be able to stand up for what is right even though she knows that by doing so, she loses the protection of her peers. One of my fears in the play was that, when the poppet was found in Goody Proctor's possession, Mary would deny giving it to her and therefore increase the crime against Elizabeth. I was glad to see that she was truthful and honest. However, like all the characters in the play (aside from John and Elizabeth Proctor, perhaps) Mary did have her tragic downfall when she became too frightened to speak the truth and instead sided with Abigail's lie. I still commend her for, though only a short period, speaking the truth and also her courage to stand up against her peers. However, I'm not quite sure if she qualifies as my favorite character, I'm just merely proud of her. It's a shame that she did not have enough courage to correct the situation altogether.
my favorite character was Giles. i liked his uncompromising attitude in the end especially when he sentenced to be pressed to death for not answering his indictment and with his last breath he said "more weight".
ReplyDeleteI also liked Giles. In the beginning he seems uneducated and annoying, yet his passionate defense of his wife and his heroic end provide a transformative redemption. In the beginning I found Giles annoying because he complained to Hale that his wife was reading. I had no sympathy for any man who would tell a witch hunter that his own wife was displaying suspicious behavior.
ReplyDeleteI began to find his curmudgeonly ways more endearing when he arrives at Proctor's house, roaring "They take my wife!" Giles uses every asset he has to free Martha. This devotion, and the sorrow he feels for telling Hale about the books, makes Giles a very likable character.
Giles was eighty. He was old and wizened. It would have been very easy for him to pity himself or watch the ongoing trials with fear. Instead he takes responsibility for Martha's arrest and eventually dies protecting the future of his family. He was no coward, even as he called for his death, "more weight."
I liked Reverend Hale because he always acted based on what he thought was right, and he realized his mistakes and attempted to fix them. Even though original actions did help increase hysteria, he had good intentions in mind. He tried to be honest about his work, and once mentioned that it was possible that he may not find signs of withcraft. While he was deceived by the girls, when he realized his error he attempted to fix it, aiding Proctor in his defense and then later urging Proctor to save his life. It is tragic that the actions of Hale, though good intentioned, lead to so much terror, and his attempts to fix it failed.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite character in the crucible is Rebecca Nurse. While she is a fringe character having few main lines, she represents honesty and bravery that few of the other characters portrayed. She won’t confess to being a witch because she knows she’s not. She realizes to she will die for sticking to the truth. When on page 129 she is being walked out to meet her death and in the italics its says she can’t even support herself. Danforth asks her if she will confess and she replies “Why , it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot” (129). While I’m not religious and Rebecca is the most pious in the play, it’s the fact that she has the courage to do what’s morally right, even if it means her death, that I find admirable.
ReplyDeleteI thought one of the most interesting characters was Mary Warren. Mary really embodied the way that oppressive Puritan values impacted both the youth and women. While Abigail was consistently portrayed as an anomaly for a young woman (she was always strong) through the hysteria, Mary was able to empower herself, something Puritanism otherwise prevented her from doing. As Elizabeth Proctor says of Mary Warren after Mary has been involved in the trials, "It is a mouse no more" (50). The contrast between how Elizabeth viewed Mary before and after the hysteria is indicative of how the hysteria allowed these young girls to feel valued.
ReplyDeleteThe only character I find somewhat respectable, and thus my favorite, is John Proctor. Throughout the play he condemns the radical Puritans and questions religion and isn't a "blind-follower" like the rest of the characters. He demonstrates this ideal throughout the play. My favorite example, "I say - I say - God is dead!" (119). I think that quote symbolizes a loss of faith in God due to the outrages that have happened in the name of God to him and his wife (and fellow people of Salem).
ReplyDeleteJust realized that it was excluding John Proctor (I thought it said someone else). In that case I'd argue Giles for the same reason as John Proctor. He realizes that the whole thing is a lie and doesn't conform like the rest (and does so with courage). I believe he is important because of this. Evidence for this is shown on two occasions.
ReplyDelete"Giles makes a rush for Putnam.
PROCTOR: No, Giles!
GILES, over Proctor's shoulder at Putnam: I'll cut your thraot, Putnam, I'll kill you yet...
...
GILES: Say nothin' more, John. Point at Danforth. He's only layin' you! He means to hang us all!" (98).
This quotation shows how Giles isn't afraid to speak out against what he knows is wrong and can stand up for justice when no one else does. Also when he is being pressed and says "More weight" just goes to show his braveness in going about speaking out against what's wrong.
My favorite character from The Crucible is, by far, John Proctor. Since he cannot be my favorite character for this prompt, my second favorite character is Mary Warren, as many people stated before. It is quite impressive when she admits that she gave Elizabeth the poppet because she could have easily lied, like the other girls of the time, yet does not because she genuinely feels remorese; therefore, proving herself to be honest. Although, in the end, she sides with Abigail's story, she marks the beginning of a society that is changing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as I stated before, John Proctor is easily my favorite character, so it was difficult to pick another favorite character. (I did not like most of them...)
The character I felt the most sympathy for was Mary Warren. Of all the girls, she seemed the most legitimately concerned about the morality of accusing townspeople of witchcraft. Like Ezgi said, she's more honest than any of the other girls in the play, and seems to feel the weight of her actions and their consequences. At the beginning, she says, "Abby, we've got to tell. Witchery's a hangin' error.... We must tell the truth, Abby!"(18). Mary is concerned not just for her own safety but for what could happen to others if the situation escalates.
ReplyDeleteEven after the situation has gotten out of hand, Mary attempts to come clean and stop the hangings. However, Abigail and the other girls begin to accuse her and in order to save herself, she joins them in accusing Proctor. Although Mary ends up assisting in the turmoil and destruction of the Salem witch trials, she did so only because her life was in danger. The other girls gave her a difficult choice, and she chose the very human act of saving herself, despite the moral consequences.
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ReplyDeleteMy favorite character besides from Proctor is Corey Giles. He believed that this witch hysteria was a hoax. He spoke out against what he knew as wrong by claiming that Putnam is actually accusing some people as witches in order to claim land, saying, "he's killing his neighbor's for land" (89). He is very couragous for saying this because he knew the danger of challenging the courts and the "bewitched" girls' legitamcy; however, he took a stand in order to save his wife from being executed. He also had a lot of pride in himself and a desire to not let the courts defeat him. For example when Giles was being pressed to death, he was plead to either admit he was a witch or wasn't, however he said with a smile, "more weight" (125). His indeffernce proves his great amount of pride to not tarnish his own reputation, and his victory over the court system. Even while being executed he did not allow the legal system to bend his beliefs, instead he died as a man, not a witch. This to me is a hero.
ReplyDeleteMr. Hale is one of my favorite characters in The Crucible because of his honesty. Mr. Hale is a religious man, who truly believes in witchcraft. Therefore, when he believes that he has seen the work of the devil, he speaks his mind. While this might not be that respectable, Mr. Hale does try to protect the people he feels are innocent. For example, when Elizabeth said Mr. Proctor did not commit adultery because she wanted to save his name, Hale stands up for both of them. He says to Danforth, “Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned!...From the beginning this man has struck me true. By my oath to Heaven, I believe him now…”(106). Even though it means going against the court here, Hale does everything in his power to save the innocent. Later, he even suggests that Proctor should lie to the court in order to save his life.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite character in this play would be Proctor's wife Elizabeth, solely due to the fact that I had the most sympathy for her than any other character. Knowing of the affair her husband had with Abigail, she still felt it was her duty to be faithful to him. Although she tries to protect Proctor by lying about his affair, she only gets him in more trouble, which I find extrmely tragic. She refuses to make him confess something he did not do to save his life, and is forced to watch her husband suffer an internal struggle of dying for something he did not do or living in shame. Elizabeth is a true Puritan who blames herself for anything possible. She only sees the good in her cheating husband and the bad in herself. When speaking to her husband for the last time she says, "...Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it. I have read my heart this three month, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery" (126).
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say a particularly liked any of the characters excluding John Proctor. it's true he's flawed and that he cheated on his wife, but heck people make mistakes, Michael Vick killed dogs for money for Pete's sake, but the point is he's human and he refuses to quit he's determined and stead fast and even though he ends the play by completely going against human instinct and common sense i guess it's a pretty honorable action. Even though i hate the character of reverend Paris, I somewhat appreciate the addition of a character such as him into the play. he shows in my opinion the truth of human nature. he's selfish materialistic and greedy. he cares of nothing other than power, money, respect and influence and quite honestly does nothing to improve himself. he's quite honestly as close to pure evil as they come. he has no redeeming qualities and is just a loser who was put into power.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite character would have to be Giles Corey. He deserves none of what he gets, as he is just an old farmer who has worked very hard for the duration of his life. After his wife's conviction, he too is accused of witchcraft. However, he represents some of the protest of the play, as he refuses to plead to something that he should not have to. His stubborness, as stones are piled upon him, is truly admirable.
ReplyDeletePersonally my favorite character was Reverend Hale. He is my favorite character because I believe that he is the strongest character, excluding Proctor. Despite the fact that he was originally sucked into the hype of the witch accusations, in the end he realizes how absurd all of this really is. Besides his importance of being a member of the church and originally assisting in the trials, he is also important because he was the first person who originally believed to snap out of the spell. By openly admitting that the accusations were preposterous he then made it acceptable for other to deny them as well.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Erica that most of the characters in the Crucible are extremely meek, subservient, and paranoid. My favorite character of these people, however, would be Giles Corey. Because Giles would not submit to the pressures of society or religious incentive, I feel that he represent a man who had chosen his own beliefs and had resisted the pressures of conforming to Purtan society. This is not say that he wasn't a believer it just seems that he understood the way that the Puritan society worked.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason why i feel that Giles was important was because of the matter of his death. I feel that the way that Giles was killed symbolizes the huge amount of pressure that was put on the citizens of Salem in order for them to conform to Puritan beliefs. Because Giles was able to protest against this weight shows his ability to withstand Puritan pressure.
Other than Proctor, the only character who I relatively liked was Rebecca Nurse. She acted as a metaphor for the more original puritan ways. in the first act she states, "let us go to god for the cause of it. There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I fear it. Let us blame ourselves and" (28). she looks inward, within in the community. She tells the other characters that this is communal sin rather than individual sin. Also at the end, she is one of the last who hasn't confessed to their "sins". She is one of the few who reamains relatively constant throughout the story
ReplyDeleteBesides Proctor, Reverend Hale is my favorite character because he represents the virtue and honesty in the midst of the corruption of the Salem witch trials. Although he is slightly tempted by his elevated status within Salem's community (given his power in determining the guilty and the inncocent) after Elizabeth Proctor's arrest, he quickly begins to realize he is no longer in charge of the court's proceedings. Essentially the court cannot exist without the deceitful and outrageous accusations of witch craft within the community. I like Hale because his honest, along with Proctor's, ultimately ends the cycle of lies in Salem society.
ReplyDelete