Preview

the crucible

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
949 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
the crucible
“One man with courage makes a majority.”- Andrew Jackson

Meaning: If one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.

Introduction:
-hook
-meaning
-background information
-thesis: Jackson’s quote is relevant to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and the actions of John Proctor, Giles Corey and Reverend Hale of Beverly, thus proving that if one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.
BP1: John Proctor
*transition
-topic sentence: John Proctor proves the quote’s relevance by showing that if one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.
-tells the court that the girls are lying
-refuses to confess to witchcraft
-ends up showing courage and helping to put an end to Salem Witch Trials

BP2: Giles Corey
*transition
-topic sentence: Giles corey proves the quote’s relevance by showing that if one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.
-protests one-sided courts when he refuses to enter a plea
-sacrificed himself and was crushed to death

BP3: Reverend Hale
*transition
-topic sentence: Reverend Hale proves the quote’s relevance by showing that if one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.
-Quits the court and shows other people how unfair Danforth and his trials were
-Later comes back to try to save people from being hanged by talking to Danforth
-Tries to convince people to confess in order to not be hanged and to at least save themselves

Conclusion:
-thesis: Jackson’s quote is relevant to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and the actions of John Proctor, Giles Corey and Reverend Hale of Beverly, thus proving that if one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.
-Relative to the Red Scare in America during the 1950’s “It is extraordinary how extraordinary the ordinary person is.” - George F. Will

Meaning: It is remarkable how exceptional the average person is and how much potential

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In Arthur Miller's “The Crucible” the last words uttered by the people at the end of the Salem witch trial were ones with no regret as they hung to death in front of the town. All of these people who were in fact innocent all faced similar problems due to the Puritan religion and government being, in essence, one in the same. Jealousy, revenge, and fear of the unknown sets the stage for how one persons should act vs how the people did act in the religious society.…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Crucible bonus scene

    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages

    This creative writing piece is in the form of an additional scene to Arthur Millers The Crucible. This scene takes place two months after the end of the Salem witch trials. It is a conversation between Mr Hale and Elizabeth Proctor. It explores and evaluates the long term devastation caused by greed and self-interest. This piece displays how dramatic the effects of greed and selfishness can be. Mr Hale reveals his own inner turmoil since the trials, and how his own pride and arrogance contributed to the hangings. Elizabeth reinforces the idea of morality, mainly in defence of her late husband. This piece is written to serve as an example of how greed can corrupt and destroy everything. It is directed to western society presently as greed is becoming a greater issue in all facets of people’s lives. Taking place in a time where many customs and ideas seem idiotic to the modern world helps provide a sense of irony because as it seems people have evolved and gained more knowledge since then greed is still as devastating regardless of time period.…

    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Considering your time and place, reflect on the ways in which context has shaped your critical interpretation of the prescribed texts and how your understanding of rhetorical devices have led to your appreciation of the speeches.…

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Write down the quote you chose (and the page number) as the most interesting and defend your choice with specific reasoning in a minimum of one paragraph. Included in your reasoning should be who said the quote or whose idea it depicts and why it is important that that person is behind the idea.…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Arthur Millers’, The Crucible, Miller demonstrates how certain situations can change a characters opinion or point of view, with enough evidence. Reverend Hale is a prime example who experiences change from confident, to doubt and frustration of the court, and then regret of the innocent being persecuted because of his wrong accusation during the witch trial executions in the town of Salem, Massachusetts.…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While and individual may initially belong to the community, having differing views and opinions can seclude them from this group, causing them to become an outsider. In ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, Reverend John Hale, a minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft, is called in to Salem. While in the beginning he is the force behind the witch trials, probing for confessions and encouraging people to testify, he later experiences a transformation. He listens to John Proctor and Mary Warren and becomes convinced that they, not Abigail, are telling the truth, “I believe him. This girl has always struck me false!” As his belief in witchcraft falters, so does his faith in the law, “I denounce these proceedings. I quit this court!” It is evident that Hale turns his back on theocracy and follows what he truly believes with Arthur Miller’s stage direction ‘He slams the door to the outside behind him’.…

    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the novel The Crucible, Arthur Miller describes how being put thought the Salem witch trials of 1692 brought out the true essence of various characters. Arthur Miller shows that the various victims who were put through trials would confess to save themselves and also the difficulties they had to face during their trial period. Characters like John Proctor, Giles Corey, and Reverend Hale were put through different kinds of trials each different from the others. Each of these trials brings out the true essence of the characters and how the characters have changed since the beginning of the play. Through the plays actions and dialogue, Miller suggests that sacrifices may be necessary to restore the social order, and each individual has a moral responsibility to his or her society. Each character has a reason in why they shall not confess to witchery. Most of the characters did it so their name would be clean and instead of having a bad name and being a “witch”. Other characters didn’t confess in order to save their land. Even when tortured, characters like John and Giles do not confess in order to save their families, but end up dying themselves. Miller portrays in The Crucible how going through a trial brings out their true character.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    As human beings, we each display specific traits and qualities that define our character and shape our personalities. The way in which we carry ourselves establishes our reputations, as well as how others identify us. We are each prone to making mistakes, and unfortunately, the mistakes we make can affect the way people see us as well. The struggle to regain a good name can be difficult and uncertain once someone’s reputation is tarnished. In Arthur Miller’s timeless play, The Crucible, a well-respected man named John Proctor betrays his wife and struggles to gain her forgiveness and his good name in the village of Salem. Although John Proctor betrays his wife, he remains the tragic hero of the play for he recognizes his faulty actions and dies with integrity and honesty in the end.…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A hero is a person who has heroic virtues such as honesty, bravery, individuality and a will that is not easily swayed. John Proctor has all these virtues. Although at first Proctor isn’t completely honest in that he ‘lusted’ (98) for Abigail and was ‘a lecher’ (97) he did ‘like a good Christian confess’ (55) his sin to his wife and asked her forgiveness for his mistake, which in those times, many men would not do because men were considered above women. He did not let the ‘spirit twist around the single error of his life’ and repented which is also a virtuous thing to do. Proctor proves his individuality by refusing to succumb to the hysteria that many of the townspeople have been subjected to. When people begin to accuse one another Proctor asks “On what proof, what proof?’ (69) He also refuses to allow society to influence what he believes in and through this personal liberation, resulting in personal freedom, he realizes that ‘little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom’ (72). A fact in which no one else realizes due to the hysteria. Through out the play, John Proctor fights for what he believes in no matter the hardships he faces for doing so, showing his bravery…

    • 884 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Sky Is Gray

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages

    While James and his mother were at the dentist's office, he witnessed a confrontation between a preacher and a student. The student, who is a young black man, confronts the preacher about his beliefs, challenging him to prove there was a God. James admired the young man for having enough courage to believe in himself, even though James himself did believe in God. The student was slapped by the preacher and scoffed at by the others in the office, but he still kept his belief. James said he wanted to be just like the young man, not because he didn't believe in God, but because he was brave enough to stand up for what he believed, even if he was the only one standing. This type of courage and self confidence is a characteristic that James will carry with him into manhood.…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “What profit him to bleed? Shall the dust praise him? Shall the worms declare his truth? (145)” Reverend Hale begs Elizabeth to convince John Proctor to convince in order for him not to be hanged. Hale does this because he sees the errors in his ways and knows that Proctor is innocent. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Reverend Hale’s despair, Judge Danforth’s integrity, Reverend Parris’ greed exhibit their use of authority.…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Despite Proctor’s death being inevitable, he realizes that he could forgive himself and regain his good name. Arthur Miller used Proctor to ascend to an extraordinary human to fight in what he believes was right, even if it costs him his life. Proctor’s life was not in vain, because he validated that, he would not sell out to an unjust court. With all the flaws John Proctor presents he died on a basis of integrity and truthfulness rather than giving into unjust conformity.…

    • 83 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Proctor's Confession

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Proctor chose to face his death not only for himself, but for the sake of his three kids and friends. To him family life and friendship…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Honesty In The Crucible

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There are several characters in Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible”, that despite their accusation of witchcraft, choose the truth before lying and going against their morals, knowing it would claim their lives. The quote can relate to characters like Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, and to some extent, John Proctor. They believe that honesty should come before conformity and that you should never betray your ideals even if lying could grant you another day.…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Proctor was born on October 9, 1631 to John and Martha Hopper Proctor in Assignton, Sufffolk County England. In 1635, he immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was just three years old, along with his one year-old sister Mary. He was considered a prosperous landowner, and occupied various offices of trust in the colony. When John Proctor, Sr. died, he left his estate to his son. In the year of 1655 John Proctor married Martha Giddons and they would have four children, but the first three would not survive beyond childhood. Just a few days after the birth of their fourth child, Benjamin Proctor, Martha died from…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays