The Crucible was simply outstanding. I loved it from start to finish. I think I liked it so much because it was a play and not a long novel. I also loved it because it was filled with drama. However I didn't take a liking to some of the characters. I didn't like Abigail and all of the girls in her group because they were liars. I didn't like Reverend Parris because he lied in court and did whatever he could so he wouldn't lose what little reputation he had. I also didn't like Judge Danforth, because he was too gullible and had all of those women arrested for something they didn't do.
I think the character that stuck out most to me was John Proctor. I liked him, but I think I liked him because I didn't like Abigail. I think his plan to show Abigail as a fraud wasn't very well planned out. I think he should have just admitted the affair right away because then Abigail wouldn't have gotten what she wanted, which I believe was revenge on Elizabeth. I think it was act 4 that really made John stick out. He didn't give in and confess to something he didn't do. I think that by the end of the play John realized that his happiness was more than everybody else thought. I don't think he could have lived with himself if he did confess because he had so much pride. I feel that him refusing to give up his integrity made up for the affair, because the affair is whole reason the hysteria even started. John not giving in shows that he has grown bigger than the affiar and will not let the hysteria continue.
I think one of the major themes in the play was reputation. In Salem, it seemed like reputation meant everything. Any sin that was committed in Salem would cause your reputation to go way down. Parris is an example of this. He was more worried about the so called "witchcraft" that created Betty's coma instead of if his daughter was going to live. John's unwanting to lose his reputation, I think, pretty much led to his death. Instead of stating the affair right away he had Mary Warren testify against Abigail as a fraud, but it all backfires. In act 4 John's desire to keep his reputation makes him not confess and saying "I have given you my soul; leave my name!"
All in all The Crucible was the best play I ever read, even though it was the only play I have every read. ;)
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I agree with you about everything except I'm not really sure the main theme was "reputation" but instead, I think the play focused more on the things the town would do in order to keep that reputation. I'm not sure how you would put that thought into a one-worded theme, but that's the idea that I got from the play.
ReplyDeleteBrenden,
ReplyDeleteI loved this play as well, and I agree with most of what you said about the play. I like how you said you liked it because of the drama, because I think that mostly everyone enjoyed the "action" paced story. I liked your idea on "reputation" also. However, I agree with Kayla on how the play focused more on things the town would do in order to keep that reputation. Very well worded blog Brendon!
Always,
-Brandd.
You know, now that I really think about it I see that reputation was one of the themes! Great job for pointing that out! Sort of like high school right? I also strongly disliked Abigail, she was a liar and deserved to be hung. All in all, I agree with what you had to say!
ReplyDeleteI do think this book was a success because of the drama. Reputation did play a big part in this book but i think by the end of this book everyone's rep was down. I dont have much respect for any of the characters in this book.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about reputation being a big thing in this play. I think all of this started because people were trying to protect their reputations. People acted as if admitting their sins would make them guilty of witchcraft. Just about everyone in the play has sinned. This could've easily been avoided by everyone admitting to their sins. How can a sinner look down upon a sinner? It would've been so much simpler if an affair could simply have been an affair. Rather than work of the Devil.
ReplyDeleteOh! I also like that Brandis started her post with Brenden and ended it with Brendon. :D
ReplyDeleteYour idea about reputation really made me think deeper about the book. That was very interesting. The drama was very big in this book. I agree with Brandis. That really drew everyone in. I like your ideas and I enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDelete-kristen :)
I love how you said that John and Abigails affair was pretty much the whole reason for this whole thing. I never thought of that before but I agree it sort of was.
ReplyDelete