The Crucible book and movie

One major difference between the book and the movie version of The Crucible is that Abigail cares enough for John to try rescuing him from prison. Because Abigail made everyone believe so strongly in witchcraft, it was easy for Mary to get Proctor sent to jail. Proctor was innocent and Mary was trying to help him prove the innocence of the other accused, but when being hanged was discussed, Mary became hysterical and turned on Proctor. This part of the book and movie are the same. The difference is that before leaving Salem, Abigail tries to convince John to go with her. John said wouldn’t see Abigail again until they were both in hell. This specific part of the movie portrayed Abigail to be more caring than she was in the book. The book showed Abigail to be the cruel heartless girl she would have had to have been to cause so much misery. The change made in the movie was probably done by the directors to show how much Abigail wanted John. They gave her more of a reason to cry witch against his wife.

The major similarity between the book and the movie is that Reverend Hale starts out believing in witchcraft and ends trying to save anyone he can. In the beginning of both the book and the movie, Hale comes to Salem to see if any of the sick children are actually afflicted by witchcraft. Hale gradually changes over time. He realizes that Abigail is making everything up and that people should have the right to be heard when trying to defend their family. By the end, Hale is doing everything he can to save the people. He is begging them to confess to the lies the court wants them to believe. This similarity is probably kept between the book and the movie to show that there were some people in Salem who knew what was happening. It showed the care felt by some of the people in and around Salem.

The movie was interesting and helped to clarify some of the more confusing scenes in the book. It accurately portrayed many of the people. Abigail was almost as cruel as I expected and Hale was as kind. Rebecca Nurse was very well portrayed in the movie. Overall, the interpretation was excellent. Showing what happens to hysterical groups of people was Arthur Miller’s plan for the play. The movie showed the same thing with only a few changes made. The last part showed, the screen stating that 19 had given their lives, was a great way to end the movie. Proctor yelling a prayer followed by the number of people who had given their lives to keep their honor was accurate in showing that people still followed God, even when faced with death. Their last prayer showed the true reason that the people of Salem were going to die.

The Final Act

(bing.com/images)

From the start, there were problems in Salem. Everyone was bored and nobody was happy. It was hard for the selfish people to be content with what they had, so they tried to steal from others. They weren’t just going to kill someone and take it, so they found a new way to get what they wanted without getting blood on their hands. The first people to come up with this strategy were some of the children living in Salem. Betty: “You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!”(Miller 19) This charm was an act done by someone performing witchcraft. This was the method the children of Salem were using to try murdering anyone that they disliked. Eventually, it took hold. People were shouting witch about anyone that displeased them. Finally, after many had died and lives had been ruined, someone finally realized what must be done to stop these hysterical acts. The one person who discovered the method to stop the witchcraft was John Proctor. He helped change everyone around him when he realized that confessing would give witchcraft a meaning. By the end of act IV he had given up and decided to die with what dignity he had left. John Proctor: “I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. . .”(Miller 144)

This sacrifice made by John, and many others who chose to die for their souls, was the one act that showed there could be hope for Salem. This is all portrayed in the last scene of the story, when John tells everyone to be strong as they march to their deaths. John Proctor: “Give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”(Miller 144) John is not the only one in this scene that portrays strength. Rebecca: “Let you fear nothing! Another judgment waits us all!”(Miller 144) Between the deaths of these two people, there is almost no hope for the survival of witchcraft in Salem. The two of them were well thought of in this little town and their deaths would not be taken lightly. These losses were the last bit of suffering Salem could take. I only wish people would have come to the realization before so many innocent people had to blacken their names or die for their God.

Reverend Hale

Hale is a Reverend of a town near Salem. He originaly came to Salem to see if any of the sick children there were afflicted by witchcraft. "Does someone afflict you, child? It need not be a woman, mind you, or a man. Perhaps some bird invisible to others comes to you-perhaps a pig, a mouse, or any beast at all. Is there some figure bids you fly?. . ." (Miller 41) Hale is looking for a curse on the children. He doesn't seem to think anything could be wrong other than that. No one ever mentions anything related to the children faking their illnesses.

Later, Hale realizes that the children crying out against people in the town might be faking it. He comes to the sudden realization of lying children to late. No matter what he says, Danforth and Parris will not listen to him. Hale is the one person in the story to change and he changes for the better. When trying to convince Danforth, he is silenced. "Excellency, this child's gone wild!" (Miller 119) Saying everything he can against the children isn't enough. Saying anything to save innocent lives shows that Hale has changed to be a better man. Even though many of the accused are going to die bearing grudges, atleast one person has changed for the better.

Mass Hysteria and Believeing Your Own Lies

(bing.com/images)

People in Salem believed that witches were capable of nearly anything. Some people believed a witch could use her spirit to harm another person. Abigail was stabbed in the stomach with a needle. Instead of coming to the conclusion that Abigail could have stabber herself, everyone is talking about how it must be witchcraft. This quote shows the thoughts of the person in charge of putting the women in jail. Cheever: “‘Tis hard proof! I find here a poppet Good Proctor keeps. I have found it, sir. And in the belly of the poppet a needle’s stuck. I tell you true, Proctor, I never warranted to see such proof of Hell, and I bid you obstruct me not, for I-” (Miller 75) This clearly shows that Cheever is quick to jump to witchcraft and has no intentions of considering any other possibility.

Another person roaming Salem is a man named Hale. He originally came to prove to the town that Parris’s daughter was not affiliated with witchcraft. By this point, Hale is doing more to convince people that there are witches than to show that there aren’t. This quote by Hale shows his accusations to the people of Salem about the witchcraft being from the wrath of God.  Hale: “Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause. The jails are packed – our greatest judges sit in Salem now – and hangin’s promised. Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Were there murder done, perhaps, and never brought to light? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy that stinks to Heaven? Think on cause, man, and let you help me to discover it. For there’s your way, believe it, there is your only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world. Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such a thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up our eyes.” (Miller 79) Hale is blaming everyone for the witchcraft instead of helping them move past their sins.

The Crucible

(bing.com/images)

It's spring in the year 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. What seemed to be a quiet little town has been turned nearly upside down at the thought of witches living in the community. It seems anyone can be accused of witchcraft without solid evidence. Even the children of the pastor, Samuel Parris, are being affected. People have claimed to see children flying over barns and naked women running through the forest. Those found guilty of witchcraft will be put to death. All anyone can hope for is that they aren't accused of being witches themselves. It's just a matter of time before someone is accused and sentenced to death.

Mass Hysteria

http://www.steinski.com/blog/a-few-examples-of-mass-hysteria-in-us-history/

Lynching 1860-1960

In the south, if a black man was accused of so little as looking at a white woman, he was at risk of being taken from his home, mutilated by a mob, lynched, and burnt. People were proud to live in areas where black people were at risk of being lynched.
Definition: "an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc." (reference.com)

Fall is the scent of the fresh pumpkin pies my grandma makes each year.

Fall is the changing of the leaves.

Fall is gathering with familiy to celebrate Thanksgiving.

images found at bing.com/images