This is one reason why this is the worst thing that happened to America. Although millions of lives were lost in all the wars our country were in, there was reason why people died. People that died shouldn’t be blamed but the fact that their country decided to come into war is still in the air. The people of Salem had no business whatsoever and were blamed for having a doll in their home or because they simply had a wart. The people of the town were pressured, accused, and tested simple tests but the girls would scream with such pain whenever the accused spoke.
So, after all of this, why was Derek still hanged? Well, this is what many people asked after his death and still ask today. Some may say that because he was granted a posthumous pardon in the 1990’s his death was justified. But Bentley’s family and friends would never be able to see him alive and well again, a death penalty is a death penalty, no amount of pardons will bring Derek or any other victims back. And getting the pardon was not easy to achieve.
Spread of Fear, Repeated History Starting in 1692, a wave of terror swept across Salem, Massachusetts resulting in 141 people being charged with witchcraft, 19 dying and 1 crushed to death as a result of those accusations. (Tituba – Salem Witch Trials - Buzzel 1). The colonies took notice of this “witch hunt” and made changes to their legal system and reimbursed the falsely accused. Unfortunately, no lessons were learned from this past tragedy as people see history repeating itself over two hundred years later with the Red Scare of McCarthyism brought fear of being communist in US politics and society. The Salem Witch Trials brought fear of being a witch in Puritan community whereas McCarthyism brought fear of being communist in US politics and society.
Character Analysis of John Proctor The Crucible by Arthur Miller takes place during the time of the famous Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600’s. Rumors of witchcraft are among the townspeople all due to a group of girls who are hysterical and are pretending to be under spells of witchcraft. Innocent citizens are being accused left and right for committing some sort of witchcraft and everyone in the small town of Salem feels like they can trust no one. Throughout the play many of the characters evolved in one way or another. In the course of the play, one of the major characters John Proctor, goes through changes and faces multiple challenges.
Many try to explain or rationalize the bizarre happenings of the witch hunts and the causes that contributed to them. To understand the trials and how they came to be, we must first examine the ideals and views of the people surrounding the events. Although religious beliefs were the most influential factor, socioeconomic tensions, and ergot poisoning are also strongly supported theories The Ergot Poisoning Theory The Salem witch trials have fascinated historians for centuries, largely because of their bizarre nature and the great uncertainty that surrounds them. One of the most intensely debated topics is the question of why the girls began to accuse seemingly random townspeople of witchcraft. However, there is little evidence to support any theory, and consequently historians
When she dies at the end of the story, it is revealed that she has poisoned her past lover Homer, and slept next to the body for almost 40 years. The town’s gossip continues as it has for all of Emily’s life, and they are left to figure out if Miss Emily was a victim, criminal, or lunatic. Some of the town chooses to believe that Emily is a crazed lunatic. They believed that she showed misanthropic yet feeble behaviors that led people to believe she was following in her crazed aunt’s footsteps. Her great aunt had been showing signs of mental derangement and the town’s people found that since it was hereditary she could have it leading them to say “even with insanity in the family” (Pg.2).
However, although many people would agree Abigail Williams is a rationalizing miscreant, the hardships she has encountered has made her a victim of her own mischief. Abigail William’s mother and father were killed when she was younger. The Indians smashed her parents’ heads together which caused them to die. When you love your family at such a young age it influences who you become later on, in life. Unfortunately for Abigail she was orphaned and ended up working for John Proctor.
The Salem Witch Trials From June through September of 1692, nineteen people convicted of practicing witchcraft were hung on Gallows Hill. One elderly man was pressed to death when he refused to attend his own trial. Rumors that certain people were witches spread like wildfire and hundreds were accused, many wasting away in jail for months, waiting nervously for their trial. This is the story of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Salem Witch Trials took place only in America, but the idea of witches has existed in many parts of the world.
Mike McCracken American Literature Who is to blame? In The Crucible, the character Abigail Williams is to blame for the 1692 witch trials. Abigail is a mean and vengeful person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Throughout the play her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth had employed Abigail, until Elizabeth found out the affair and threw Abigail out.
In the play many characters do not take responsibility for what they do see going on. As a result many lives are taken. For example, John Proctor realizes how dangerous the witchcraft accusations are when the court officials arrest his wife, Elizabeth, for witchcraft: "The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! I ll not give my wife to vengeance!” (Miller 34). Before his wife was arrested, John really did not see that the girls weren't just telling little “white lies”.