The Crucible - Act Three Reading Notes
Please answer the following in your posts for Act Three of The Crucible:
A. Observation - Write who, what, where, when, why, and how for the historical context of each reading. (Remember, this should be your longest section.)
B. Interpretation - Write down your questions in regard to what the text means. You do not need to immediately find the answers to every question, but at least make note of them.
C. Application - You must have a personal opinion such as how the selected passages or question makes you feel, how it has meaning or lacks meaning, or why it is difficult to accept, etc. Optional !!!D. Lists - Make a couple of lists in an attempt to clarify observations, characters, interpretations, and applications. Many times lists can alleviate confusion and further understanding.
Please remember that this post is worth 50 points and is due by 8:00a.m. on Wednesday morning, 9/27/06!
A. Observation - Write who, what, where, when, why, and how for the historical context of each reading. (Remember, this should be your longest section.)
B. Interpretation - Write down your questions in regard to what the text means. You do not need to immediately find the answers to every question, but at least make note of them.
C. Application - You must have a personal opinion such as how the selected passages or question makes you feel, how it has meaning or lacks meaning, or why it is difficult to accept, etc. Optional !!!D. Lists - Make a couple of lists in an attempt to clarify observations, characters, interpretations, and applications. Many times lists can alleviate confusion and further understanding.
Please remember that this post is worth 50 points and is due by 8:00a.m. on Wednesday morning, 9/27/06!
posted by Jenni Vega | 1:22 PM
2 Comments:
A. Observation
This act includes Judge Hathorne, Martha Corey, Giles Corey, Marshal Herrick, Reverend John Hale, Reverend Parris, Deputy Governor Danforth, Francis Nurse, John Proctor, Mary Warren, Ezekiel Cheever, Thomas Putnam, Abigail Williams, Susanna Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Betty Parris, and Elizabeth Proctor. THe act takes place in a court where evidence is presented only on the whim of the judge, and bias is present. Act III opens with Judge Hathorne accusing Martha Corey of witchcraft. Giles Corey tries to protect his wife and present evidence, but they court says that he is trying to overtake them. Francis Nurse comes as well, but he is not heard either. Proctor then enters with Mary Warren, who confesses that she and the girls are all lying about the spirits and the women of the town being witches. WHen they bring the girls in, they deny that it is a lie, and of course, they are believed. Ecspeccially when they start a charade of Marry Warren casting a shadow on them. Giles Corey finally gets to speak, and accuses Thomas Putnam of telling his daughter to cry witch on Martha Corey, with the motive to buy their land. Putnam denies the whole thing, and because Corey will not tell the judge who told him that Putnam had said this, the evidence is pretty much dismissed. After all of this, and in a lasy attempt to save his wife, John Proctor confesses to adultery with Abigail, and that that is the reason for her saying that Elizabeth was a witch. It had also been said and denied earlier that Mary planted the doll in the Proctor's home already stuck with a pin to act as evidence for Elizabeth's witchery under Abigail's command. When the court hears of the adultery, they begin to question Abigail, but she will not answer the question. They brought Elizabeth in to testify that there were past relations out of wedlock between Abigail and John during their marriage. John and Abigail are told to turn their back to Elizabeth as she iis questioned. not knowing tha tJohn had confessed, she denies that they had ever commited adultery to preserve his good reputation. Upon hearing he had confessed , she is struck with grief, realizing what she has just done. After all of this, the charade kicks back up again with Abigail and the other girls claiming that Marry Warren was attacking them in the form of a bird. they begin to repeat everything Marry says as if she has power over them. In a drastic attempt to save herself, Marry calls Proctor the Devil, and tells the court he forced her to say the things she did, and John and Giles Corey are arrested.
B. Interpretation
What does the term ispo facto mean? How could anyone be so incredibly unfair, even in acourt of law. It is just outrageaous how biased the court is towards even the presentation of evidence. It is also ironic how the court keeps saying "I do not judge you," when that is exactly what they are doing. On what terms are they allowed to arrest the people that they did, and even to sign a death warrant without sufficient and proven evidence?
C. Application
This whole act just made me mad at people who judge without knowing the full situation, or are extremely biased without reason. It is just crazy what goes on in that court. If they actual historical events were anything like what is described in the book, then i feel so sorry for the people accused and the families of the accused, because it was done so incredibly unjustly that there really was no way to appeal their hangings. I am so gratefull and have come to appreciate our judicial system we have today, though it is not perfect and can be biased, it is no where near the extreme of the Puritan wrath that was executed in that court.
Katherine
A
The scene starts out in the middle of the trial in the meeting house where Martha Corey is being accused of being a witch. Her husband Giles Corey rushes in and says that he has proof that Abigal and the other girls involved in calling out the witches are faking the whole thing. John Proctor brings Mary Warren in to testify against the girls. She starts getting hammered with questions from Reverand Parris. Although she does look weak occasionally, she presents some very heavy evidence against the girls. The girls start saying that Mary Warren's shadow is over them and say that she is appearing as a bird in the rafters. They start repeating everything she says and it starts to make her break down mentally. She finally says that John Proctor forced her to present this evidence and goes back to Abigal's group. John Proctor and Giles are arrested although it was unclear to me whether Mary Warren was actually arrested on the charge that the judge said she would be arrested on.
B
How are those small girls so good at acting and so well coordinated in their actions? How is the jury so eager to believe these girls even though all this evidence is starting to mount against them?
C
However unrealistic it is, the girls have taken over the town. They are controlling who lives and who dies despite the prescence of the three judges. They are very good at acting and manage to stop Mary Warren's testimony from really hurting them a whole lot. It doesn't appear as though there is any way they can be stopped. Abigal better be careful though or she'll end up killing John Proctor too.
D
People origionally in trial against the girls
Mary Warren
Giles Corey
John Proctor
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