The Crucible - Act Two Reading Notes
Please answer the following in your posts for Act Two 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 Friday morning, 9/22/06!
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 Friday morning, 9/22/06!
posted by Jenni Vega | 7:09 AM
2 Comments:
A
The second act of the crucible starts at John Proctor's house in the evening. Mary Warren has left to go to the trial and John and his wife are home alone. John Proctor tells his wife that the dancing in the woods had nothing to do with the devil and Elizabeth tells John to testify this in trial. John makes a mistake and says he cannot prove it because Abigal was alone with him when he found this out. Mary Warren then comes home after the trial and tells Elizabeth that she was accused of witchcraft and that Mary stood up for her in court. The Proctors think that it is Abigal that accused Elizabeth. Marry Warren then gives Elizabeth a doll that Mary says was sewn during court that day. Reverend Hale enters soon afterward to talk to the Proctors about the witch accusations. He questions them about their faith and asks why they haven't consistently been attending church. John says that he doesn't necessarily agree with everything that Rev. Parris teaches. The town marshall then comes in to arrest Elizabeth. He says that Abigal was spasing out at the Parris house and asked if Elizabeth owned any dolls. He finds the doll with a needle through it and uses this as a basis to arrest her. John demands that Mary Warren testify that the doll was given to her by Abigal. Mary Warren refuses because she is afraid that Abigal may accuse her.
B
How is Abigal smart enough to orchestrate this whole ordeal. Why is she putting so much effort into killing this man's wife if she knows he knows that she is doing it? He wouldn't marry her afterwards anyway.
C
I don't think that the village is the antagonist anymore. Abigal has to be the Antagonist at this point. She is needlessly killing her own village for her own gain. She is ruining so many people's lives for no reason. John Proctor isn't looking too good himself and is not a morals person himself. There really isn't a good guy in this story.
A. Observation
There are many charachtars involved in Act II, including Jphn Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Mary Warren, Reverend Hale, Giles Corey, Francis Nurse, Ezekiel Cheever, and Marshal Herrick. In this act, the Salem Witch trials have begun, accusing women of witchcraft. Only one is supposedly guilty, but there are many, like Giles Corey's, and Francis Nurse's wives, that have been unjustly accused. Elizabeth Proctor's name was also mentioned in court by Abigail Williams, because of Abigails hatred for her and the thought that she would replace her as John Proctor's wife. First, Mary warns them of this, and gives Elizabeth a doll she had sown earlier. Later, when Cheever comes in with a warrant for Elizabeth's arrest, she is accused of having a doll, which she does, but further, using witchcraft to hurt people when she hurts the doll. All of this happens at John Proctor's house. Even after Mary confesses to giving her the daoll, and the ridiculous story of Abigail being stabbed at dinner, Elizabeth is still arrested. This is all happening a couple weeks after Betty took sick.
B. Interpretation
Are the Puritans really that crazy that they would listen to someone who would have plenty motive to kill someone, accusing that Christian person of witchcraft? Why would it be enough if both John and Elizabth knew the ten commandments together, and it was okay for John not to know them all alone. How did the trials work that so many people can be so randomly accused when there is no strong evidence to supporet that accusation, but so much against it. Also, why does some peoples word in court matter more than others? If John Proctor told what Abigail said to him, would it be as reliable a source as Abigail who lies?
C. Application
This passage makes me mad at those people who do not stop to clarify and examine, making sure that they are just in their actions, before causing somebody harm. In this case, good women around the village are going to be hanged or imprisoned just because someone accuses them, even if they do not have very good evidence. People whose names were only mentioned in court and dismissed were also arrested, even on the night of that trial. That is just crazy. People in this passage are biased, and judgemental.
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