The Crucible Response

I believe that the play the crucible, is somewhat of a modern tragic story, where the ending is considered to be morbid.  During the witch-hunt all what was considered evidence were the accusers words against that of the accused, it was very hard to defend yourself, which made people very vulnerable to be convicted of a crime. It was in a way easy for Abigail to successfully accuse people of witchcraft, due to her “proof” being the effects of the spells on her, which was greatly believed by the court. At the end of the play, I don’t think she was remorseful because she accomplished what she set out to do and also I think she believes in her mind, that justice has been served. The witch trials changed Reverend Hale the most and for the better. In the beginning of the play, he didn’t consider effective evidence when convicting someone of witchcraft. However, later on in the play when his friend Proctor was convicted, he started to look at the other end of things, and constructively analyzed each detail, rather than quickly jumping to a conclusion. John Proctor, who had an affair with Abigail, died a noble man, without lies dragging down his name. His name was “clean’ because he no longer had the accusations of witchcraft hanging over his head, and he also did not have to lie to keep himself and friends safe. Though some people may not view the ending as happy, I believe it was because those who were wrongfully accused and put to shame when they were alive finally had peace.

Word Count: 255

Research Paper Outline

1.       Thesis: Though, the Great fire brought devastation to the city of Chicago by destroying its way of life and putting a halt to the city’s rapid growth, it also began a surge for infrastructural innovations and political reassurance, which solidified Chicago as a great city, and influences our modern world.        

a.       Main Idea/Argument: Chicago before the fire, was a bustling city that could not be overlooked and was on its way to becoming the strongest city in the western world.

                                                               i.      Chicago was defined as a fast pace city filled with luxuries and elements of change. (Cook)

                                                             ii.      Previously to the Chicago fire, the city could not be forgotten and was filled with a growing population that was astonishing. (Cook)

                                                            iii.      Chicago was large and rapidly growing because of its position near Lake Michigan which was an important trade route. (<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1854.html>)

b.      Transition: Though Chicago was a rapidly growing city, the means by which it grew were not efficient enough to keep the city safe, which in turn started the fire that could not be stopped.

                                                               i.      The combination of a drought, along with the fact that the structures in Chicago were built with wood, were major components in sparking the fire. (Helmer)

                                                             ii.      It is theorized that the fire began in the O’ Leary barn, by a cow who kicked over a lantern. (Debartolo)

                                                            iii.      During this time, Chicago suffered from 20 fires a day due to the dryness of the weather along with the wooden structures. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                           iv.      Chicago’s fire department was understaffed and misinformed about the fire which caused the fire to spread rapidly. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

c.       Transition: During the Fire, people went into frenzy, not knowing what was to come.

                                                               i.      It was extremely hard to flee the city, due to the fact that everything was made of wood, therefore everything was on fire. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                             ii.      The fire, left devastation around the city, separating families and leaving people penniless. (http://www.chicagohs.org/history/fire.html.)

                                                            iii.      As the fire surged through the city that night, all that could be heard were the cries of the people. (Root)

                                                           iv.      Subtopic:  Though some buildings were destroyed during the fire, some were fortunate enough to survive which helped in restoring the city. (connection to Holy Family)

1.       Among the buildings that did survive the fire was the Water tower place, which has become a relic. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

2.       The city was able to be rebuilt due to the salvation of its industries/ trade routes and also the railways. (Schons)

d.      Transition: Chicago was devastated by the Great Fire, because it destroyed the city’s growing infrastructure and put a halt to the economical growth.

                                                               i.      The loss from the fire, was an estimated $18,000 buildings priced at $190,000, along with 300 lives lost. (Smith)

                                                             ii.      In many places, due to the fire, the ruins stretched for miles, and leveled out the status of each neighborhood. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                            iii.      As the fire surged through 34 blocks in the city it destroyed, homes, bridges, and left residents homeless. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

e.      Transition: Though the Great Fire in Chicago caused many devastating damages, it also pushed for infrastructural along with political innovations.

                                                               i.      The Chicago fire, which burned for two days, spurred a growth in infrastructural advancements. (<http://www.squidoo.com/GreatChicagoFire>)

                                                             ii.      The Great Rebuilding of Chicago, included efforts and plans that were set, in order to restore the city. (<http://my.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-look-back-the-great-chicago>)

                                                            iii.      After the fire, there laws passed, which included that the new ways that were created for the new buildings in Chicago should always be used. (Schons)

2.     Conclusion: Though, the Great fire brought devastation to the city of Chicago by destroying its way of life and putting a halt to the city’s rapid growth, it also began a surge for infrastructural innovations and political reassurance, which solidified Chicago as a great city, and influences our modern world.

Response to The Crucible Act III

       Danforth and Hathrone continuously believed, that the men who were trying to save their wives are trying to undermine the court because, they didn’t want to admit that they have been fouled by teenage girls. Also Paris quickly tries to convince everyone that the men are trying to overthrow the court, because he doesn’t want there to be an opportunity, where his daughter and niece would be proven as lairs, which will soil his name. Since Danforth and Hathorne were in power during the trials, any attacks condemning them during the trials, would be cast as an attack upon the court. I think most of this Act has to do with trying to defend your name, and in the case of Proctor trying to defend his wife so much, that he actually proved himself of committing a sin. The deposition signed by the citizens, proves the case of no real evidence is needed for someone to be accused. If a simple piece of paper such as a deposition was enough to clear someone, then no real evidence was needed to accuse the person to begin with.

Word Count: 157

Response to the Crucible Act II

Response to the Crucible ACT II
  Reading Act two, i started to believe more my prediction that Abigail and her friends, lied about the witchcraft in the city. I think that Abigail and her friends have received a unusual level of power in a puritan community. Mary Warren is so confident of her new level of power, that she can now defy Proctor's rules. I also noticed that Proctor's guilt is begging to eat him away he knows that he can condemn Abigail of her lies, but does not want to do so because it will involve him dragging his name down. In this act Proctor questions the very unfair rules of the community in that the accuser is always thought to be telling the truth and how when one feels guilty, the put the blame on someone else, which is similar to the period of McCarthyism. I think Abigail and her friends have come to enjoy the sorrow of others as they accuse them of something they know isn’t true.
Word Count:155

Possible Sub Topics for Research Paper

Introductory: Thesis of the paper as well as background information on the thesis.
Holy Family Church: What? Where? How? When?
Chicago fire: What happened? How did it start and where?
Holy Family Church on the community: How did this church impact the lives of the people in the community before and during the fire.
Chicago fire impact on Chicago: How did this event change the city of Chicago?(Mainly west)
Holy Family and Chicago fire: Connections of the event and the place. How did one impact the other negatively and positively.
Closing: Finally how did these two things connect and how did they impact my community? Along with closing statement.