This past week we learned all about
the Puritan way of life through the play The Crucible. The
Puritans were very strict people who worked hard. They believed that if
they never sinned and worked vigorously they would earn a seat in
heaven. The one thing that mattered most to them besides God was their
names. If their name was soiled, their whole livelihood was
soiled. Their reputations mattered so much to them because what others
thought reflected back onto their religious life. The people of
Salem continuously looked for wrongs in others to put themselves ahead
in the community. If one was considered a devil then they would be one
less person to compete with for a place in heaven.
One example of importance was when
John Proctor confessed to being close with the devil. He was all set to
take the blame, until they made him sign his name to a paper that would be
displayed on the church door. His reasons were "Because it is my name!
Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lied and sign myself to
lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those that
hang!"(Miller 207). One may figure he chose to die instead of live a liar,
but he lived a lie before when he cheated on Elizabeth. He could confess
and help support his family, but no, he would rather die than live with a
tainted name and reputation. The crazy
thing is, his wife, Elizabeth, is okay with John dying to save is name. I
suppose the real question is: did john truly die a martyr? Or did he hang selfishly, not wanting to soil his name?
This past week we learned all about
the Puritan way of life through the play The Crucible. The
Puritans were very strict people who worked hard. They believed that if
they never sinned and worked vigorously they would earn a seat in
heaven. The one thing that mattered most to them besides God was their
names. If their name was soiled, their whole livelihood was
soiled. Their reputations mattered so much to them because what others
thought reflected back onto their religious life. The people of
Salem continuously looked for wrongs in others to put themselves ahead
in the community. If one was considered a devil then they would be one
less person to compete with for a place in heaven.
One example of importance was when
John Proctor confessed to being close with the devil. He was all set to
take the blame, until they made him sign his name to a paper that would be
displayed on the church door. His reasons were "Because it is my name!
Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lied and sign myself to
lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those that
hang!"(Miller 207). One may figure he chose to die instead of live a liar,
but he lived a lie before when he cheated on Elizabeth. He could confess
and help support his family, but no, he would rather die than live with a
tainted name and reputation. The crazy
thing is, his wife, Elizabeth, is okay with John dying to save is name. I
suppose the real question is: did john truly die a martyr? Or did he hang selfishly, not wanting to soil his name?
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