The Modern Day Puritan

Puritans were known for their extreme belief in following word for word what the bible instructed. Their religion was their law, and whoever broke the law, was looked down upon and automatically became a castaway. Today, things are a little less severe when it comes to judging others as to how it was before. For example, as we had discussed in my English class, adultery, which was known as a large scale sin, and as we read in the Scarlet Letter, came with heavy punishments that marked the people for life. Today, adultery is not punishable by law. Although, in society, if you are discovered to have committed such action, people look down at you as if you were a wild person without moral values. 

However, in other ways, society has become more judgmental. For example,when a teenage girl is pregnant  people will give her odd looks. The people automatically criticize the girl. In example, they might think she is living a crazy life and therefore that is the consequence. When in reality, that pregnancy could have been the result of rape. So, the problem with people now a days is that they are quick to judge and never to analyze a situation first. 

Another example would be with the way a person dresses. If you are walking down the street, and you see a person in all black with piercings and tattoos, most people look at them as bad people just because of their outside. They automatically think that they are odd, or are into doing bad things just because of the way they dress. In some schools, there is a group of "castaways" that aren't accepted because of how they look, what they have done or where they come from. So, people tend to target each other into what is known today as bullying. So, in reality, we live in a world where we are extremely judgmental. 

John Proctor : Hero or Stooge?

After reading The Crucible, I believe that John proctor is more of a hero. We think of a hero as a person who stands up for what he believes, does what is in his reach to help others and has many other desirable characteristics. In the story, John stood up for what he believed in when he defied his superiors when they talked of witch craft. John, being incredulous of such happenings, didn't go along with it even though that would cost him being judged by many of the towns people.
Another example is when Hale comes to his house and questions him about his Christian life and Proctor is sincere about his feelings toward Paris.

In the book, Proctor also ends up going to the court and declaring that his wife is innocent. When he did this, he was given the option of having her love only until her hold is born. Proctor does by accept because be wishes to help the many other innocent people who have been accused of witch craft. He did not only think of helping his wife and himself, but also of the others who he had known to be good people. I think this proved him to be a hero. Another thing he did was admit to have committed adultery with Abigail, even though it would cost him his reputation. This proves him to be a hero because he accepted his fault in public, ignoring what others would say after finding out. He did this for the sake of his life and having justice made for the innocently accused.

One could argue that he was a stooge because before taking action he second guessed himself a lot. I understand this but I also understand that as humans, we come to a point where we can't always be 100% sure of what to do. It takes a lot of bravery and effort for one to build up courage in order to stand up for what they believe. What makes John a hero to me, is that even though he had a money of weakness, he was able to pick himself up before it was too late. An example of this is when he had finally given in to confess to witch craft even though he knew that that was totally outrageous. He had arrived to the point of giving up the little respect he had for himself. He had felt that all was lost anyways so he turned to the easy way out. That is a very common thing for us humans to do. So I don't judge him for that moment of weakness but I look at the good side which is when at the last minute, he took it all back and decided death over living with his lies.

Arrivals...There goes the neighborhood

A neighborhood, is an area in which different people live near one another. In some areas, the people are familiar with each other because of the years they have spent living in the same area. In other areas, people may have lived there for a long time, yet never taken the time to actually get to know their neighbors. Whatever the case may be, the people in a neighborhood have a level of trust among them which provides them with the feeling of security. Otherwise, why live somewhere where you don't feel comfortable or safe? Now the real problem arises when new neighbors move in.....

When new neighbors move in, everyone wants to somehow meet the new neighbors or get a feel for what type of people they are. During the first few days, the neighborhood is indirectly observant of the newcomers in search of any abnormalities. During the "observation period," some neighbors are brave enough to go introduce themselves to the new neighbors as sometimes portrayed on television when neighbors go greet the newcomers with a baked pie or something similar.

If the family seems peaceful, the neighborhood gets a sense of relief believing that their security will not be threatened. I mean, who can live peacefully with neighbors who are always partying, getti g drunk and having convict-looking friends over all the time? As a good neighbor, the first impression counts alot on your attitude afterwards. If on the other hand, you seem to find yourself living next door to "bad" people, you are constantly on the lookout for any signs of danger. If any are found, it is likely that you will respond immediately in hopes of restoring your peace.