1.) This will be my first of many journal entries. To start out, I'll give a short description of my life so far and what I am like. I am a hard-working farmer in my middle thirties, and I live happily in Salem, Massachusetts with my wife Elizabeth. Now, I'll never claim to be a holy man; in fact, I'm pretty far from it. The local community may see me as a sinner because I don't go to church but once a month, but I don't believe that dictates whether a man is good or not.
The only reason I don't go to church often is because I plow my fields on Sundays, (which is also frowned upon by most) and I don't usually agree with Reverend Parris. Parris is always acting like a holy man just because he is head of the church, but I see how he really is: a selfish hypocrite who only cares about his reputation in the community. I guess according to the people, if you don't like the reverend, you're a sinner. However, I'm still respected and even feared by many in the town, so I guess it doesn't matter.
2.) It's been awhile since my last entry, but today I must write as it has been a rough day. This morning rumors were spreading that several girls were practicing witchcraft in the forest last night, including Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, and my own servant, Mary Warren. I am very worried about this, and angered because Mary is never supposed to leave my house! Anyways, I went over to Reverend Parris' house to check out the situation.
I got to Parris' house to find a crowd gathered outside, and Betty Parris was bedridden. Abigail was also there, which made the situation tense and awkward. I never told you this journal, but I had an affair with Abigail a while ago while she was my servant, and Elizabeth found out. She quickly dismissed Abigail from being our servant.
Like I was saying, many people were at the reverend's house including him, and the people I mentioned earlier. Reverend Parris was trying to make sure the rumor of witchcraft spread no further to save his reputation. What a coward! Mr. Putnam was also there, and he threatened to sue me over a land and timber dispute. This was no time for such nonsense. I only hope that the current conflict does not get worse.
3.) As I feared, the witchcraft ordeal has only gotten worse. I came home to eat dinner with my wife Elizabeth, only to find out that Mary had went to the witch trials against Elizabeth's orders. It appears as though whoever Abigail is accusing of being a witch will automatically go to trial. If they do not confess, they will hang.
Anyways, I told Elizabeth about the conversation I had with Abigail back at Reverend Parris' house. Then, I told her we had talked alone, which was a huge mistake. She immediately began to judge me, and I could feel that she still didn't fully trust me. I know what I did was wrong, but I cannot help that I had to talk alone with Abigail to scope out the situation.
Then, Mary Warren finally came back from the witch trials.She gave Elizabeth some kind of doll as a gift, and told us many more people had been accused! Next thing I know Hale is in my house asking about the faith of my family as if we had some connection to the witchcraft! If you think this is mad, just wait until what happened next.
The real beginning of a true conflict started when Francis and Giles rushed in saying that their wives had been among the people accused of witchcraft. I know these men and their wives very well, and I know these accusations are absurd! Next, Cheever and Herrick come in with a warrant for Elizabeth's arrest, saying she's being accused of witchcraft! At this point I became so enraged that I don't remember much except that the reason for her accusation was her possession of the doll which Mary had just given her. Of course, Mary denies giving it to her, that liar. I swear I'm going to make this right somehow.
4.) I think today may be one of my last journal entries. Today I went to court to defend my wife Elizabeth. However, they keep accusing me of trying to undermine the court, which is nonsense. Obviously I just want to set my wife free. Then Deputy Governor Danforth keeps questioning me about my religious beliefs. Of course, Parris brings up that fact that I don't go to church a lot and I plow on Sundays, like it's such a big deal.
The only good news of the day came when I was informed when Elizabeth won't be immediately executed since she is pregnant. Anyways, I showed the court a deposition with 91 signatures declaring the good character of my family, as well as Giles' and Francis'.
Next, Abigail comes in, and still insists that someone put some kind of spell on her, and she wasn't faking it. Then, her and her friends pretend that Mary is putting some cold shiver on them in the courtroom. I completely lost my temper, and I leaped at Abigail calling her a whore. I confessed my whole affair with her, and revealed her plan to kill Elizabeth so she could take her place in my house.
Then, they bring in Elizabeth, who is always completely honest. However, she denied that I had an affair with Elizabeth, making me look like a liar. I cry out to Elizabeth that I had confessed to it, but it is too late. At this point, Abigail, Mary, and the rest of the group began screaming as though I am sending a spirit upon them. I am promptly arrested and put where I am now, in jail.
5.) Today is the day I am scheduled to hang on the gallows, although I am an innocent man. The last few weeks I have been tortured, and I just want to see my wife Elizabeth. Hopefully they will let me see her today, in case it really is my last day on this Earth. I just want to look into her eyes and kiss her lips one more time.
However, maybe there is a chance I will not die today. Perhaps I will sign a confession that I did witchcraft, and be set free! Maybe I can move somewhere else free of judgement of this theocratic society. I don't know if it is worth it though. I don't know if I can live with that lie in my heart. Perhaps it is just better I die with the feeling in my heart that I did the right thing. I doubt I will get a chance to confess anyways. So journal, if this is really my last entry, farewell good friend.
Online Poster Report (Glogster)
Padlet on Witchcraft
Wanted Poster
Before being accused of witchcraft, Rebecca was a religious leader in the community. Whenever she was accused, she was an example to the others to keep your integrity and not to confess, even if it means death. However, she is not to be trusted. She is being accused of killing all of Mrs. Putnam's babies with some sort of witchcraft. She is the wife of Francis Nurse, a local farmer in Salem. She is wanted dead or alive for a hefty reward of up to $1,000. She was last seen headed towards Andover, Massachusetts.
21 Actors Slideshow
Home Remedies Brochure
Bio Poem
John
Feared, confident, blunt, upright
Husband of Elizabeth Proctor
Who loved his wife, even though he cheated on her
Who hated Reverend Parris, and himself for his past actions
Who worked hard on his farm and didn't care what people though of him
Who wanted to save his wife and the others who were falsely accused of witchcraft
Lives in Salem, Massachusetts
Proctor
Survey Results
The results of the survey show that most people today (more than 90%) still know of ancient signs of bad luck such as crossing paths with a black cat, spilling salt, or Friday the 13th. The majority of people also knew of good luck items such as a rabbit's foot. Surprisingly, some people did not know that walking under a ladder is considered bad luck.
Today, some people still believe in superstitions, but near as much as they during the time of The Crucible. Many people in the present will say these superstitions as a joke, (ex. step on a crack, break your mother's back) but the Puritans had different superstitions that they took very seriously. Some of these superstitions are closely related to witchcraft, as one can see in the play.
Blooms Bucks
Propose a plan to solve Salem's witch situation
To solve the situation in Salem, one must identify the source of the problem, which is selfishness. The reason that people are falsely accusing others of witchcraft is to better their own life. For example, Abigail wants to be with John Proctor, so she accused Elizabeth of witchcraft in hope that she will be hanged. The way to solve the problem is to teach the children of Salem at a young age to be unselfish and to think about others before yourself. Also, the adults of Salem should remember this.
How would you improve the community of Salem?
Many things could be done to improve Salem's community. First, the residents could be more friendly with each other rather than making enemies with one another. Next, they could stop judging people for what they do before they know the reason. John Proctor is often viewed as a sinner because he doesn't go to church often, but people don't realize he just doesn't agree with Reverend Parris.
Can you invent a better government for Salem?
I think a democratic government would be better for Salem than the theocratic one they have in the play. A Democracy allows for the people to elect their leader, rather than having to listen to whoever is head of the church. It would also take some power away from the wealthy landowners, as everyone would have an equal vote.
How would you adapt Salem's leadership to create a different type of society?
I would change Salem's leadership from people who cared about their reputation, to people who only cared about what was best for the town and its people. This would create a society that is much happier and more satisfied with everyone else.
Discuss your plan to modify and design a new justice system for Salem
I would change Salem's justice system so it is much like the one we have today in the United States. Instead of people being presumed guilty, they would be presumed innocent. Also, if they tried to defend themselves and say they were innocent, they would no be automatically hanged. They would instead get a fair trial where they can bring evidence to prove that they're innocent.
Can you elaborate on the reasons you would change the justice system?
Salem's current justice is absolutely absurd and unfair for accused persons. They do not get a fair trial or a right to a lawyer. Additionally, any person can accuse someone of a crime if they have a reason to hate them without evidence, and hope they get hanged.
Formulate an original way to compose Salem's courts into a more organized fashion.
To start out, I would make sure the defendant and prosecutor have lawyers who know how the court system works. Secondly, I would have only one judge, and a jury would decide whether the defendant is guilty or not. Lastly, I would make it so only one person can speak at a time, so it's not just a bunch of people yelling at each other causing chaos.
Venn Diagram
Tangible Item with Quote
Quote by John
Proctor:
“No more! I should have roared you
down when first you told me your
suspicion. But I wilted, and, like
a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had
must have mistaken you for God that
day. But you’re not, you’re not, and let you
remember it! Let you look sometimes
for the goodness in me, and judge me not.”
My tangible item
to represent this quote is a house divided. At the time John says that quote,
he just told Elizabeth
that him and Abigail were talking alone together earlier that day. Elizabeth immediately
begins to judge him, since she knows that John and Abigail had an affair
together. John asks her to stop judging him, because he cannot stand to live in
a house where he is constantly being judged. At this point in the play, I believe there is the most tension between to two Proctors. The divided house represents how they were separating from each other.
Drawing with Quote
My drawing is of Abigail sleeping, with a thought bubble showing a broken, black heart. This shows that her heart is broken because John Proctor will not continue to have an affair with her. The heart being black represents the evil she has. This quote represents a theme of the play that just because you want something that is good, it does not mean you can do whatever you want in order to get it.
