The four main branches of philosophy are epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and logic. I will explore epistemology, the study of knowledge. The study of epistemology tries to define knowledge; identify the source of knowledge; the process of acquiring knowledge, and measures the limits of knowledge. Epistemology has intrigued philosophers since the Pre-Socratic era. In the 17th century, a fresh revolutionary outlook known as the Age of Enlightenment many new theories of epistemology began to emerge. John Locke was a British philosopher, and empiricist theorized that we acquired knowledge through the senses. Immanuel Kant’s theory, on the other hand, claimed that knowledge came from within. Other great philosophers such as David Hume, and Rene …show more content…
A story about a young girl Abigail Williams portrayed on the town of Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials of 1692. A love affair with John Proctor a married man leaves a trail of lies and deceit in a town turned to chaos that ultimately claims the lives of thirteen innocent people.
Proctor, a sensible man but driven from God by sin and knowledge of corruption within the church, now lead a quiet life near the edge of town. Suddenly, he finds his family’s livelihood threatened after Abigail Williams accuses his wife of witchery. Forced to prove his wife's innocence, he too finds himself charged with siding with the devil. Because of his developed mistrust of authority, Proctor’s judgment on Reverend Hale true intention is affected, which ultimately led him to his death.
The Supreme Court appointed Judge Danforth a well- known and respected to trial the Salem case. Although Judge Danforth came to Salem with plans of impartial hearings caring only about the facts in order to wipe away all evil spirits. Upon his arrival, the town leaders quickly saturate him with corrupt truths causing Judge Danforth to lose clarity of the actual truth. Armed with the law, he later questions everyone’s innocence that dared challenge his authority. Responsible for the wrongful hanging of thirteen people, ultimately led to Judge Danforth's downfall.
John Proctor is a very friendly man. Everyone likes being his friend. He is open, kind, helpful, upright, blunt-spoken, and just a good, hard-working man. John has lots of faith in God but little in humans. He knows that mankind is good but he also knows that they are weak and imperfect. “Proctor: I’ve heard you to be a sensible man, Mr. Hale. I hope you’ll leave some of it in Salem”.
Judge Danforth is also responsible for the Salem witch trials because his rulings to kill people came with no concrete evidence against them, only unreliable witnesses. Judge Danforth has a very cutthroat way for his rulings. One is either guilty or innocent, no opportunity for a second trial or a review of the case. He openly lets the court know this by saying "If you are not with the court, you are against it"(72). This almost proves that Judge Danforth is ignorant to hard evidence, only wanting people to admit that they are with or against him. Neither option is a just opinion, adding to the hysteria, lie so you can live and others die or tell your truth and die while others live. The people of Salem do not want to make this decision, thus leading to more innocent deaths of the people of Salem. If there had been a different judge in the Salem with trials they would have been over without a death and Abigail's deception would have been brought to light. Judge Danforth decides that many people are guilty, when in reality he should have said he was guilty.
One of the characters in the story is Abigail Williams. She is a young manipulative lying girl that will do anything for her love, John Proctor. Abigail is held responsible for the charges of many women in Salem at the time. While many people view Abigail Williams as a saint, she is actually motivated by selfishness.
Abigail Williams, a vindictive 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris, fancy’s her unrealistic future with John Proctor, a man of integrity. Her unconditional lust for Proctor causes her to perform demonic witchery in the woods, to venture (gain back) Proctors love. In need of rescue, Abigail deflects the incident in the woods and incriminates more than half of the town to
Abigail Williams is a manipulative character that broke apart the town through lies, accusations, and trying to get what she wanted. Abigail, the niece of a reverend, should be a good girl but instead is considered a whore and a liar. She is motivated by wanting to marry John Proctor, be a mom, and be considered a “saint”. By wanting these things she goes out of her way to get a potion created to kill John’s wife, and get others to agree with her. By doing these things it creates death and terror throughout the town and causes manys to be hanged and killed brutally. Abigail goes to court and accuses many people of witchcraft and sending her soul on
“I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang.” John Proctor is the protagonist of the Crusible, though for the first two acts, he does little to effect the flow of the story as the reader is introduced to their setting. One is thrown into Salem village as the sparks of accuzations begin to fly setting ablaze paranoya in the name of witchcraft. Abigail Williams, our antagonist uses a lie to cover up her mistakes and decides to get something out of it when she discovers that people are ignorant enough to believe her. She takes the chance to throw allegations of witchery onto John’s innocent wife, Elizabeth. The thrust behind this action comes from the fact that a year earlier she had found her way into John Proctor’s arms and with his wife out of the picture, they could dance together on her grave… though Abigail had been in his arms, she had never been in his heart. Abigail would loose complete control of her seemingly simple scheme as she would loose her only purpose she had left in life- John. John Proctors downfall occurs before our story ever begins.We watch his once stregnths become his weaknesses. The standards he held for himself were shattered and he fumbled in picking up the pieces. His downfall did not end his story, but began it as he would have to rebuild his honor and self respect when it mattered the most.
The reader can infer that Proctor is a highly respected, and even feared individual in Salem. He speaks his mind, and strikes down any malevolence. For this, Proctor has a very good reputation in the town. He maintains this good name by being very immersed in town issues, but being detached when not needed. Unlike many of the other characters, Proctor lives away from the town center. This is symbolic of his stance in conflicts and his opinion of Salem’s leadership. When all the leaders of Salem erupt into a frenzy about the possible issue of witchcraft, Proctor silences the chaos by asking if anyone can “speak one minute without we (Salem citizens) land in Hell again?” (30). Later in the scene, Proctors goes even further to point out how the current ministry is broken by saying, “I mean it solemnly...I like not the smell of this ‘authority’” (31). His distrustfulness of nature is what makes him the leading protagonist against the many ensuing problems so deeply ingrained into Salem’s population. Proctor is not only unwilling to join the current ministry due to its blind leader, but also the first character to see the irrationality of
It is better to tell the truth then to lie while being in the moment and face the consequences for the rest of your life. Being afraid is a factor that the accusers had to face before the judges to determine their fate. Everyone within Salem was subject to the many trials that took place during that time. Abigail Williams, an adulteress establishes a relationship with John Proctor and is a compulsive liar who destroyed Elizabeth’s marriage. Elizabeth Proctor, a loving wife poured her heart into the community and sought the truth behind her husband’s betrayal. Arthur Miller’s,The Crucible was a memorable play that dictates the events that took place during the Salem Witch Trials.Living in Salem Mass. during that time was very challenging. Arthur
An equitable judge should possess judicial temperament, courage, and integrity to make sure the delivery of an accountable justice process for the people. On the contrary, Danforth is a selfish and arrogant man who only cares about his own interests. His flawed personalities and hypocritical attitudes make him sightless and irrational throughout the witchcraft, which directly causes the calamity in the town. Danforth feels embarrassment and doesn’t know what to do when Proctor brings Mary Warren’s deposition which shows his previous judgment is wrong. He is baffled and find a reason to defend himself, “ There lurks nowhere in your heart, nor hidden in your spirit, Any desire to undermine this court? Are you in all respects a Gospel
witch trials in Salem. Surprisingly, you praised Judge Danforth for his “impartiality and tact” during this tragic set of trials. You could not be farther from the truth. Judge Danforth abused his judicial power, throughout the trials, to the fullest of his abilities. His abuses range from berating and coercing witness into saying what he wants them go, to blatantly ignoring testimony that refuted the
The main issue in this play is Proctor’s determination to help his wife after her condemnation for witchcraft. In the court, he attempts to vindicate his wife from the false accusation by showing to the judges Mary Warren’s testimony to prove how Abigail had been deceiving everyone. The following passage demonstrates Proctor’s honesty through his desire to rescue his wife:
Often individuals over dramatize their opinion to convey their attitude. Similarly, Danforth often acts extreme in his attempts to rid witchcraft from Salem when he says, “If retaliation is your fear, know this- I [Danforth] should hang ten thousand that dares to rise against the law” (Miller 129). Danforth displays demagoguery while he explains to Reverend Hale why the executions must happen on schedule because he appeals to Hale’s passionate fear of witchcraft. Danforth’s response to Hale works in the scene to further build the audience’s perception of Danforth as irritable and urgent, yet precise, and support his determination as Deputy Governor. However, Danforth’s determination often misguides his rationality. Furthermore, Danforth supports the thematic topic of law in The Crucible and helps the reader understand the severity of justice Miller conveys throughout the play. Danforth’s role develops the play by illustrating the stubbornness of authority in Salem during the witch trials.
6. Why does Proctor not drop the charges against the court when he hears that his wife is pregnant and will be spared for at least a year?
By methods of denying hypocrites, redeeming his relationship with his wife, and surrendering his life to save others, Proctor has indeed proven himself to be an admirable character. Despite the dirty deeds of his teenage mistress Abigail, Proctor was able to successfully overcome his biggest fears and stressors in order to put an end to the Salem Witch trials. If Proctor’s legacy is remembered and followed, then similar experiences in history to come will surely have a much better than if people are to follow the simple minded lead of the citizens of Salem,
The Crucible book written by Arthur Miller based on a real life story that happened in 1692 to 1693 In Salem Massachusetts was based on lies and injustice, genre is play, The author's purpose is to inform the audience about what happened during the witch trials . The Salem Village was full Puritans and they was very strict based on church rules. People that missed church regularly will be justified as a witch or malignant and will be put to shame on a stockade. People that break the rules of the strict religious town will hang or live if such person decides to confess, If they confess the accused person will still be imprisoned and not killed. Also if you was accused of practicing witchcraft you will be accused by the people and go