Child’s Ill Health Assignment Essay

On this note, he not only advised against but also endeavoured in discouraging the thought of witchcraft. Subsequently, John Proctor presented this theme when he opted out of the opportunity to silence the girls and falsely claim guilty of wizardry – so that he could save his life – as opting out would have also disturbed his highly regarded status. In the play reputation was fundamental, so Arthur Miller maximised this in Act 1 by introducing it in this scene. From this, the audience could instantly distinguish that status within the town would have ultimately affected the development of this bizarre case..Child’s Ill Health Assignment Essay

In accordance to reputation, personal feuds between members of the society lead to personal grudges. The Putnams disliked Rebecca Nurse; making indirect accusations towards her, “… who else may surely tell us what person murdered my babies? ” [Page 12 Mrs Putnam] ‘Witchcraft’ soon began to spread through the community like an infectious disease. By using witchcraft as an accusation, people began to hold their enemies responsible for any trouble or violence that occurred. The Putnams deployed this tactic. Deeply distressed by their child’s ill health, they found none other than a person, whom they had a grudge against to blame.

As hysteria swept in, further more members of the community were raked in. As a matter of fact, Tituba was a victim of these crazed accusations; Abigail utilized Reverend Hale’s persistent implications by blaming Tituba for witchcraft. “She makes me drink chicken blood,” Abigail confessed when interrogated about the assembly in the woods. Tituba was from Barbados and was brought to Salem because of the slave trade; this automatically formed prejudice, especially because she was black. Considered inferior and unusual, Tituba was the best figure in the town to be held responsible.

Also, she spoke in non-standard English which indicated Tituba had a low status in society, “There was four… I don’t want kill that man. ” The hatred and mistreatment of ‘witches’ later in the play is a tragic event whereby many people paid the ultimate price. Their life. Arthur Miller dramatised the dancing in the woods to full effect; it symbolised rebellion and escape. Due to strict laws enforced by the Puritan society, the girls in the wood acted vulgarly, “drank chicken blood, naked”, so indicated that they disagreed with the laws therefore decided to break them..Child’s Ill Health Assignment Essay

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Of course, the meeting had to be secretive, as in the event of the assembly being shame-faced; the consequence would have been extremely harsh. In addition, the dance represented ‘escape’ or release from the strains of the puritan lifestyle; many may have considered it dull and strenuous. However, Reverend Samuel Parris’ pressure is made apparent due to his daughter’s quandary. This is implied by his, ‘kneeling… in prayer’, which must be in intense focus, and his abruptness in the introduction of the play, “Out of Here!

” This absurd case was a time bomb waiting to blow, so early signs of pressure and disobedience was a clever opening to an exciting build-up. John Proctor’s ‘dubious relations’ with Abigail made him feel guilty, yet another a theme of this play. As you would have expected, John drew a line over the affair and defended his wife, “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. ” [Page 18 John Proctor] Logically, John had his marriage and his wife’s well being in mind. She had been poorly and an argument lead to a cheap affair with a woman perceived as vindictive..Child’s Ill Health Assignment Essay

He specifies the pain he would go through, “cut off my hand”, to never be in contact with Abigail ever again. In order to protect his reputation as an honest and trustworthy man, John told the truth to the bitter end, where finally he was executed but died without a guilty conscience; he did not lie to save his life. If he had, then he would have died in the later years, knowing he had committed such a sin. During this period of time, Puritans considered deceit as a sin; it was believed that this would almost certainly result in hell.

Puritans were strict Christians who abided by laws such as: only wearing plain clothes, wigs or decoration and make-up were strictly forbidden and puritans were punished for swearing, gambling and drinking. Abigail wanted to avenge John’s rejection, hence the bogus accusation that Elizabeth Proctor was among the witchcraft party, “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to her! ” [Page 19 Abigail Williams] This line indicates the start of her hatred towards Elizabeth.Child’s Ill Health Assignment Essay