1. Please view the following clips from the 1996 film version of The Crucible and select one that you would like to write about. Underneath each is the page number that it can be found in the play, along with a brief description.
2. Respond to the clip by answering the following question:
What does the passage mean? Focus on individual words and/or phrases. How does it serve to develop or enlarge the character or characters speaking it? Please focus on the text and not so much on the film-related aspects of the scene.
Your response should be no more than three sentences. Please indicate which clip you've chosen (#1, 2, etc). Keep in mind that some clips skip or omit a few words or phrases, but overall the scenes retain most if not all of the text.
The deadline for this assignment is Friday, 11/18 at 11:00 PM.
2.) Proctor and Elizabeth's scene. (pg. 136)
3.) Proctor "Name" speech (pg. 143)
Danforths "invisible crime" speech.
ReplyDeleteIn his speech, Danforth is explaining to Hale that witchcraft only is seen by the witch and the victim himself. Therefore you cannot take word from anybody but the victim because obviously the witch isn't going to accuse herself. Hale is upset because he knows this is violation of law and that a lawyer must present the argument not random girls claiming they've been hurt. This scene is a portrayal of the power that Danforth has upon the people. in some ways i think that he has come up with this idea in order to retain power and not have to share the arguments with any other legal system. Also the calm sense that Danforth puts out is meant to intimidate those in the court, we see this by the use of rhetorical questions and the fact that there are no emotions displayed in his phrases.
Passage #3 shows us the dramatic anger that Proctor has with signing the deposition saying he's confessed. The emphasis on him screaming "lies" and "my name" gives us the significance that if he signs it that later generations will be hurt by this and he would be living a lie if he signed it. This passage gives us the insight of what Proctor is thinking and why he doesn't want to sign the deposition.
ReplyDelete3.
ReplyDeleteIt is Proctors final decision, he chooses his name and not his life: I only have one in my life.
He feels guilty because of his friends dying for the truth, he says he is not worth kissing the ashes under their dead bodies.
It means alot in the piece, it is one of the key scenes, Proctor will die because of it.
Danforth's response to Hale's plea for defensive counsel means that witchcraft cannot be proved or explained away by lawyers or witnesses. He says that, being ipso facto an invisible crime, witchery is by its very nature impossible to perceive by anyone other than the witch and their victim. The speech develops Danforth's character by peeling back another layer of how stubborn he is regarding practice of law, and how committed he is to dealing justice in his way, and no one else's.
ReplyDeleteThe oration by Judge Danforth (video #1) shows the cold hearted and stubborn nature of Judge Danforth, as well as exposing the fallacies of the judicial system. This speech states the opinion of Danforth, that the court, "must rely upon...the children"(pg100). Danforth goes to show that there is no hope for those who choose to go against the court or , "the children"(pg100).
ReplyDelete#3
ReplyDeleteThe significance of this video clip is that it displays how although Proctor committed lechery against his wife and kept it a secret, he still has self dignity for himself as a man and therefore refuses to sign his name away. An inferred message or theme that can be taken away from this clip is people will go to far lengths to maintain their self worth and pride regardless of the consequence. When Proctor refused to sign his name away and was to be killed because of it, we not only see that he has self dignity, we see that he truly was an honorable man would choose to die with his honor and pride than live without it.
#1
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, Danforth explain his reasoning on witchcraft to Hale, who is angry that the court might make a wrong decision. However, Danforth is able to "defeat" Hale, because he has not only power of the court, but logical reasoning against which it is hard to find an argument. Therefore, in this passage Danforth is enlarged in a sense of importance and power.
When Proctor was asked to explain why he wont sign the confession, he says it is because of his name. The reason for this is that if he signed the confession people would look at his name and think of him as a selfish liar who saved himself while other people were left to die. Proctor wants to have a good reputation so when people see his name they know he is a good and honest man. Even if it means Proctor must die for this to happen.
ReplyDeleteclip #3
ReplyDeleteThis passage dramatizes Proctor's dilemma between his fear of the public and his own integrity. Proctor used to take great pride in his honorable name and flawless reputation in Salem, and he had been always afraid of ruining those. Proctor's "Name" speech develops the transformation of Proctor from an egotistic person to a genuine Christian, who chooses be truthful, not to save his name but rather his soul before God.
Proctor name speech shows that proctor does not want to give away his name as he did with his soul because he will only have a name in his life. This served to enlarge the character because it shows that he was thinking in the future of his family in their town.
ReplyDelete1. The passage means that witchcraft has only two witnesses, the victim and the witch, and that Danforth will only believe victims when it is time for trial because the witches would not confess. Early on in the passage, Danforth says Hale is confused and then says that he would be too if he had to defend the accused in the trial, this shows some kind of understanding for Hale's position. Danforth also asks and answers his own questions which can be seen as a way to boast knowledge and belittle others.
ReplyDeleteClip #1-
ReplyDeleteThis clip demonstrates the absurdness of the entire Salem Witch Trials. The accusations are over an "Invisible Crime", and despite the rationality of Judge Danforth, the validity of the accusations are still upheld. In addition, this scene shows the beginning of Hale's transformation of character, from encouraging the trials, to renouncing them.
Video Clip #3:
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, John Proctor is pleading to keep his name and reputation intact. Although he has verbally confessed before, he does not want those to forever know him as one who worked for the devil. This passage shows how Proctor didn't want to confess and would continue to fight for what he believed was right until execution.
3)John Proctor gives a speech about the importance of a name, valuing the name of a person as the unique element in his life,and he may truly lose a name but not a soul. He says " I have already give my soul, leave my name", which means that people can purify a soul, but a name cannot because it is the only name a person ever get, and it effects the person's whole family background. John Proctor therefore is a person who does not want to be judged through his name and influence the family in a negative way.
ReplyDeletePassage #1 Danforth explains to Hale that these crimes in Salem are not ordinary. Witchcraft is an invisible crime,because only the witch and the victim are present. The witch would not confess to committing the crime so the only witness that can testify is the victim. Hale wants a lawyer to present in court so that people don't say anything that can be used against them in court. This passage enlarges Danforth's part in the hanging of many innocent people. Even though he said he would consider Mary Warren's claim that the children were all lying about the witches he didn't want to be potrayed as a man duped by mere children. Also this passage develops Danforth's character by showing his determination to find the truth to all the crimes committed in Salem even if it means he makes a few enemies in the process
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