The Crucible- Act Two Reflection Blog

So in class on Thursday, we did this test online that is supposed to show us our true color. We answered several questions according to how we would react in certain situations, and at the end it presented you with either blue, orange, gold, or green as your true color. My color was blue, which is described as being a very emotional type of person. My second color was gold, which is described as being very organized person. Coming in third was orange, and lastly came green. The orange personality is described as being a little bit crazy, but also being very effective workers. Greens are the people who show very little emotion and are often thought of as the "thinkers" (True Colors). I definitely agree that I am not green, but I think that at times I am a pretty good mixture of the other three colors. I think that I can be a little bit of all of these colors sometimes because I think the way I would react on certain things all depends on other things. In the book The Crucible, I think the author reveals the true colors of some of the characters by the way they act and react to other characters and certain situations. For example, I think that Mary Warrens and Abigail are both blues. I think they are blues because according to this quiz, blues keep mostly to themselves. Both Mary and Abigail seem to be pretty quiet, but at certain points they both become super emotional and passionate (True Colors). For example, when Mary Warrens is forbid not to go to the court anymore by Mr. Proctor, she becomes very passionate in telling him that he can not order her around anymore "I'll not be ordered to bed no more, Mr. Proctor! I am eighteen and a woman, however single!" (Miller 60). In this passage you can tell that she is tired of being ordered around by Mr. Proctor and she is very passionate about getting her way. Also, based on the two acts I have read from this book, I think it is safe to say that Mr. Proctor is also a blue. I have one reason as to why I think he is a blue, and that is because of his mood swings. According to this true colors quiz, blues tend to have mood swings (True Colors). Mr. Proctor has quite a few mood swings as he goes from fine to angry to resentful all in one act (Miller). Now that Mr. Proctors wife Elizabeth is taken away, I wonder how this will affect his character. Since blues are already very emotional, I am excited to see how the absence of his wife will affect him. Speaking of Elizabeth, I honestly do not know what to think of her. I would not say she is a blue, because even when she is being accused she does not show emotions. I think that as we get farther into this book we will see a little bit more of Elizabeth, but as for right now I am not sure what color I would give her. I think that as we read more of this book, we will learn the true colors of more of the characters from this book.

Bibliography

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

"True Colors." True Colors International. Baytech Web Design. Web. 18 Oct. 2011.

Journal #5- 21 Century Punishment

I think that parents in the 21 century have a harder time punishing their children than the previous generations. I think that with the amount of technology us children are surrounded by only makes punishing us even harder because there are so many things that we can do to keep us entertained. For example, if I got in trouble and my parents decided to take away my cell phone, I would not be that upset because I also have an ipod, a laptop, or television that I could use instead. I think that if parents are going to try and punish us by taking away our electronics, they are going to have to take them all to be effective. I think that if kids were limited the time they spent on electronics that many of them would do a lot better in school and also in everything they do. If parents just take away one of these elements, I can honestly say that I would not even care. I think that at certain times it would be appropriate to take away technology from a kid, but I also think that some parents go straight to cell phones every time. For example, if a kid is getting bad grades in school I think it is appropriate to take away cell phones and video games, but I do not think they should take stuff away for forgetting to do the dishes. For me, when I get into trouble my parents never take away my phone or anything like that. Every time I get in trouble I am grounded and not allowed to go hang out with my friends, not getting my cell phone taken away. I do not think that there is any way for parents to remove all technology from a kids life, so why even try? You can take away their cell phone, but they will still have an ipod. If parents are going to remove technology from our lives, they are going to have to get rid of facebook, youtube, cell phones, ipods, and television.

The Crucible- Act One Reflection Blog

In The Crucile, I think that Aurthur Miller incoperates many Puritan qualities into his writing. So far, we have been introduced to many different characters and we have gotten a pretty good look at what is going on in this play. This play takes place in 1692, and back in this time people had little knowledge of the causes of people being ill. From the beginning of this act, we see that Parris' daughter Betty is very ill, and people are beginning to say that it is because of witchcraft. Back during this time, to be acused of witchcraft is punishable by being hung and it was not a good rumor to be going around that you practice witchcraft. For example, in this passage from the play Parris says

Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you--you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house (Miller 14).

This passage shows just how serious it could be if you are acused of witchcraft, and in Parris' case, it would mean being chased out of town and losing his job. Aurthur Miller shows a Puritan like quality in his writing by how much reference is made to God and by how much of an influence God has on the lives of all of the characters in this play. Puritans thought that religion was a personal, inner experience and I think that Aurthur Miller expresses the importance of religion by including it in his play. Puritans believed that writings directly expressed the workings of God, and I think that in his writing Arthur Miller is showing us as readers how the Puritans believe God and the Devil interact with people and how that can affect a persons life. For example, Mrs. Putnam believes that the devil has murdered seven of her babies because they died shortly after birth (Miller). This passage shows Mrs. Putnam speaking in regards of her dead children

Reverend Parris, I have laid seven babies un-baptized in the earth. Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born. And yet, each would wither in my arms the very night of their birth (Miller 15).

Now in modern times, we would know the reasons for why those babies died, but back in this time period if there was not an obvious problem, people assumed it was the work of the Devil or witchcraft. I think that by including all of these assumptions and what not the author is revealing not only Puritan qualities but also showing us how people acted back in this time period. Arthur Miller shows us how much a rumor about witchcraft could affect a person's life, and also provides us with information about how people viewed the devil back in this time period. I personally thought that the first act of this play was very strange, but at the same time I found it very interesting and entertaining.

Bibliography

Miller, Aurthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Group, 1976. Print

Journal #4- Traveling

I have traveled to many places throughout my life, and I have gone with many different people. One of the most memorable trips I have been on was when I went to Florida with my church. Because I was going with my church, I also traveled with many other students and adults. We rode in a huge bus and I sat with my friend Rachel. I think that this trip was different than any other trip I have been on because before then I had really only traveled with my family. I thought that it was really cool that I could go on vacation with all of my friends and not have my parents around. This trip was really cool because it made me feel really independent. For example, I had to pay for my own food, and I did the things I wanted to do instead of what my parents wanted to do. This trip lasted a whole week, and by the time it was over I was ready to be home. Although I had a really good time, I was ready for my parents to start paying for everything again. I liked this trip because I was able to spend a lot of time with my friends and because it made me feel very independent. Another time I went to Florida with my friend Helena and her family. This trip was completely different than the time I went with my church. I was traveling with Helena, her brother, his friend, and her parents. On this trip we went to the beach and to Universal Studios, but I did not like being away from my family. This trip made me miss my family because unlike my church trip, I was not independent at all. I had to do what her parents said to do and I did not like it. I think that traveling is really fun, but most of the time I would like to travel with my family.

Of Plymouth Plantation- Reflection Blog

In Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford tells us about the Pilgrims and their journey here. Like the previous stories we read, this one also makes reference to God and religion a lot. I think that this is one of the most Puritan-like qualities in this story because religion is a very important part of the Puritan-lifestyle. In this story, William Bradford tells us a lot about the struggles they went through being among the first to arrive here and how difficult it was to survive in the beginning. Similar to the stories we read last class, William Bradford also talks about how even though their situation is grim, these people still give thanks to God (Bradford 65). For example, in the story from last time about the lady who was held hostage she frequently gave thanks to God because she knows her situation could have been worse and she seen it as a blessing. In this story, William Bradford describes a scene to us of the Pilgrims landing on the beach after a really rough time traveling. In this scene, the people are on their knees on the beach giving thanks to God for their safe landing (Bradford 65). I think that by telling us about this part of the story William Bradford is showing us that even though they all went through a lot of suffering on the journey there, they still give thanks to God because He gave them a safe landing. I think that this is a very Puritan-like quality because in all of the stories we have read so far there is always something incorporated about giving thanks to God. I think that William Bradford wrote in a Puritan style in this story because of all of the references made about religion and God. Puritans also liked to write about things and journal because they believed it helped them explore themselves inside and out to reveal the workings of God inside them. I think that this could also be considered a way that William Bradford wrote this story with some Puritan-like qualities. Puritans wrote diaries and stories about history because they believed it showed the direct workings of God, and William Bradford wrote a story about history, which is yet another Puritan-like quality I found in this story. William Bradford mentioned in this story the Mayflower Compact, which is like the rules made by the Pilgrims that they all lived by. These rules were very simple, for example one said that they if at war each community would aid the other community (Bradford 67). I think that this is yet another Puritan quality that William Bradford reveals in his story. I think that in this story William Bradford reveals many Puritan qualities by relating everything to God and including religion in his story. In this story the Pilgrims believe that everything that happens to them is because of God and when something good happens the first thing they do is give thanks to God (Bradford 65). I think William Bradford uses many Puritan writing styles in his story.

Bibliography

Bradford, William. "Of Plymouth Plantation." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 62-68. Print.

Journal #3- Hostage

I f I were ever taken hostage, I would probably escape pretty swiftly. Even though being kidnapped and held hostage is on of my biggest fears, I like to think that I would easily be able to outsmart my kidnappers. I would rethink about what the characters do in the action movies to escape, and then decide on which is my best bet. If I was in a forest locked up in a cabin, obviously I would gander at my surroundings until I could plan an escape rout. Once an escape rout is established, I will decide how and when is my best time to break a window and leap out of the cabin. I will then use my cell phone to call for a rescue helicopter and I would give them my exact coordinates just so that when I escape into the wilderness I will not have to be alone for very long. I assume my kidnappers probably would not feed me very much, so the first thing I would do when I escape is hunt for some food. I would stumble upon a fruit tree and indulge in delicious apples. I would sit and wait at this apple tree until the rescue helicopter came, but just as I think I am safe, I hear my assailants storming through the forest! Unfortunately, I did not think this part of the plan through and I had to make a split second decision. I could either run away from them and the apple tree, missing my opportunity for rescue or I could stay and risk getting caught. I decided I had to run away from them. I sprinted as fast as my legs could go until I could not hear them anymore. In the process of ditching them, I also managed to get myself completely lost. Luckily I found a stream and I followed it until I reached civilization. This is probably how I would react to being held hostage.

Mary Rowlandson- Reflection Blog

I think that both of these readings reflect many Puritan qualities, but I think that in Mary Rowlandson's writing called A Narrative of Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson she reveals more Puritan qualities than Anne Bradstreet does in Upon the Burning of Our House. In Mary Rowlandson's story, she recalls about how she was taken along with her three children and held captive by a tribe called the Wampanoag. At one point in this story, I think that Mary Rowlandson reveals a Puritan quality by saying

And my poor girl, I knew not where she was, nor whether she was sick or well, alive or dead. I repaired under these thoughts to my Bible (my great comforter in that time) and that scripture came to my hand. (Rowlandson 85).

I think that this passage from Mary Rowlandson's writing reveals Puritan qualities because the Puritans were very religious. They believe the Bible is words from God, and they encourage education just so that people can read it. Another way Puritan qualities are revealed through Mary Rowlandson's writing is by all the references she makes to either the Bible or God. For example, she says "... O the wonderful power of God that I have seen, and the experiences I have had!" and also she says "Though some are ready to say I speak it for my own credit; but I speak it in the presence of God, and to His glory" (Rowlandson 85). There are many instances in this story where Mary Rowlandson makes some sort of a reference to her religion, which I think is a Puritan quality. Religion is a huge part of a Puritan's life, and by reading this story I think it is safe to say that it also was a huge part of Mary Rowlandson's life. On the other had, in Anne Bradstreet's writing there are also many Puritan qualities. In this poem, Anne tells about the emotions that flooded through her as she seen her house burning down. She makes reference to religion in her poem many times, for example

And to my God did my heart cry, to strengthen me in my distress, and not to leave me succorless (Bradstreet 91).

In this quote, she is asking God to give her strength and not to leave her helpless, and in doing so she reveals a Puritan quality. She also says

And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, that laid my goods down in the dust (Bradstreet 91).

I think that Anne Bradstreets writing does not reveal as many Puritan qualities as Mary Rowlandson's does, but it still reflects many Puritan qualities. Also, Puritans used writing to explore their lives to see the workings of God, and I think that both Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet did this with their writings. Personally, I liked Mary Rowlandson's story better because it was easier to read and also easier to understand. Anne Bradstreet's poem was written in a different style than what I am used to reading so I thought it was a little bit more confusing.

Bibliography

Bradstreet, Anne. "Upon the Burning of Our House." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 89-91. Print.

Rowlandson, Mary. "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Ms. Mary Rowlandson." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 80-86. Print.