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Crucible C

The document compares and contrasts the ideas of civil disobedience presented in Henry David Thoreau's essay and the strategies used in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. Thoreau advocated for passive resistance and withdrawing support of unjust systems, while characters in The Crucible like Proctor took more direct action to confront injustice, even at the risk of death. Both works addressed distinguishing injustice, though they differed in the approaches recommended.

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65 views

Crucible C

The document compares and contrasts the ideas of civil disobedience presented in Henry David Thoreau's essay and the strategies used in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. Thoreau advocated for passive resistance and withdrawing support of unjust systems, while characters in The Crucible like Proctor took more direct action to confront injustice, even at the risk of death. Both works addressed distinguishing injustice, though they differed in the approaches recommended.

Uploaded by

api-659206371
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Eiserman 1

Caden Eiserman

Mr.Smith

E Block

4/13/23

Civil Disobedience

In the essay “Civil Disobedience” by Henry Thoreau, believes that the way of standing up to

societal norms isn't through direct protesting, but by simply disobeying. “I say break the law let

your life be a center-friction to stop the machine.” (Thoreau). What Thoreau means is that in

order to stop the machine “the government” and their injustices, they must break the laws to

cause a disturbance in the normal order of how everything works, in hopes that this causes

attention to their intentions and it can be considered to make a change. This is demonstrated in

when he says, “Those who call themselves, Abolitionists should at once effectively withdraw

their support, both in person and property” (Thoreau). When they take away their “person and

property” they mean they disclude themself from the issue and make sure they aren't contributing

to what issues they wish to change. Although some might feel strongly about these issues, “They

take too much time, and a man's life will be gone. I have other affairs to attend to.” (Thoreau).

According to Thoreau's beliefs, there isn't enough time in a man's life to physically protest and

cause a big deal over something they wish to change. He believes with persistence and

consistency they can make a more impactful change for society. In the play “The Crucible” by

Arthur Miller, his strategies throughout The Crucible are shown as more hands-on and are bolder

then what Thoreau would seem acceptable. “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. I have spoken nothing, but my heart has clamored intimations.”
Eiserman 2

(Miller 15). In this time period, being religious and a part of the church was the most important

thing, and if not you would be looked down upon. Knowing this, Proctor and Elizabeth still

refused to get their children baptized because of their personal opinions towards reverend Paris

and didn't want him to go near their children. Similar to the ideal of standing up to their beliefs

even when they know it's wrong proctor says, “I will not deal in lies, Mister! Proctor is

motionless. You will give me your honest confession in my hand, or I cannot keep you from the

rope. Proctor does not reply. Which way do you go, Mister? His breast heaving, his eyes staring,

Proctor tears the paper and crumples it, and he is weeping in fury, but erect.” (Miller 144). Even

when faced with death or humiliation, Proctor chooses that his reputation is much more

important than his life. Miller's way of dealing with injustices throughout the crucible was seen

as straightforward and more controversial than what the town of Salem would seem acceptable.

Both the essay “Civil Disobedience” by Henry Thoreau and the play “The Crucible” by Arthur

Miller, show similarities in their goals to distinguish injustices throughout their government

systems while showing different approaches towards how they should handle it. Comparing both

Thoreau and Miller, Thoureas's strategy for breaking injustices is to not do anything at all. He

believes that with enough time and support the “machine” or the government and their ways will

become outnumbered and can force them to reconsider their ways. Miller shows examples of

doing the opposite of what Thoreau would believe is necessary to get the job done, instead of not

doing anything at all, John Proctor a character from the play, fights for his rights and stands up to

anything or anybody he might disagree with. While both opinions defer, both have strong

reasoning and tactics that can lead them to their goal of breaking injustices.
Eiserman 3

Rubric
Skill Not Foundational Proficient Advanced
Yet

Identifies a topic Makes a statement Makes a complex


that answers the statement that
Thesis/Claim essential question or answers the
relates to the conflict essential question or
of man versus relates to the conflict
society of man versus
society; addresses a
nuance or limitation
of the claim

Includes evidence Includes multiple Includes specific,


from one or less of pieces of evidence meaningful, and
the texts from both texts that well-chosen
Evidence relates to the thesis evidence that relates
Some evidence to the thesis
relates to the thesis

Summarizes sources Explains how Explains


evidence supports well-selected points
Analysis/ topic sentence of of comparison
Synthesis individual among sources and
paragraphs and evidence and their
thesis/essential connection to the
question thesis/essential
question
Explains how the
texts/sources are
related, though
points could be more
selective or better
developed
Eiserman 4

Includes elements of a At least three Follows paragraph


Organization multi-paragraph paragraphs with clear organization and is
response topic sentences, organized to show how
transitions, and ideas build on one
concluding statements another
that return to the
thesis/essential
question

NY Shows evidence of Most quotes are All quotes are


basic proofreading correctly integrated correctly integrated

Follows essay Shows evidence of


Conventions
organization careful proofreading

Shows evidence of
proofreading

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