THe Crucible Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

THe Crucible - Article Example They begin dancing and performing their rituals but are surprised when Reverend Parris comes to them. Reverend Parris is the father of one of the girls, Betty, who is involved in witchcraft. The girls scream and run while Betty and one other girl fall into a mysterious maniac sleep. Soon begins the game, where allegations of witchcraft are being thrown around every which way by a group of girls led by Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder). The twist is that these girls have actually been dealing with the devil themselves. Reverend John Hale, an authority on witchcraft, is called by Reverend Parris to investigate what is going on. Abigails accusations take on a more personal agenda when she points her accusing finger at the wife (Joan Allen) of John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis), a farmer with whom Abigail had a torrid affair. John had confessed it to his wife Elizabeth, and their relationship has consequently suffered. Abigail is still in love with John, so she tells the court that Elizabeth Proctor is a witch. Of those accused are Rebecca’s Nurse and Martha Corey. Then the police come to arrest Elizabeth on the grounds of supernaturally sticking a needle in Abigails stomach. Everybody is fooled by the girls, including the judge Thomas Danforth. Proctor tries to counter the girls by producing Mary Warren, his servant, who is willing to admit the girls lied. However, all the girls accuse Mary of witchcraft, and she eventually accuses Proctor to save her skin. By this point, Reverend John Hale realizes the corruption and injustice of the court and endeavors to defend Proctor. However, the girls prevail and Proctor is promptly arrested for witchcraft. Hale who has lost all hopes of justice advices the prisoners to plead guilty to witchcraft, so that they can at least live. Proctor signs a confession, but retracts it when he realizes that judge Danforth intends to nail the confession to the church door. He fears that his name will be ruined along with

Death According to Socrates and Roland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Death According to Socrates and Roland - Essay Example A majority of sixty voted to convict Socrates, and he jokingly offered to pay a fine of 100 drachmae, a fifth of his property. The prosecutor was not happy with this and pushed for the death, a penalty of which the jury agreed by a margin of 360 to 140. Although his supporters encouraged him to flee, Socrates did not and would not repent for his actions professing that he would rather die in his own manner than live like those who had condemned him. Socrates stated, "I say, gentlemen, to those who voted to kill me, that vengeance will come upon you immediately after my death, a vengeance much harder to bear than that which you took in killing me" (Plato 40). In essence, Socrates believed his death would teach others to hold fast to their convictions, even in the face of condemnation by an unjust society. The Song of Roland is touted as the oldest known major work of French literature. It is written as an epic poem depicting heroic deeds that took place in 778 A.D., when Charlemagne's retreating army was attacked by pagan armies. Roland was an army soldier, said to be a nephew of Charlemagne. The tale speaks of betrayal and revenge within Charlemagne's army, with Roland and his fellow soldier Oliver being left with only an army of twelve peers when thousands of Franks attack. Oliver pleads to Roland to retreat, however, Roland states, "Hold the field, let us not be beaten! The French say: 'A curse on the man who runs away! Until death itself not one of us will fail you'" (Merwin 35). Roland and his peers are successful in battle after a bloody fight which includes slicing off limbs. Roland eventually suffers a severe injury to his temple, not through battle but by blowing his horn at the urging of a comrade to call Charlemagne's troops. "Count Roland, in pain and anguish, and in grea t sorrow, blows a blast on his ivory horn, and the bright blood flows from his mouth, and the veins burst on his forehead, but the sound of the horn swells and mounts" (Merwin 55). Roland continues to fight, despite his injury, tries to unsuccessfully break his sword, and then "His brains have begun to seep out through his ears. He prays for the peers, asking God to summon them to His presence, and then for himself he calls upon the angel Gabriel.appearRoland is dead and God has taken his soul into heaven" (Merwin 69 & 73). It is clear that Roland fought a valiant fight and his honor and morality would not allow him to surrender even in the face of impossible odds. Therefore, Roland believed that his death would teach others to never give up on beliefs and values, even if faced with certain demise and destruction. How Does Socrates' and Roland's Beliefs Reflect the Values of Athens and Medieval Europe Socrates' beliefs do not appear to reflect the values of ancient Athens. He was not satisfied with accepting the mores of the day and questioned the influential figures of the time, whose reputations for wisdom and virtue he debunked through his questioning. Socrates also taught his students this method of inquiry, which greatly upset the established order and moral values of Athens. Socrates criticized democracy, including the local voting process, yet he also fought and argued for obedience to local