The Modern Puritan

            The Puritans as a religious or societal group are not in existence anymore, but some of their ideas still live on in our society. One example is how the Puritans did not have much chance for redemption from sin. Likewise, in our society, once a person breaks the law, or some other strong social code, the reputation of that can stay with them for a very long time. For instance, the popular expression “once a cheater, always a cheater” implies that people like Hester, who break their promises in a relationship, especially marriage, are sure to do it again, and can never change.

            The values of the Puritans are also present in our society in the form of the Ten Commandments. Many of these commandments have become social codes in our society. A few examples are adultery, which, though not a law, is a huge social taboo, stealing and murdering, which are against the law, and honoring your parents, which is a convention in our society. Though our society is now made up of many different religions, many values from Christianity are still very much present in it.

            Another value of the Puritans that is present in our society today is the value of good works. The Puritans believed that doing good works for others could help you gain salvation. Likewise, we view people in our society who help others as very good, honorable, and respectable people. We also require people to do service sometimes, like the requirement and the encouragement of service learning hours in high schools.

            Although Puritanism as a religion has disappeared, many of their values still live on in our society today. I think that this is because they were some of the founders of our society, and therefore some of their beliefs continued to be passed to others, even after the Puritans themselves had disappeared.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

            After reading Act IV of the Crucible the reader learns a lot about John Proctor’s character. Once a well-respected farmer, Proctor is pulled into a large tangle of witchcraft accusations, which puts his honesty through one of the greatest tests a man can undergo; death. Proctor is faced with a choice of lying or death, which is one of the greatest tests a Puritan can go through.

            I believe that John Proctor is a hero because he sacrifices his life for what he believes is right. He dies because he refuses to have a statement nailed to the door of his church, informing the town of his confession to dealing with the devil. He does this because he knows that this confession is a lie, and that it will damn his soul and the souls of others like Martha and Rebecca in the eyes of the people.

            In the text, on page 1357, he says, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” In this context, he has essentially sold his soul to the devil and accusers by lying in his confessions, and also for his sin against Elizabeth. This leaves him with only his name for salvation, and when he realizes that that will be taken away from him as well, he decides that it would be better to die a good man, than to live as a damned one. He weakens, to the point where he actually signs the confession, but in the end, he decides that he can’t confess to a lie, and he rips up the piece of paper that he signed, therefore condemning himself to death. He goes to hang with Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey, who also die because they would not confess to a lie. I think this makes them all extraordinarily strong people because they will all face even the end of their lives, so that they can do what they know is right.

There Goes The Neighborhood

There Goes The Neighborhood

            I take a deep breath. The wrought iron gate creaks on its hinges, and I step onto the stone path. My heart beats faster as I walk up the blue painted steps to the front porch, and it’s practically in my mouth when I ring the front doorbell—on the bottom, because that’s the only way it works.

            The door opens, and I’m greeted by blonde hair, blue eyes, and shimmering smile.

            “Hi,” she says politely, “Can I help you?”

            “H-hi,” I stammer. My heart races and my brain struggles, trying desperately to remember the speech I’d practiced a thousand times. “Hi. Um…I used to live here—like…until last week when, um, you bought it, and I… I was wondering…if you wouldn’t mind if I could just come in. Just to say goodbye?”

            Her face softens, and she nods. “Yeah. Sure. I’m sure mom won’t mind.”

            I let the dark-haired girl in through the front door, feeling a bit guilty. She looks sad.

            “They don’t like us,” I can hear my mom saying, “They think we’re taking their neighborhood. Gentrifying it. “

            She always says it with a toss of her head, a dismissive scoff. I always feel dismissive too. It’s not my fault they can’t afford it, so why should they blame me? But now I feel bad for feeling that way. Because if I was in their position, I would hate me too.

            I watch her walk up the carpeted stairs, and I tiptoe behind her. As she runs her finger along my bedpost, I realize that this isn’t really my room. It’s been hers for so long, and I feel like it still should be.

             I feel like a thief.

            I run my finger along the bedpost. The walls around me are a bright shade of pink, and it scares me. They used to be blue, a dark, soft, comfortable blue. But that was when they were mine.

            Everything in this house is different now. The walls, the rugs, the furniture. I look around me and I feel scared, because I feel like my childhood memories will vanish, along with this house. This house that isn’t mine anymore.

           

            I step out the front door again, and take one long, last, sad look. I walk down the steps, down the path, and to the gate. As I close the gate behind me, I turn, forcing myself to face away.

            “Goodbye,” I whisper.

            There goes the neighborhood.