Halliday 1

Caitlin Halliday

Mr.Smith

A Block

April 13 2023

How To Make Change In The Government

In both “Civil Disobedience” and “The Crucible”, the texts demonstrate appropriate times

in which one should rebel against the norm but differ in approaches.

In “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, he claims one should rebel against the

norms if you have strong beliefs that the norm is not right. While claiming rebelling is necessary,

Thoreau states, “Action from principle, the perception and the performance of right, changes

things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary, and does not consist wholly with anything

which was” (Thoreau). The phrase “action from principle” means that one should take action

when they deeply believe that change needs to be made. In the case of Thoreau, he did not pay

his taxes to stand up for his belief that no one should allow a government that encourages

slavery. Rebelling against norms is acceptable when what society's moral good is jeopardized.

This is further demonstrated when Thoreau says, “But it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of

it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support” (Thoreau). Having

“washed his hands of it”, Thoreau had no part in supporting the government by any means. He

encourages people to break the law in order to stand up to wrong and take action against the

principle. In this case, not paying his taxes was breaking the law and he hoped it would

influence government change. It’s an individual's duty and right to rebel against norms in order

to enforce a change. According to Thoreau, you should take action against the principle and

break the law in order to embark on that change.

In The Crucible, by Aruther Miller, he also demonstrates the idea of rebelling against
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norms through use of John Proctor as he pistons the court. While fighting the court for his wife's

innocence, Proctor says, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might,

for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a

whore’s vengeance” (Miller 102). Proctor rebelled against the norms of a Puritan society and

beliefs by committing adultery; then further rebels by admitting to it in front of the court. He

admits the truth about him and Abigail as a rebellion against the court. This is further

demonstrated when Proctor refuses to admit to witchery. Proctor signs a confession saying he

committed witchery but soon after argues, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have

another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the

feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me

my name!” (Miller 133). Proctor again rebels against the court when he signs the confession

sheet, but he then tears it apart while begging for his name. This is a mark against the institution

as Proctor is breaking the law. He is standing up for his beliefs that the system is corrupt and

wrong by trying to stop the machine of government. Aruther Miller uses the character of John

Proctor to rebel against the norms, those being the institution and government. He rebels by

revealing his adultery and refusing to give his name in order to expose the fake witchery in

Salam.

Both Thoreau and Miller believe rebelling against norms is the best way to stand up for

what they believe is right, although they differ on whether working within the system forces

change. In Thoreau’s essay, he explains that petitioning the government isn't an effective way to

rebel, as they can easily deny appeals (Thoreau). He doesn't believe in working within the

system, but rather that breaking the law and going against the government is a more effective and

immediate route. This is because nothing gets done going through the institution as they can
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refuse a request of any kind, in addition to democracy being a slow process with little change

over time. On the contrary, Miller disputes this idea when John Proctor positions the court to

change their minds on whether the girls were lying about witchery. John Proctor works within

the system and does not explicitly break the law. By ruining his reputation in front of the court,

he is able to change the mind of Reverend Hale. Clearly, Miller demonstrates that working

within the system, by petitioning the court, can be an effective way to rebel. Thoreau and Miller

share the core idea about rebelling against norms as the best way for change. Although this

disagrees about the role of the institution in that revolt. Thoreau believes the process of change

will be stopped or extremely slow by petitioning, therefore, breaking the law is a more effective

method. Miller believes that going through the institution can result in change as seen with John

Proctor.
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Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. 2000. The Crucible. Penguin Modern Classics. London, England: Penguin

Classics.

Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862. Walden ; and, Civil Disobedience : Complete Texts

with Introduction, Historical Contexts, Critical Essays. Boston :Houghton Mifflin, 2000.

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 essential
relates to the conflict question or relates to
of man versus the conflict of man
society 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
Evidence relates to the thesis that relates to the
Some evidence thesis
relates to the thesis

Summarizes sources Explains how Explains well-

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

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

Shows evidence of Most quotes are All quotes are

basic proofreading correctly integrated correctly integrated

Conventions Follows essay Shows evidence of

organization careful proofreading

Shows evidence of
proofreading