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Annika Park - Crucible C
Annika Park - Crucible C
Annika Park
Mr.Smith
12 April 2023
Thesis:
In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller and “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David
Thoreau, both authors agree on the importance of the action from principle to stand up against an
injustice; Thoreau believes that there is only so much one can do to ensure change while Miller
Thoreau claims that one should rebel against preset norms if one feels change is needed
by breaking the law. Thoreau describes when someone should take action when he says, “Action
from principle, the perception and the performance of right, changes things and relations”
(Thoreau). Taking action against the government can often lead to positive changes in society. If
someone feels strongly about a law or idea that is wrong or unjust they should do anything in
their power to change it even if there will be repercussions. Thoreau, in particular, rebels by not
paying his taxes as he feels no one should support a government that believes in slavery. He does
this in hopes that the government will not continue to function without the financial support it
needs. To further demonstrate Thoreau's beliefs he feels the law must be broken to effect change.
Thoreau speaks his opinion on the law when he states, “Then, I say, break the law” (Thoreau),
leading to the idea that if someone feels that a law or idea is unjust, then rebelling against it is a
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justified action. They should be the ones to stop the government and or system from allowing
these laws to be in place. Thoreau breaks the law (by not paying taxes) because he believes that
change is needed in the government. It is the only way to get people to see what is happening and
why things need to be changed. It is revealed that individuals have a moral obligation to not
Miller illustrates the importance of rebelling against unjust norms through the characters.
During the trial, Proctor brings out a petition and says, “It's a sort of testament. The people
signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca, and my wife, and Martha Corey” (Miller 86). In
this community, the church is their government and their form of authority. Proctor rebelling
against the church is one and the same as going against society's government. In Puritan society,
the Bible has this apparent injustice that witchcraft exists, and Proctor trying to speak against it
demonstrates rebellion. He is rebelling to save his close friends and stop the continuation of
injustice. Similar to standing up against the Bible's injustices, Proctor also tries to defend his
name. When being forced to confess to witchcraft John Proctor states, “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!” (Miller 133). If he confesses to committing
witchcraft, he will be sentenced to death. Although he knows it was not right to lie, he also
knows he is supporting an idea he doesn't believe in if he confessed. He rebelled against the law
and stood up for what he believed in. Proctor standing up for what he believes in and trying to
stop unjust actions proves Miller finds importance in rebelling when society goes against one's
morals.
While Miller and Thoreau both believe action against principle is necessary for a society,
they disagree with the types of actions that can be taken. Thoreau's act of civil disobedience (not
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paying his taxes) is similar to John Proctors' religious disobedience as they both go against their
own government's ideas. The authors, however, have different ideas on what actions can be taken
that are effective. Thoreau believes that someone can only break the law, and they can't wait for
everyone else and need to remove themselves from the system to ensure the change will happen.
He believes that petitioning against the government isn't an effective way to rebel. Breaking the
law is the only way to enact change because, inside a democratic government, petitions can
move very slow throughout the branches and can be easily denied. On the contrary, Miller
creates events where someone works within the system (Proctor giving the court a petition)
which proves to be at least partially effective. Proctor is a contributing factor to Reverend Hale’s
changed view on witchcraft. This shows that bringing a petition to the government can cause a
change in the minds of some people. Miller and Thoreau both share the core ideas that rebelling
against the government is the only way to bring change. But they disagree with the effectiveness
of petitioning. Thoreau feels it's ineffective because of the uncertainty of it being approved.
While Miller thinks it can be effective as John Proctor contributed to the changing parts of the
government's minds.
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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
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