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Quinn Daniels

Mr.Smith

A Block

April 4

Civil Disobedience and Man Vs. Society

Rebelling against the norms of society is an essential part of changing corruption in the

government. Dureau uses his writing “Civil Disobedience” as a way of expressing the

importance of putting your support in what you morally believe in “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.”

(Dureau) The thought of having a duty to wash your hands of something suggests Dureau does

not want any part of slavery. He is washing his hands of it by not paying his taxes to a

government who supports slavery. Dureau realizes that there are not many effective ways to

disobey a broken government, “It is not my business to be petitioning the Governor or the

Legislature any more than it is theirs to petition me; and if they should not bear my petition, what

more should I do?” (Dureau) Many people chose to disobey by petitioning their issue. However,

Dureau expresses the idea that petitions are not as effective if the government can simply turn it

away and continue to ignore the issue. He believes a more effective form of disobedience would

be simply to object what the government expects of you. By not paying his taxes he is rebelling

against the norm by actively disobeying the State.

In Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, the girls of the town go on a spiral of lies as a

way of disobeying a corrupt government too focused on God. “Uncle, we did dance; let you tell

them I confessed it - and I'll be whipped if I must be. But they’re speakin’ of witch-craft, Betty’s

not witched.” (The Crucible, 10) Abigail Williams is pleading to her Uncle Parris, begging him
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not to tell the congregation that the girls danced as a way of witchcraft. Unlike Abigail, when

proctor is accused of witchcraft, he does not deny or admit to the crime but instead speaks out

about the brokenness of their community. Proctor exclaims in front of the town, “when you know

in all your black hearts that this be fraud - God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we

will burn together!” (The Crucible, 120) As Proctor is being questioned of leading the girls to

witchcraft, instead of denying or even admitting, he declares in front of the whole town clear

disobedience of their God. He tries to express to his community the stupidity of these trials, that

the accusation of witchcraft is complete fraud. Not only are the children in the play clearly

rebelling against their congregation but the adults as well.

The Crucible and Civil Disobedience both have examples of members of a community

rebelling against the norm. Dureau expresses the fact that society may not always be correct.

Change will not happen unless it is started, “Then, I say, break the law” (Dureau). Dureau

expresses the idea of rebelling against the norm by actively breaking laws and refusing to pay

taxes; while Proctor and the girls rebel by creating chaos throughout the town using lies.

Although they have different ways of going about it, both texts show characters rebelling against

the norm. In the crucible, the girls spread lies about witchcraft while Proctor speaks against them

saying none of it is true. As Proctor goes to the court to declare that the girls are lying, Parris gets

concerned, believing Proctor is only there to disobey Judge Danforth and inherently God himself

“he comes to overthrow the court, Your Honor” (The Crucible, 92) In other words, Proctor has

created an extreme challenge for not only Danforth but their entire justice and moral systems as

well. Danforth decides what is and is not but only by the guidance of God. If Proctor is accusing

Danforth of wrongfully convicting innocent citizens of these crimes then Proctor must be doing
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Satan’s work. Both Dureau and Miller show acts of civil disobedience and rebelling against the

norm.

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
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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

Follows essay Shows evidence of

Conventions
organization careful proofreading

Shows evidence of
proofreading