Te Crucible Compared to A Walk to Remember Essay

Belonging-

A change in a persons values can precipitate a decision to repudiate the values of the group to which they belong. This repudiation can lead to the persons alienation from this group. This is explicitly shown in Arthur Millers The Crucible and the film A Walk To Remember, where the protagonists undergo certain obstacles and challenges throughout their journey eventuating in their reprobation of their group.

In Arthur Millers The Crucible, John Proctors decision to have an affair with Abigail Williams alienated him from his wife and family, resulting in him becoming a stranger in his own home. Initially, Proctors affair was continuing to have a negative influence on his relationship with Elizabeth. Proctor doesnt really belong in his family through adultery. Spare me! You forget nothin and forgive nothin uses alliteration and repetition to reinforce his alienation through unfaithfulness. Using a stage direction to infer his discontent, He takes a pinch of salt and drops it into the pot, can be interpreted as metaphorical for their marriage, as Proctor chooses to contribute further flavour to the pot, following his unhappiness at the existing flavour. During the play, Proctor chooses to blacken his name in order to accuse Abigail to damn her bid to belong through accusation. I have known her! It is a whore! uses an impersonal tone to show his hatred and disrespect for Abigails need to belong through her accusations. Proctors personal individual integrity results in his choice to sacrifice his societal belonging in Salem, through branding himself a lecher. Proctors struggle between attempting to maintain his personal integrity and respect and his selflessness eventuates in his death. Proctors need to belong to his own personal integrity sacrifices his ability to belong in the community, however Proctor places more importance on belonging to his own good name. A man will not cast away his good name, you surely know that. His personal and appealing tone advocates Proctors truth, self-respect and self-assurance. Proctors definitive opinion is shown when he states, Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! The use of high modality and exclamation encapsulates Proctors need for his own personal integrity; his use of anaphora repudiates the values of the majority of Salem, inclusive of the law and church.

In A Walk To Remember, Landon Carters change in values ultimately leads to his alienation from his former friendship group. Initially, Landon is introduced as a troubled adolescent, however like John Proctor in The Crucible, he begins to stress importance on belonging to his own personal integrity as a result of his contact with Jaime. His changes in values are identified through the conversation he has with his mother on the new and challenging ambitions he hopes to achieve; Its different with her. She makes me want to be different; better. In his change of self, he is ultimately alienated from his initial friendship group, as a result of being closely associated and defending Jaime. His act of difference, in a physical fight with his best friend explores his approaching separation from that group. This is particularly shown through Dean repeatedly declaring, Were through. The repetition of this short phrase insinuates the tension and strain in the relationship, eventuating in a ruined friendship. As a result, Landon no longer belongs to their group and is viewed to be at the bottom of the social ladder. Landons alienation is extremely comprehensible following his argument with Dean, shown by his and Jaimes arrival. This is conveyed when the screen is a clear pan shot of Jaime and Landon arriving followed by the camera cutting to the faces of Landons old group, then subsequently them being the focal point while a blurred Landon and Jaime walk past. This film technique signifies Landons recent alienation as a result of his change in attitude and values, paralleling John Proctor in The Crucible. In effect, Landon has developed and matured, resulting from his newfound connection and sense of significant belonging to Jaime.

Sometimes a person is a victim of alienation as the result of being individual and different from their community. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, the most obvious victim of alienation is John Proctor as he is the protagonist. Throughout the play, Proctor develops opinionated views challenging the law making and abiding citizens of Salem, concerning the community members accused of witchcraft. Proctor is alienated as he is seen as a threat to the court and church because of his difference in opinion and his disbelief in the jury. This is particularly shown in Parris line, Theyve come to overthrow the court, sir! This is significant because it portrays Proctor as the minority as they is contrasted to the court. Reverend Hale is also alienated as a result of his decision to change sides and end his association and support for the court. In effect, Hales decision has a large impact on society and the audience because he was seen as a well respected character and formerly belonged which reinforces the notion that often an individual is willing to sacrifice their belonging to a group for their morals and integrity paralleling Proctors sacrifice of his life. Hales decision comes as a result of his varied opinion, which challenges that of the court, hence resulting in his alienation from the Salem community, particularly the court. This girl has always struck me false is a brave comment as Abigail could turn on him at anytime, dew to his newfound opinions which are consequently diverse to his community. Hence, Proctor and Reverend Hale are clear examples of individuals being alienated for being different and individual to their community.

In A Walk To Remember, the character, Jaime Sullivan, is discriminated against because of her individuality and differences to her school community. This is visibly shown through her appearance in unfashionable clothing, her being less wealthy and her open beliefs in Catholicism. It is apparent to the viewer that she is alienated within her school community when the camera pans around her peers who sarcastically mock her by saying nice sweater and Well, if it isnt the Virgin Mary. These brief statements, as well as the clear perception that Jaime is lonerised, help to convey that she is alienated within her school community. The stereotypical assumptions surrounding her popularity and personality prevent her belonging among her peers. A thoroughly predictable opinion is spoken by Landon; Youre Jaime Sullivan. You sit at lunch table 7, which isnt exactly the reject table, but its certainly in self-exile territory. The extended metaphor of the lunch table emphasises her alienation as does the harsh sounding consonants in self-exile territory. This clearly conveys the surrounding perspectives of her peers and the reasoning behind Jaimes inability to belong through the continuous listing of Jaimes pastimes, which reinforces her alienation from her community. However, Jaimes own self-confidence and reassurance reinforces her personal integrity, paralleling that of John Proctor and Reverend hale in The Crucible, despite their alienation resulting from their differences.

On Being Privileged by Russell Smith is a documentary where he speaks openly about his disability to belong due to his differences. Russell Smith is a middle-aged man who has a deformity of the hands and feet called sydactyly, which translates to being fused and twisted bones. As a result of his disability, he was and is unable to participate in everyday activities, which leaves him feeling alienated and alone. Russel states, I cant catch a ball very well, music was out The high modality and alliteration of cant catch highlights his inability to participate in everyday in various activities in his life, capturing the audiences attention as they listen to his inspiring story about his disability not allowing him to properly belong. His statement, I would sit and watch as the others played music uses imagery to reinforce his isolation from others who were able to do what he could not. To highlight his alienation and isolation, Russell is alone on screen for the entirety of the documentary emphasising his separation from others around him and his alienation. Hence, we are able to see, that like John Proctor in The Crucible and Jaime Sullivan in A Walk to Remember, Russell Smith is unable to completely belong due to his differences.