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Proctor
Oct 22, 2012 12:57:21 GMT -5
Post by katieel116 on Oct 22, 2012 12:57:21 GMT -5
I was looking into Proctor in attempts to determine whether or not he's a hero and sort of come to a conclusion on human nature by observing his actions and was looking for input. I was wondering if, like Proctor, people do not care about issues until they directly effect them? Also if you could blame Proctor for not getting involed with the crisis. Was this the right thing to do and can we actually judge him?
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Proctor
Oct 22, 2012 19:21:42 GMT -5
Post by laurenno116 on Oct 22, 2012 19:21:42 GMT -5
I think that for me personally, I am not too concerned with things unless, yes, they concern me. Although I think that every situation is different. If it is a major issue that may effect someone close to me, then I would care about the issue even if it didn't directly effect me. As for blaming Proctor, I think that there is some blame you could put on him for not getting involved right away. The crisis led to people being hanged, so I think that Proctor kind of had an obligation as someone respected in town to try and end the tyranny of consensus before it got too powerful. Based on that, I do not think what he did was the right thing to do, however I do not think that we can judge him too harshly because in order to stop the consensus, he would of had to reveal his infidelity and by doing that i am not sure he would be respected enough anymore to believe. We do not know exactly what was going on in his mind during the play. He could have thought that his information would not work and therefore was not willing to risk his reputation.
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Proctor
Oct 22, 2012 20:02:57 GMT -5
Post by clarele112 on Oct 22, 2012 20:02:57 GMT -5
It is human nature to put oneself prior to others. Therefore, Proctor's action was a very natural and human response as realistically, only few people would sacrifice their own reputation to save others. If he confessed, the whole town would know about his adultery and his flaws that he despised so much. Thus, it would have been a very difficult decision for him to confess his sins. In that aspect, I agree that we should not judge him too harshly because it was human nature.
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Proctor
Nov 12, 2012 19:08:47 GMT -5
Post by maryri116 on Nov 12, 2012 19:08:47 GMT -5
I completely agree with Clare - most organisms look after numero uno first and foremost, unless they're a true hero or story book character (and even that may seem extreme). It's only natural for Proctor to stay out of the mayhem; it appears to him that he has nothing to gain from getting involved, and everything to lose. If everyone acted as Proctor did in the early stages of the witchcraft trials, then serious wrongs would continue to be committed to others because no one would be there to stand up for differing opinions. That being said, Proctor was certainly in the wrong letting the witch trials continue even though he knew them to be corrupt, however, his actions are ultimately reflect the self-preservervating nature of humans.
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