CHARACTER+STUDY+ASSIGNMENT


 * // The Crucible //**** – **** Character Study **

Of the many ways to understand a rich piece of literature, getting to know its characters well is a particularly personal approach. And it is precisely this intimate, human examination that can seal our connection to another’s experience and so broaden our sense of what it means to be alive. The more we sympathize with others, walk in their shoes, the more wide our own world becomes.

For this assignment on //The Crucible//, I’d like you to choose a character and a position, and then articulate **//as the character//** – **in the 1st person** - why he or she agrees or disagrees with a certain point of view. This will become clearer below. Your piece should contain **at least THREE concrete examples** to specifics in the text. For example, if you are Hale, you might use a claim sandwich like this:

I believe it is relative uselessness to use all of my impressive book learning when trying to defeat those who have the pretense of position in a society. When I came back to Salem pleading with Deputy Governor Danforth to get some more time to talk sense into those accused, he was so unwilling to listen to my logic, I had to bellow in frustration “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!” All of my book learning could not defeat the true evil staring me in the face because it was disguised as someone with a position of power in our fledgling society.

__Characters (choose one)__ John Proctor Elizabeth Proctor Abigail Williams Giles Corey Reverend Samuel Parris Ann Putnam Reverend John Hale Deputy Governor Danforth

__Points of view (choose one)__ Past sins should never be forgotten nor forgiven Beliefs in opposition to the common values of a community should be shamed Pretense creates the greatest power. The best way to defeat evil is to recognize its power Because the children are our future, we should protect them at all cost.

__Directions__
 * 1) Choose your character and the statement carefully; the text should determine who will have a perspective about which idea.
 * 2) Your claims regarding the character’s point of view must be arguable, and you must be able to USE the TEXT to support whatever claims you do make. Make sure to provide context and comments to help us understand how your evidence supports what you’re suggesting. Provide page numbers as well (see “Incorporating quotations into text” sheet for help).
 * 3) Finally, the voice you write in should exhibit concrete hallmarks of your character’s voice (Proctor’s strength for example). Feel free to use their words to help you do this.
 * 4) Don't worry about literary present tense. It is understood by your reader (me) that these characters are looking back on the experience. You can use past tense verbs.

GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. I'M GIVING YOU UNTIL FRIDAY, BUT DON'T WAIT UNTIL THURSDAY NIGHT. YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE GILES COREY--FEELING "PRESSED" FOR TIME;)

__Due__ Friday, September 17th **in class**.

I will be evaluating how well you capture your chosen character, how well you incorporate his or her voice and the events of the play, how well you address your claim with textual evidence, and your mechanical fluency.