If so... i am relating the play to a topic in 2007 or recent history and i have chosen Mad Cow Disease. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of the way it is related to the play.
2007-11-27 01:07:51 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I think you've chosen a pretty difficult topic to work with, but if you're going to stick with it, then I suggest comparing the fear of the disease with the fear of witchcraft in the play.
2007-11-27 01:17:14 · answer #1 · answered by Yogini108 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's true that one of the central issues in The Crucible is about mass hysteria - which would suit your link with CJD - BUT the play is essentially about revenge: Abigail Williams and John Proctor have an affair, Proctor refuses to leave his wife, and Williams accuses Elisabeth Proctor of being a witch in order to get rid of her opponent in love.
Other issues relate to self-righteousness, empowerment, jealousy, ambition, religious fervour and pride. All of this is set against a very real background of 17th century Salem when there was absolute belief in the bible by those in authority.
If you really want to link The Crucible to the hysteria surrounding Mad Cow Disease you need to think through some of the other themes found in the play. I'm not convinced you could ever smoothly dovetail the two together. There are other recent events that seem to coincide more obviously - the terrorist attacks in New York and London and the subsequent feelings of hysteria towards muslims and Islam, for example, but perhaps that's too obvious a choice.
Remember though that Miller's play is based on actual events in Salem, but, more pertinently, in the factual events of the Salem witch hunts, there was no sexual intrigue between John and Abigail (she was 11, he was middle-aged...) and it was more to do with a bunch of children whose play got out of hand.
Good luck - it sounds as if you've got a great English teacher there!
2007-11-27 02:17:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I read the play, all I could connect it to was the McCarthy era back in the 50s when people were running around calling each other communists. I think your more modern connection is a good one.
You might do well to look at the response to mad cow disease in Britain where it really was bad.
Good idea! Good luck!
2007-11-27 01:45:43 · answer #3 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might could connect the media hype and panic when mad cow is diagnosed in a specific area with the mass hysteria of the witch trials in the Crucible
2007-11-27 01:16:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well my class just got done reading the play and I know John Proctor went through alot of crucibles (a severe test) like when he had an affair with abigail, and when abigail and him are alone in the room together and he lies to his wife about it, but later tells her the truth. elizabeth, john proctors wife, went through some when she dem=nied her husbands affair adn made things worse for him in jail, and when she forgives him for his affair giles corey has crucibles when he is pressed to death, he keeps his mouth shut, until he finally passes away. rev. Hale when he tries to get the accused to confess Mary warren, b/c she is one of the accused, and when she bring the poppet back to the house for elizabeth with the needle still in the dolss stomach, and also when she agrees to tell the court the truth she fails Dansforth when he baggers ppl into lying about being witches and when he listens to lies and not the respected ppl of the town
2016-05-26 02:39:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm I don't think there is really any relation...I mean unless people were being accused that their healthy cows had mad cow than I don't see any relation at all....
2007-11-27 01:16:59 · answer #6 · answered by jcturtle27 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the only relationship that I can see is the mass hysteria
I would recommend that you try to compare it to another topic
2007-11-27 03:37:23 · answer #7 · answered by hicks.jenn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋