"Appendix"- What Is It Good For?
How does The Crucible "Appendix/Act II Scene 2" that we read impact your thematic understanding of the drama and its two primary characters- John and Abigail? Should it be included in each production or reading of the drama? Why? Defend your position using textual evidence. Please respond to this blog during class on Wednesday, October 5th.
posted by Greg T at Wednesday, October 05, 2011
27 Comments:
This part of the story that we didn't get to read before is very interesting to read now. It kind of changes my perception of the two characters. It makes me wonder why John treats her the way he does if he seems to still have some love for her and he meets up with her in the woods. The fact that he has a wife and she seemed to forget makes me wonder if later on in the book they may have some kind of fling and John may divorce his wife. it is also very interesting how at the beginning of this small piece, they seem to be getting along. But towards the end, John is trying to tell Abby that she "will tell the court you are blind to spirits;; you cannot see them any more, and you will never cry witchery again, or I will make you famous for the [slut] you are!" This makes me think that there is something hidden going on that we will find out later in the book.
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I enjoyed reading the other part of the story that we didn't get to read. It showed the "other side" of each character. I have a feeling that John and his wife may break up and/or divorce later in the story. It makes me think how John and Abby get along but then as they talk they start to disagree and John starts to call her names. My final opinion about this reading is that I think that there is something hiding that we'll figure out later in the text.
In the Appendix/ActII Scene 2 changed my views in the text. This was very dramatic and showed the relationship of John and Abigail, past their romantic relationships. The appendix John, I thought, was doing what he should of done the whole time, tell people what he did. In this scene he is threatening to let out their secret, just to free his wife. This Scene should be put in the play, because even though I have not read act 3 yet, it seems to have a very important role in this whole play.
"I will prove you for the fraud you are!" Proctor yells this at Abigail, and i believe this is a form of foreshadowing. I believe this is meant to be in the play, because it shows the changing of sides and views of important people in the play.
The part of the story that isn't included in our textbook is very interesting and i think it should be included in our reading because it helps you get a better understanding of John and Abigail's relationship. It also helps show that Abigail is aware that she is lying and that she is doing this with the intention to kill John's wife so that she can be with him, just as Goody Proctor had stated. And even after Abigail was called out for her faults she still denied all the accusations made against her. I think this scene is very important and should be included in part of our reading or presentation to help us fully understand Abigail.
The appendix I find to be very important to the story and should be included because it is a major part of the relationship between Abigail and John. In this scene John threatens to reveal Abigail as a liar if she doesn't have his wife freed from her false accusations. Abigail would be put in prison if John stepped forward with the information he threatens her with so she is in a tough predicament since she can't be with him in either situation.
Reading the Appendix of Act 2 shows a different side of Abigail and John Proctor. It is interesting to see how much Abigail likes John how she calls herself his wife, "Oh John, I will make you such a wife when the world is white again!" Also I think it is interesting how Abigail talks about how she will "scrub the world clean," and how she thinks it is her job to get rid of all the bad people or hypocrites. John on the other hand is very stern with Abigail and tells her he will ruin her in court.
In this left out part of the story, we see a new side of Abigail and Proctor. In this deleted act Proctor betrays Abigail in a way because he says that he will testify against her in court and she is faking being crazy "I will prove you for the fraud you are!"(Miller 152) Proctor is telling Abigail that their relationship is over and he is now trying to save his wife who has been in jail for 36 days. I don't think that this should be used in the production because it confuses people in their views of Abigail and Proctor.
i think that it is very interesting to me because it gives a whole different veiw point. Abigale has so many different sides and she shows them in this passage. it shows how john is feeling about this situation vs. Abby.In my opinion all of the characters in the Crucible seen to have the same thing on their mind. they will blame each other to not get caught. they all seem to have the motivation to be stealthy and secretive. This book just seems very half done. i mean that as in i will continuously find out more and more as i read.
Both John and Abigail play a main part in the play and this clears up some uncertainty in their past relationship. Abigail drive is also explained why she start accusing certain people such as John's wife in order to get rid of her so she can become his wife. Also, John anger and drive to get his wife out is heightened in this so this might help explain his actions in Act 3. "I will prove you for the fraud you are!" (Proctor, Appendix) It foreshadows act 3 mood and themes in a way. "If I live, if I am not murdered, I surely will, until the last hypocrite is dead." (Abigail, Appendix) I think this should be included since it helps us understand their past relationship. It also sets up Act 3.
The Appendix that we read in class impacts my thematic understanding of the drama because it gave me information regarding John and Abigail. The information attained after reading the Appendix was almost too much information which is why I do not think that it should be included in each production or reading of the drama. The Appendix explained the relationship between John and Abigail in more detail than the actual play. I learned that Abigail is much more fond of John than he is of her. This information leads me to believe things that I did not believe before reading the Appendix. John says to Abigail, "I will prove you for the fraud you are!" (152). Before reading the Appendix I thought that there was a mutual relationship between John and Abigail, but after reading it I realized that John loves his wife much more than he does Abigail while Abigail loves John with all her heart.
The "Appendix/Act II Scene 2" in The Crucible i think should be included in the reading because it shows the perspective of John Proctor and Abigail's reaction when he tells her that he is going to tell the court that she is lying "I am set and bound to ruin you, Abby"(151). The way Abigail respond is by turning the tables and is pretty much saying that he cannot expose her wrongdoings without exposing his, "what will you tell? You will confess to fornication? In the court?"(152). I think that this is important because it really shows the true colors of Abigail.
In the Crucible Act II Scene 2, the main characters, John and Abigail impact my understanding of the drama because of how the characters act around different people. I think it is "different" how John is with Abigail when he already has a wife. At the beginning of the passage both of them are getting along, it says " Are you! I've heard people ride a hundred mile to see your face these days." -John Proctor. This quote demonstrates that John has feelings for Abigail, when he talks about other people riding a hundred miles to see her. I think this production could be in the reading of the drama because it shows how the characters act different around each other just like in Act I and II.
The appendix part of the story is more in scene so you can almost see whats going on. The appendix shows how mean John Proctor can be and shows that he's in a way beating her up mentally by telling her mean things and threatening her life and reputation in the town. John Proctor tells her stuff like "I will tell the court you are blind to spirits;; you cannot see them any more, and you will never cry witchery again, or I will make you famous for the [slut] you are!" That quote shows that he's going to tell everyone lies if she cries witchery ever again. I think the appendix hints the readers toward a secret thats going on between John Proctor and Abigail.
Act II Scene 2 impacts the drama and its two primary characters by describing Abigail's motivation for her actions in court in depth. It should be included in the production and reading of the drama because it explains that Abigail lies in court because she wants to rid Salem of the people who disapprove of her. For example, she tells Proctor, "If I live, if I am not murdered, I surely will [cry out other names], until the last hypocrite is dead." Abigail only wants acceptance from the townspeople and Proctor, and she is earning acceptance by purging the town of those who go against her.
The Appendix, Scene 2 Act 2, shows us the mind set of both Abigail and Proctor. This scene slightly alters how I view Abigail's character because the scene makes it clear to the readers that she has more issues than originally realized. While Abigail is speaking with Proctor she talks of the supposed witchcraft done against her saying, "The jab your wife gave me's not yet healed y'know.... And George Jacobs, he comes again and again and raps me with his stick- the same spot every night all this week." When she says these accusations it seems like she truly believes that their spirits are committing those acts. That shows us more about her thought process and i believe the Appendix is very important to our understanding of the play.
I believe the appendix should be included in production and reading because it shows the dynamic between two characters and it also demonstrates character motivation and attitude. Abby tells John she wants to be his wife and that he is secretly glad Elizabeth will be gone when in reality John wants his wife back and he is willing to admit to adultery to achieve that.
This portion of the story reveals a depth to the relationship between Abigail and John that was before unheard of. The key thing here is the knowledge of John's wife and Abigail already knowing about it. It makes me question the legitimacy of the words that stray from John's mouth. Is the woman he wants his wife or Abigail? He has to be somewhat two-faced naturally to balance the two, making him well versed in lying. Also, I believe there is some foreshadowing with the transition from a man having a hook-up in the woods and showing compassion for Abigail to a man who calls her a "mad, murderous [expletive]" and will make Abigail "famous for the [sexually active person she is]."
It's interesting to see Proctors attitude towards Abigail to this part of the story. Proctor doesn't seem to hate her as I thought he would. He wife could very likely to be sentenced to death and it's because of Abigail. Proctor seems calm about and not concerned about his wife's trial. I honestly don't think that Proctor has a love for her and I don't think that he will divorce and run to Abigail. Proctor thinks that she a fraud and a liar.
Reading this part in the text shows us how John and Abigail really feel for each other. John calls Abigail horrible things. This scene also proves to us that Abigail is lying about the accusations. John is very angry with Abigail and wants to prove her guilty for lying
In The Crucible, the "Appendix/ Act II Scene 2" was not needed therefor it was not included. I agree. Though the scene draws your attention, it displays no new information that we don't already know about both Abigail and John. Except, that John threatens to tell the judges to charge Abigail with adultery. In the actual text it says, "no, no, Abby. That's done with." Mr. Proctor had said this to Abigail after bringing up their past. We already know that she hasn't moved on and he "has". At this moment in time Mr. Proctor may have or may have not gotten over his feelings for Abigail. It might be a interesting twist to add to a production but otherwise I don't think it is necessary.
This part of the play gave us more background on the relationship between John and Abigail. We learned just how much Abigail wants John and how serious John is about helping his wife, who has been arrested. It is also interesting that John would warn Abigail, "I would not take you by surprise, but give you all good time to think on what to do to save yourself." John is trying to get Abigail to turn save herself which shows that he does care for her. I think it should be included in all the productions and readings of the play because it gives the reader more background. The background in this passage will make it more interesting to see how John and Abigail act around each other later in the drama.
The Appendix effects the readers understanding of Abigail and John Proctor by revieling the two characters feelings for eachother. In the beginning of the scene, John seems to care about Abigail. However, near the end of the scene, his feelings seem to change:"If you do not free my wife tomorrow, I am set and bound to ruin you, Abby." Abigail, through this scene, shows the same feelings for John as she has had throughout the book. This scene should not be included in copies of "The Crucible" because it reveals too much of the characters' emotions and would lead to too much foreshadowing of the rest of the novel.
The portion of the story that is left out in many versions of The Crucible is necessary. I think it is important to be noted as a sidenote since it does not directly relate to the current action. However, I think without it, the personalities and understanding of characters like John Proctor and Abigail would be lost. This section of the story allows the reader to see what struggles some of the characters are caught between and is essential to understanding the rest of the play.
The Appendix should be entered into the main text. It contains several important elements, and explains much about the relationships between Abigail and John Proctor. It makes me wonder if Abigail really is trying to dispose of Proctor's wife, or if she doesn't really care whether she hangs or not. On John Proctor's side, there is devotion to his wife, because he was willing to admit to adultery and show the court the motivation of Abigail to try and remove his wife.
The Appendix should be entered into the main text. It contains several important elements, and explains much about the relationships between Abigail and John Proctor. It makes me wonder if Abigail really is trying to dispose of Proctor's wife, or if she doesn't really care whether she hangs or not. On John Proctor's side, there is devotion to his wife, because he was willing to admit to adultery and show the court the motivation of Abigail to try and remove his wife.
After reading the Appendix, I had a better understanding of John Proctor and Abigail Williams’ relationship and better yet I had a better understanding of what is going on in the court. In the Appendix, John Proctors says "You will tell the court you are blind to spirits; you cannot see them any more, and you will never cry witchery again, or I will make you famous for the whore you are!" This makes me believe that John is a demanding man and gets what he wants or he gets nothing at all. Abigail responded by saying "Never in this world! ..." She seems to come of as stubborn, picky, and kind of a pain. I think that the Appendix should be included in each production or reading of the drama because it provides a better understanding of the characters and most readers could use a better understanding.
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