Arthur Miller Essay Example

Arthur Miller Paper In Arthur Millers play The Crucible Abigail Williams plays a big part in the Salem witch trials. Although this is so, there were many other factors and people who contributed to the Salem witch trials and the subsequent tragic deaths of those accused. Factors such as the community, the court, and other factors related to personal vendettas and situations played an equally big part in the horrible events of the Salem witch trials. The play Crucible was written in the 1950s, although set in late 1600s in Salem village Massachusetts. The play is based on real life events, through the use of legal records some of the facts have been changed but most of them are similar to the actual events. Abigail Williams a 17 year old orphan seems to be the centre of the events that took place in 1692 in the small town of Salem. In the play she has a lot of influence on the events. At the beginning of the play we find Betty Parris in bed unconscious and later realise the cause. Abigail Williams and her friends Mercy Lewis, Ruth Putnam, the slave girl Tituba and Abigails cousin Betty had been dancing in the woods. We will write a custom essay sample on Arthur Miller specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Arthur Miller specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Arthur Miller specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Mary Warren another friend of Abigails was watching the others, where Abigail drank a blood charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor, who we meet later. You drank blood Abby You drank a charm to kill John Proctors wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor! Unfortunately for them Reverend Samuel Parris had seen them doing this. The state of Betty and Ruth both unconscious is what started the suspicion of witch craft. Uncle, the rumour of witch craft is all about This made Abigail and the others very scared because the punishment for witchcraft was hanging. Witcherys a hangin error. So they decided to lie or should we say Abigail decided they should lie. Abigail appears to be the leader of the group as she is the one who prompts the others to do and say things. She is a bully and a liar. Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnams dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, or edge of a word, about the other things and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. When Reverend John Hale arrives, he becomes suspicious of Bettys behaviour and asks Abigail if she or Betty had drank any of the Soup in the kettle which they were brewing while they danced in the woods. Abigail is quick to say no to this accusation but rather blames it on Tituba. She had blamed Tituba for calling the devil I never called him! Tituba, Tituba.. and she says that a frog had jumped in to the soup and that Did Tituba ask you to drink it? She tried but I refused. But when Hale asked her this question Have you sold yourself to Lucifer? she realises that this could easily turn on her that she will be accused of practicing witchcraft. When Tituba comes in Abigail is quick to accuse her so that the suspicions are turned. She made me do it! She made Betty do it! She makes me drink blood! When Tituba tries to explain You beg me to conjure! She beg me make charm-Abigail swiftly cuts her off Dont lie! She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! This shows how scared Abigail was of being found out, as she surely knew that she would hang for her doings. To save herself, she blames Tituba and when Tituba is questioned she is forced to name people who are working for the devil. She names two people from the village and then Abigail comes in with more names pretending that she had been afflicted too and then Betty starts accusing people of witch too. It was confirmed that the devil had attacked Salem and that anyone could be a witch. As we can see all this started due to Abigails actions and manipulations and that it were no more than Abigails games to protect herself. Abigails input into the witch trials which started after this confirmation is tremendous she was there in the court with her friends and companions who accused anyone they wished due to their personal vendettas. One of the accusations that Abigail Williams made was of Good Elizabeth Proctor being a witch. She gives a great performance and takes full advantage of certain actions and facts.

The United States and Its Policy of Promoting Democracy

The United States and Its Policy of Promoting Democracy Promoting democracy abroad has been one of the main elements of US foreign policy for decades. Some critics argue that it is harmful to promote democracy in countries without liberal values because it creates illiberal democracies, which pose grave threats to freedom. Others argue that the foreign policy of promoting democracy abroad fosters economic development in those places, reduces threats to the United Staes at home and creates partners for better economic trade and development.  There are  varying  degrees of democracies ranging from full to limited and even flawed. Democracies can also be authoritarian, meaning that people can vote but have little or no choice in what or whom they vote for. A Foreign Policy 101 Story When rebellion brought down the presidency of Mohammed Morsi in Egypt on July 3, 2013, the United States called for a quick return to order and democracy. Look at these statements from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on July 8, 2013. During this transitional period, Egypts stability and democratic political order are at stake, and Egypt will not be able to emerge from this crisis unless its people come together to find a nonviolent and inclusive path forward. We remain actively engaged with all sides, and we are committed to supporting the Egyptian people as they seek to salvage their nations democracy. [W]e will work with the transitional Egyptian government to promote a quick and responsible return to a sustainable, democratically elected civilian government. We also call on all political parties and movements to remain engaged in dialogue, and to commit to participating in a political process to hasten the return of full authority to a democratically elected government. Democracy in US Foreign Policy Theres no mistaking that promotion of democracy is one of the cornerstones of American foreign policy. It hasnt always been that way. A democracy, of course, is a government which invests power in its citizens through the franchise, or the right to vote. Democracy comes from Ancient Greece and filtered to the West and the United States through such Enlightenment thinkers as Jean-Jaques Rousseau and John Locke. The United States is a democracy and a republic, meaning that the people speak through elected representatives. At its start, American democracy was not universal: Only white, adult (over 21), property-holding males could vote. The 14th, 15th, 19th  and 26th Amendmentsplus a variety of civil rights actsfinally made voting universal in the 20th century. For its first 150 years, the United States was concerned with its own domestic problemsconstitutional interpretation, states rights, slavery, expansionmore than it was with world affairs. Then the United States focused on pushing its way onto the world stage in an era of imperialism. But with World War I, the United States began moving in a different direction. Much of President Woodrow Wilsons proposal for a post-war Europethe Fourteen Pointsdealt with national self-determination. That meant imperial powers like France, Germany and Great Britain should divest themselves of their empires, and former colonies should form their own governments. Wilson intended for the United States to lead those newly independent nations into democracies, but Americans were of a different mind. After the carnage of the war, the public wanted only to retreat into isolationism and let Europe work out its own problems. After World War II, however, the United States could no longer retreat into isolationism. It actively promoted democracy, but that was often a hollow phrase that allowed the United States to counter Communism with compliant governments around the globe. Democracy promotion continued after the Cold War. President George W. Bush linked it to the post-9/11 invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. How Is Democracy Promoted? Of course, there are ways of promoting democracy other than warfare. The State Departments website says that it supports and promotes democracy in a variety of areas: Strengthening democratic institutionsSupporting civil societyEnhancing the rule of law and judicial independencePromoting political pluralism and free, fair electoral processesProtecting independent mediaPromoting Internet freedomPromoting human rights for all, including women The programs above are funded and administered through the State Department and USAID. Pros and Cons of Democracy Promotion Proponents of democracy promotion say that it creates stable environments, which in turn fosters strong economies. In theory, the stronger a nations economy and the more educated and empowered its citizenry, the less it needs foreign aid. So, democracy promotion and US foreign aid are creating strong nations around the globe. Opponents say that democracy promotion is just American imperialism by another name. It binds regional allies to the United States with foreign aid incentives, which the United States will withdraw if the country does not progress toward democracy. Those same opponents charge that you cannot force-feed democracy on the people of any nation. If the pursuit of democracy is not homegrown, then is it really democracy?