Proctor's End

When reading the tragic end of John Proctor's life, I see the same behaviors in our school.

He confesses to "binding himself to the Devil's services", when he clearly hasn't because witchcraft doesn't even exist, to appease his captors and to earn his freedom back. When he rips up his statement, he defies authorities by silently declaring his refusal to be publicly acknowledged as a male-witch. Like an accused victim in Salem, a gossiper in school has the same options: to spread malicious talk or to take a stand against it. The option to deny witchcraft charges parallel the chance to hinder a rumor about a harmless fellow classmate. In both cases, the person involved would be punished for whatever they choose: either labeled a witch or gossip, or punished with death or social exclusion.

I, also, related to Elizabeth Proctor. She watched Proctor admit the truth, and practically sign his death warrant. I hear girls share terrible secrets about others, and I see the instigator cold-shoulder her friend if she doesn't agree. Both Elizabeth and these courageous girls bear witness to the injustices of their society.

John Proctor was browbeaten to admit to a lie, but he found his moral center again. As students, standing up for the right thing doesn't even create major punishments- maybe just a little awkwardness between friends. If it's even easier to stop the flow of rumors than the ocean of accusations, why do we still let it happen?