Julius Caesar
1. Hand in Of Mice and Men novels.
2. Homework check (yesterday's article questions)
3. Introduction to Julius Caesar
A. Themes:
- Freedom vs. tyranny
- Fate and fortune vs. free will
- Friendship vs. Civic Duty
- Duplicity vs. Truth, Honor, Loyalty (in political speech and actions)
- Antagonist vs. Protagonist
- Death
- The power of rhetoric (emotion vs. logic as a means of persuasion)
- Public vs. Private Identity
B. Motifs:
- Darkness and shadows vs. light
- The Supernatural (omens, dreams, premonitions, superstition)
- Letters
- Blood
- The influence of Women
C. Symbols:
- Caesar's ghost
- Rome
- Swords
- Lion/lioness
English 11
The Crucible
1. Begin reading Act III (p. 83- 102 [before Abigail's entrance.])
2. Complete questions 1 - 9.
Question Help:
2. The fire is a metaphor for burning away the lies to reach
the truth: “It melts all concealment.” To
speak of a hot fire is to say that the naked and pure truth
will be all that is left after the accused
appears in court. However, it is not the case at all. The
court is corrupt, poisoned by fear, desperation,
and a desire for vengeance, as well as the leaders’
unwillingness to rely on reason and facts, rather
than their own preconceived ideas.
3. Having played a large part in instigating this crisis and
fanning its flames, in Act Three Hale seems
to be trying to defend John Proctor and to reason with the
judge. He goes so far as to state that there
is now “a prodigious fear of this court in the country.” His
opinions fall on deaf ears, but he has nevertheless
begun to see the error of his ways and to recognize that the
situation has gotten out of control.
There is no safe way to suggest that the justice system has
been corrupted without implicating oneself.
When Hale does, Danforth turns on him and implies that
perhaps Hale himself is guilty: “Are you
afraid to be questioned here?”
5. This is a position taken by leaders who do not feel
secure that their government can withstand any
dissent at all. The judges seem to lack faith in their own
court’s ability to enact justice and must
therefore eliminate all opposition to it. Also, if
opposition is not eliminated, their authority is challenged
and their actions are subject to review; if they have made
mistakes, their errors will be known,
and they will have to take responsibility for them. The
problem is that this thinking leaves no room
for individual thought or personal freedom. A society that
condemns anyone who does not conform
strictly to a single way of thinking encourages repression,
which eventually turns to rebellion.
8. The court is meant to operate as a center of justice, as
a place to resolve problems in a transparent,
objective, and rational setting. If the people fear the court
and don’t trust that it is just, then the social
order will begin to break down. If there is no just and
legal mechanism for resolving problems, then
people will rebel and take matters into their own hands.
