John Proctor: Stooge or Hero?

I believe John Proctor is a hero.  John Proctor had committed an irrefutable act. He cheated on his wife Elizabeth. To be more specific, John had an affair with their former servant Abigail. In Salem, only three people knew of this and that would be John, Elizabeth, and Abigail. In his little Christian community, he had sinned big time. John tries to avoid Abigail and only have eyes for his wife. He convinces himself that the past is behind him. But Abigail says she “knows” him. Abigail tells him that both of them have heat for each other. She believes what they have isn’t over. John then confesses that he has noticed her.

When the time came for Mary Warner’s testimony, John tried to cover up his little affair with Abigail. He tried hard to keep it hidden by calling Abigail a fraud. But in the end, John failed to keep it a secret. By confessing his sins to the court full of people, he managed to muster up the courage to do so. When his wife tried to save him, he just cut her off and said it’s too late. There was no use in telling anymore lies. The truth was spoken. John is a man of pride and courage. He won’t let his life be swallowed up in concealment forever.

Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

The sermon by Jonathan Edwards captures the image of Hell very clearly. He explains this Christian view of Hell with much emotion and meaning behind his words. He describes Hell as an actual and functional place. Edwards’ sermon is basically about the Great Awakening, which was a religious movement where people needed the salvation of Christ. He explains that if people had little or no belief in Christ, they would struggle. The main point of the sermon is humans were given a chance by God to correct the sins that they have committed. In a nutshell, all decisions were made up to God.

            In the text it reads, "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." Jonathan Edward also writes with such cruelty and bluntness. I think his way of thinking is like a twisted and enraged version of the Ten Commandments. Kind of. It’s like he saying every little thing a person does has to be just right. And if you step out of line for even a second, you will be punished. His sermon is similar to Calvinism, a theological approach to Christianity. A major key element in Calvinism is predestination. This means God has already determined whether you go to Heaven or Hell.  

There Goes The Neighborhood

My Neighborhood

So, I'm a Northsider. I specifically live on

Orchard Street

in Lincoln Park. I literally live straight down from Lincoln Park High School. Man, it would be a WHOLE lot easier if I went there...just a few steps away. I am just saying. Anyways back to the point, generally my block's majority is made up of Caucasian people. Excluding my family and I. You really don't see too many colored people living on Orchard. Until recently I have noticed that an old Chinese (I think he's Chinese) man has moved on the block.                                                         

My sister and I were excited to see someone who is of different ethnicity living here. Every time this man was in our sight we'd say, "IT'S THE CHINESE MAN!!!” My parents casually laughed at this. But that all changed when they figured out he has a dog. He owns a bulldog to be exact. Of course, my sister and I didn't mind the Chinese man or his dog. We'd see him walking his dog and politely wave. But my parents weren't quite convinced. For the past few weeks, we've found and smelled piles of dog doo-doo in the front of our house. I thought that this person, whoever he or she may be is being disrespectful. My parents kept telling me it was the Chinese man. But I didn't want to believe them. Finally, my mom caught him and yelled from our kitchen window to pick his dog poop up. And he did. I have to have more trust in my parents. Lately, I only see him walking around the neighborhood...

There goes the neighborhood!

My Background

Hi, my name is Rose Valdez. I'm turning sixteen this December and lived in Chicago all my life. I have two siblings, an older brother and a twin sister. She also goes to Whitney Young. I went to Abraham Lincoln Elementary and I still keep in touch with my old classmates. People think I'm Mexican but I'm not, I'm Filipino. Don't get those two mixed up...it's annoying. I like doing anything that seems fun, especially roller coasters. I can't handle scary movies but I watch them anyways.