Analysis Of The Salem Witch Trials

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I stand before you today to relive and help bring lessons fourth from the terrible events that occurred just twenty years ago. The Salem witch trials concluded with the wrongful and unjust hangings of many different innocent men and women. Without sufficient evidence, and the help from Abigail Williams, some of the town’s best people were put to death. Among these people were Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, and even a great man named John Proctor. This man, along with many others, were given two options: refuse to admit they had been a part of witchcraft in some way and be executed, or confess to save their own life and lie about being a part of some sort of witchcraft. These choices given to the accused by Danforth were unjust. According to the law at the time, what happened twenty years ago was politically correct, but in no way was it just. When I was looking back at the trials I looked hard for some good that can come out of it. I concluded that within the trial two people stand out to me and highlight the clearest lessons that can be uncovered. We learn about how important our actions can be from Abigail Williams, and we can learn that there are some things in life that are worth dying for from John Proctor. Abigail Williams is the epitome of what was awfully wrong with the Salem witch trials but if you look deeper you can see that there is a lesson to be learned from all the wrong she had done. After sleeping with John Proctor she fell in love with him and wanted no one to be with him except for herself. She even yelled at John, “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her! Let her turn you like a-“ before being cut off by John. On the surface it s... ... middle of paper ... ...worth dying for may vary between all of you, but for John his reputation, and Justice was enough. I personally have taken these lessons to heart, and hope that sharing them with all of you today made a difference. Chances are the circumstances will never be the same, but you can take these lessons into your every day life. Before acting on anything think about what negative reactions can come of your decision. All you have to remember is how Abby’s actions negatively affected her. Also, in most of your lives you will probably never have to die for something. That does not mean you can’t stand up for what is right. If you ever think there is something that means a lot to you that you need to fight for don’t back down. If a humble man like John Proctor, who I remind you did cheat on his wife at one point, can be so valiant to stand up for what is right, so can you.

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