The Crucible and Freedom Writers: Belonging and Identity

Through a sense of clear conscience or a reputation of name, anyone can self belong, and this must first be achieved before one can belong anywhere else. The protagonist, John Proctor, in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, truly belongs only at time of death. His clear conscience provides him with a sense of self belonging before his hanging. Similarly I Freedom Writers, by Richard Lagrange, the Hispanic gang member, Eva, achieves a sense of personal Identity and true belonging when she tells the truth In court.

This allows her clear conscience to give her a sense of belonging to resell. “I’m not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang” suggests John Proctor In the Crucible has Identified himself as not being as brave as those who went to the gallows with a clear conscience. HIS sense of self belonging Is achieved when he rips up the signed confession. HIS good deed allows the people who died to keep their good names, who went to death satisfied that they were good people.

Before the Salem Witch trials, depicted in the movie, John Proctor is reluctant to be involved in church life.

He rarely attends mass and stays out on his land instead. Although his obedience to miss mass because of Paris, he is seen as a good man. The turning point is when his wife, Goody Proctor, is accused of being involved in witchcraft. He admits to lechery, with Abigail, and acknowledges the bad actions he undertook. He is also then accused of being involved in witchcraft and is sentenced to death unless he confesses.

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Others who were accused experienced the same fate. And although all were innocent except the girls accusing everyone, many were sent to their deaths.

Proctor rips the warrant and allows the people who died to continue their innocence. Does Proctor do the good deed out of guilt for his actions with Abigail? The concepts of self belonging in The Crucible are similarly depicted in Freedom writers. Erin Gruel, a new and excited young teacher is hired to teach the ‘Dumb Class’ at Wilson High. Many of the students in this class are members of various gangs presented as Latino, Black and Asian, and their actions and mind set tells the viewer that the students do not want to be there.

One particular member, Eva, is experiences a dilemma when she must decide to tell the truth or protect another member of her gang. “l am my father’s daughter, and when they call me to testify I will protect my own no matter what. ” This quote tells the viewer that Eva belongs to her gang, whether it’d a bad thing or not. Her strong sense of belonging is shown through the techniques of her narrating her diary throughout the movie. When she decides to tell the truth In Court she becomes an outcast from her gang, but with her clear omniscience she starts to belong elsewhere.

Room 203 In her school, taught by Erin Gruel becomes a safe haven for her and her class mates. The war displayed In the movie between gangs Is Ignored when the class attends school and everyone comes together and belongs. This Is portrayed for Eva the most due to her honor, respect and reputation being abolished and her personal Identity changing. Through a sense of belonging to one self, the characters Eva, and John Proctor, In Freedom Writers and The Crucible therefore belong in other areas. This provides evidence that