The Modern Puritan

From the previous readings from The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, one can conclude that the Puritans had a very different lifestyle and behaviors from the modern man. Puritans were extremely religious English Protestants; they lived simple lives, free of pleasure or luxury as it was seen as sinful. Although Puritans identified a religious group, it has evolved to been used to describe a person who sticks to strict moral or religious values.

The way of thinking has drastically shifted from eighteenth century; the modern age is more independent and liberated in morals. Even though the majority of the nation have the luxury of freedom, strict principles and beliefs could still apply in certain lifestyles. For example, the Amish, a group of traditional Christians known for simple living and avoiding technology can be viewed as a modern puritan group. Both Puritan and Amish shun members who cannot be repented for their sins, and usually resulted in excommunication. However, the extent of enforcing rules is very different; Puritans were willing to severely punish law breakers, held hunts and burning at the stakes while the Amish are pacifists and does not resort to violence.

The Puritans were an extremely forceful group, however perished as they could not keep up with the changing times. Even though the Amish lived a lifestyle similar as the Puritans based on simple living and religion based, the Amish’s religious enforcement is not as cruel. However, there are groups that could reach the same extent in punishment and emphasis on rules that are not necessarily for religious purposes. 

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John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor is the main protagonist, in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. He is a tragic hero, rather than a stooge or hero since he is willing to sacrifice himself for the better good of his community and family. In the Puritan town of Salem, he is viewed as an honest and good-natured farmer. In the beginning of the story, John plays the ordinary man; he is not distinctively good or bad, but eventually his actions and flaws lead to his downfall.

In Act I of the play, it was revealed that John had an affair with Abigail Williams; his first flaw. John would not forgive himself, and saw himself a sinner. The affair started all the witch accusations and trials since Abigail tried to get rid of John’s wife. In order to stop Abigail, he finally confessed to adultery, despite the damaging to his reputation and self-pride. In the end, the confession backfired, bringing him to his guilty conviction.

However, during the trails, John had a chance to betray his friends and neighbors and save his life. He chose death since he rather die and earn his self-respect back rather than make his family live out a life with his terrible reputation. In addition, he was able to save the people that were accused of witchcraft.

A stooge is someone who allows to be used for another’s profit or advantage. Hero is defined as someone who is admired for his achievements and noble qualities. John is not a stooge, but he is not quite a hero. He is a tragic hero because he was destined for defeat. Ever since his adultery with Abigail, John was suffering throughout the whole play until he met his demise. 

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There Goes the Neighborhood

"There goes the neighborhood" is a phrase used when something new occurs that will lower the value of the neighborhood, in terms of financially and socially. Situations like when the English started settling in America definitely provides the phrase with some truth. However, this saying is still being used today, especially in such a diverse yet segregated city as Chicago.

 Exploration was done in hopes of gaining profit, and winning the fight for “most powerful country” as seen from Columbus’s exploration followed by the French and British. Europeans have already been accustomed of exploiting other civilizations and countries for their own benefit, shown from the draining of African resources, culture and people. The lifestyles and beliefs led most Europeans and especially Puritans to believe they were living the “correct” way of life and anything different was wrong. As soon as settlers started arriving, then taking over land, native people and their cultures was unavoidable. The conquest does not stop from “there goes the neighborhood”, but rather “there goes the whole country and people” since Europeans spread throughout the entire continent, and leaving Native Americans with their destroyed culture and restricted living space. 

Currently, we do not experience such extremities in Chicago communities as the Native Americans did. However, instances where “there goes the neighborhood” gets dropped ever so often here and there.  This expression generally is used to show disapproval of racial minorities moving to an all-white neighborhood. Chicago is split in the general: whites in the north, blacks in the south, hispanics in the west. This expression might be said more of the north-west side, as more hispanics move eastward. Chicago is split in the general: whites in the north, blacks in the south, Hispanics in the west. This expression might be said more of the north-west side, as more Hispanics move eastward. However, there is one neighborhood that is contradicting the remark; Pilsen, known for its rich Latino culture, shown by its artistic murals all over main streets. Since housing is more affordable, more non-Hispanics started moving in the past few years. “There goes the neighborhood” can still apply to this situation since local groups are trying to preserve the Mexican-American culture by preventing the increase of property tax.

 Since I live in a generally diverse neighborhood, Bridgeport, I have not yet to witness the phrase being used. Bridgeport was initially an Irish-American neighborhood in the 1830s, but has grown to inhabit many Italian and Lithuanian Americans. More recently, Chinese and Mexicans immigrants made their homes, racially grouped in the north and west areas. However, I assume that people cannot criticize about their neighbors since Bridgeport’s citizens all had immigrant roots to relate to. Anyone can see the diversity just by the food; Bridgeport is famous for the Italian cuisine, Irish pubs, with some Chinese restaurants and Mexican bakeries here and there, but adds some own flare with cafes and organic restaurants. Although Chicago is known as the most diverse as well as segregated city of the nation, I am glad that there are some neighborhoods that can reject the statement, and I am proud to claim that I live in one and call it home. 

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