Lara Vizon

Storer
English 3 Honors American Literature, Block 4
September 19, 2019
Socratic Circle Reflection on The Crucible Act IV
I would rate my preparation a 10 because I had points and even contradicting points
written down as notes on my paper. I also had the pages written down that consists of concrete
details and examples that were needed to back up my points. I would rate myself either a 6 or 7
on the contributions to the group. I only contributed once in the inner circle. However, the
quality of my answer made up for only contributing once. I gave concrete details and brought up
an example no one gave yet. Teamwork I would rate myself a 3 or 5 because I didn’t contribute
as much, but I was attentive when everyone talked, and I backed up other’s opinion with my
own. Outside the circle I gave my partner the feedback that was needed and expressed any
improvements that were necessary, so I would rate myself a 10. My goals for the next seminar
are to contribute more of my opinions and deeper the conversation by adding different
perspectives or ideas that haven’t been said yet. I would also add more concrete details by
quoting something from a passage to further back up my point.
Overall, my group’s preparation would be an 8. Those who talked and voiced their
opinion was prepared with their points and even counterarguments. There were a select few who
didn’t have concrete details to support their reasonings, however they came across with valid
points. The quality of the conversation within the inner circle was consistent but was still lacking
some aspects. It was mainly a same people who would speak and even though there were a few
that had counterarguments on the questions, everyone agreed for the most part and had the same
point. The topic was deepened, however, with different perspectives people had how they
interpreted the question or concrete detail they were referencing. Overall, I would rate it a 7 or an
8. I would rate the teamwork a 9. Everyone was attentive to each other and when a certain idea
would be said there would be others who would add on to that point and back up each other.
When contradicting points would be expressed, there would be someone who would agree and
have that sense of teamwork by building upon what the previous person was saying. The person
who was asking the questions also contributed to the teamwork because they would call out
someone who hasn’t spoken. This reflects teamwork by inviting those who hasn’t been able to
express their opinion yet and wanting them to be part of the conversation.
Thesis statement: Fear can control a person by the persuasion and forcefulness of
authorities.
Throughout the essay some points I would make would be about the pressure and false
accusations that were being made which made a lot of characters confess something they never
did or witness. I would also talk about how to the point of persuasion many characters would just
say what the authorities wanted and was expecting them to say. I would give examples like when
Elizabeth talking to Proctor about having it his choice whether to lie or not about the confession.
I would add that with the pressure of living or them taking Proctor’s life for something he didn’t
do, he lied about certain things and events he witnessed just to satisfy what the authorities were
looking for. Proctor kept lying and trying his best to keep his life spared, until he reached his
breaking point. He stood up for what he believed was right, didn’t care if he lived or not, and told
his truth. I would add that sometimes morals actually do come first rather than the lies that the
authorities or people in general would want to hear.
 This connects to a Netflix show 13 Reasons Why. In one of the seasons, one of the
characters, Clay, was convicted of a murder he didn’t commit. He tried to go against the
authorities and convince them with evidence that he wasn’t the killer. Just as Proctor tried to
convince and tell everyone that the assumptions of witch occurrences weren’t logically possible,
Clay tried doing the same thing. With the pressures of the sheriff and his parents wanting him to
confess that he did it, he felt obligated and to lie and say he did it. Also because of all the
pressure and false accusations, he reached the point of frustrated where he just wanted to give the
authorities what they wanted so they would stop pestering him. He, however, reached his
breaking point and wanted to run away. One of the sheriffs were really persistent in making Clay
confess something he didn’t do, while another sheriff tried to gather evidence and prove Clay
was in fact not guilty. Just like in The Crucible Proctor had a lot of pressure, persuasion, towards
him and he was just frustrated at hearing the same thing over again. This led him to lying about
what happened just to satisfy what they wanted to hear so they could stop bothering him. Instead
of wanting to run away, like Clay, he told his truth. Danforth was adamant about getting
something out of Proctor and was determined to get through the hangings and trials, just like
how the sheriff wanted Clay to confess. However, just like how the other sheriff wanted to find
more evidence and stop interrogating Clay, Hale and Parris just wanted to help Proctor and stop
the trials.