Critical Lens Crucible and to Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example
The prominent Alexander Pope once asserted, "Difficulties are the things which reveal the genuine nature of men." His assertion implies that life's challenges reveal the authenticity of people's character. This notion not only holds true but is backed up by various literary masterpieces. Two works of literature that advocate this concept presented by Alexander Pope are Arthur Miller's tragic play - The Crucible, and Harper Lee's novel - To Kill a Mockingbird. In The Crucible, Miller illustrates how adversity unveils the real persona of individuals, exemplified through his character, Abigail Williams.
The story of this play puts Abigail in the difficult position of having to decide between rescuing herself from retribution or confessing the truth and sparing the town from mayhem. The way Abigail's character is depicted is great in reinforcing the notion that true colors are revealed when confr
...onted with challenges, such as when she accuses others of witchcraft, pretends to be possessed, and ultimately points the blame at John Proctor's wife. Her actions in fleeing Salem instead of facing the turmoil she stirred up show her cowardice.
The narrative presents Abigail as a self-absorbed person, her fearful responses to life's challenges linked with selfishness. This idea parallels the acclaimed book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee but from a different viewpoint. The story's main character, Atticus Finch, engages in a legal fight to protect Tom Robinson, an African American man, in times characterized by racial bias. Rather than showing apathy, Atticus champions and defends Tom with as much commitment as he would any other client.
In the developing stages of the novel, Atticus demonstrates his exceptional character by remaining steadfast and defending Tom Robinson vigorously
despite facing alienation from the rest of the town. As the book culminates with Tom being found guilty, the prolonged period taken by the jury to reach this conclusion suggests that Atticus did manage to influence them, albeit modestly. He ensured they at least partially understood Tom's perspective.
Atticus, in his display of integrity, garnered profound respect from people who noticed his non-conformity to societal norms. This serves as a perfect illustration of the nobility that hardships can evoke in individuals. Drawing from Alexander Pope's quote, "Difficulties are things which show what men are", it's evident that in testing times, true colors shine. This is perfectly exemplified, albeit differently, in Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, and Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Each work uncovers differing facets of a character's true nature that emerge amidst life's challenges.
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