Reflections on The Crucible- Connection to The Hollywood Blacklist

Connection to The Hollywood Blacklist

 

     I will start off by saying that to be honest, when we first started The Crucible I did not even know the  Hollywood Blacklist existed. I also read the first couple acts without knowing much more than the fact that they were communists or suspected communists, whose lives were ruined, at least in American, because of these accusations. Then, as i learned more about it, it was amazing to see how well Arthur Miller spoke through The Crucible to the people who was accusing the various blacklisters, as well as to his supposed "friends" who rated others out. Miller used events in the story such as the trials to show how unjust he perceived the trials of the Hollywood Blacklist. I believe it was very smart of Miller to use something that related so closely to the Blacklists so he would not  be apprehended. If anyone questioned him about it, then any references that he made were so in tune The Crucible that it could be disputed both ways. It would be interesting to see other stories that were made to portray a real event in history through a metaphor. 

                                                       Hollywood Blacklist                                                                                                              

                                                    The Crucible Characters

Political Climate of the 1950s- The Hollywood 10

The Hollywood 10

    The Hollywood Ten, or more correctly known as the entertainment industry ten, were ten entertainment industry persons who refused to speak about themselves or others when asked to. They were ten of the people who were sent to prison for a year each because of this rather than just being blacklisted like most of the rest. It was interesting the way this video showed that a lot of the them had wives and children. It makes the reality of how unfair it was more real to me. They shouldn't have been blacklisted and especially  not imprisoned for being communists supporters and especially not just for being known for associating with them. The constitution says we are allowed to be supportive of whatever government we choose. I am not saying I agree with communism, but just the fact that we should have the right to be whatever we want. 

Puritan Plain Style- Observation

Changing of the Leaves

     I watched the trees outside for my observation. Because it is fall, they are starting to change colors and a few are already losing leaves. I see this as a person becoming a christian. At first, they are green and naive to all aspects of religion. Then, as they mature and time passes, the colors of the tree change and the person is introduced to religion. When the leaves fall, it represents the person  believing, and changing their life. They are baptized when the trees are bare, and grow into a new person in the spring when the buds come out again. They are being born again, just like the tree is. 

They All Played a Part- Squanto

Squanto

In this picture, Squanto is showing the pilgrims how to use fish as fertilizer for the planting and growing corn.

     I was interested in finding out more about Squanto because it seems like it would take a lot of courage to start talking with a group of new, white people, when only one other of your kind had talked to them before. Also, it would take a lot of kindness for him to offer to help the Pilgrims survive, because without him, they would probably have died off. 

     The first thing I found out about Squanto is that he real name is Tisquantum and he is from the Patuxet tribe. Another thing I was curious about was how he had learned English. Apparently he had been captured by a man who replaced John Smith in the colony of Jamestown and had been taken to England where he learned to speak it pretty well. He was then brought back and "released".  It's amazing that he would still want to help the new colonists even though the first ones he encountered took him captive. 

     After a very harsh winter, where over half of the pilgrims died, they met Samoset, who led them to Squanto. Squanto then began to teach them the ways of America. He taught them when to plant corn, because the pilgrims first crop failed. He also taught them how to plant it, using a fish as fertilizer along with the seed and planting on a hill. Later, when the corn was harvested, he taught the women of the colony how to cook the corn. He also taught them to hunt fish and eels. He was a translator between the Native Americans and the colonists when they created a peace treaty that neither of them would attack each other. Along with translating, he helped the colonists trade with the natives as well. Lastly, he guided them on expeditions through the unknown. 

    Squanto was basically single-handedly responsible for saving the Pilgrim colony from a sure death. This, in turn, also means he was responsible for the very first Thanksgiving. So on Thanksgiving, be sure to give thanks for a very brave, bighearted guy, Squanto. 

     

Journals of Discovery- Pocahontas

John Smith and Pocahontas

     This is a picture of Pocahontas quite literally saving Captain John Smith's life. There is much dispute about whether or not Pocahontas actually saved Smith's life or if he is exaggerating this portion of his story as many people agree he does many times throughout his journal. In all reality, Smith had very good reason to make himself look like a hero. He needed to convince his superiors that he did indeed save the colony mostly by himself as to not be punished for letting so many die in his settlement. 

     Another way to look at this picture is that Pocahontas is portrayed symbolically. The artist may have been merely symbolizing the fact that Pocahontas saved the colony from sure destruction by the hand of her father, who had been warned that white men would rule over him. John Smith would be used to symbolize the colony as a whole then, as Pocahontas saves him, she saves the colony in the artists eyes.  

     There are a couple of other things that could be not accurate about this picture. One, is that Pocahontas has been proven to have only been around 10 when she "saved" Smith, not the 20 years old as she is portrayed in this picture. The last is that it shows the the Native American's homes as tee-pees while we have learned in class that they had more stable homes in their villages and only used tee-pees while hunting or something of the sorts. 

Native American Culture- The Smoke Dance

     Though we have read many stories in class, I realized after reading what we are to write about this week, that we had yet to talk much about the Native American dances. I was interested to learn more and ended up on a page about the Smoke Dance. 

      While reading it I learned that though you would assume it had something to do with fire or smoke, it in fact most likely had to do with war. It was traditionally done in order to help the warriors prepare for battle when the nations were still warring. Once the warring died down, the Smoke Dance was used more for ceremonies and remembering rather than actually preparation.

     Though Native American culture has changed in many ways, this is still danced today. In fact, they now have a competition for anyone who wants to show their rhythm and foot skills. Traditionally it was only men who were allowed to do this dance, but ever since the 1960s, women have been able to participate as well, despite the conservative tribal members. Dancers use one vocal singer who uses a water drum to create the song. They use the Smoke Dance as a great way to show off their athletic ability and other skills. 

  

A group of men dancing in competition. They generally do 

slower dances, but use the same foot skills.

 

A group of women dancing in competition. They generally use 

faster beats, but the same footwork as the men. 

     I think it is great that the Native Americans still do dances such as the Smoke Dance. It shows that they still remember their culture and their past. I wish that more cultures were as prominent today as the Native American's. It would help to show our diverse culture in America, because that is what we are, a mixing pot of different cultures.

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