Jean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development - 998 Words

Jean Piaget, born in Switzerland in 1896, contributed to our understanding of the minds of children by introducing his theory of cognitive development. This theory shows us how children come to understand the world in four different stages: the sensorimotor stage, the pre operational stage, the concrete operational stage and the formal operational stage. According to Piaget, each one of these stages is the foundation for the next, so missing a stage is impossible. He compares it to building the second story of a house, without building the first level, its impossible. (Mitchell Ziegler, 2013) Jean Piaget never thought that children had the same thought processes as adults with a smaller quantity of knowledge, he considered children’s thoughts to be qualitatively different from adults, and full competence is only possible if children get through his four stages of cognitive development. The sensorimotor stage is the first stage, occurring from birth to two years old. This stag e gets its name from the idea that the infant has sensory experiences and can move her limbs and other bodily parts. (Mitchell Ziegler, 2013) During this stage, Piaget explains how we are in a state of solipsism, which is defined as the failure to distinguish between yourself and the rest of the universe. (Mitchell Ziegler, 2013) Piaget explains that in order to understand the differences, the infant needs to go through six different substages, which occur during the first 24 months of an infant’sShow MoreRelatedJean Piaget s Theories Of Cognitive Development1360 Words   |  6 Pages Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist. He worked in the fields of Developmental Psychology and Epistemology. He’s known for his works and theories in the field of child development. His theories of cognitive development and epistemological views are called, â€Å"genetic epistemology†. Piaget placed the education of children as most important. His works and theories still play a huge role and influence the study of child psychology today. Jean Piaget was born on August 9, 1896 in Neuchatel, SwitzerlandRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development1607 Words   |  7 PagesShaquille Ross Professor Morris Piaget Theory Jean Piaget s theory of cognitive development gives a broader way of explaining the way of how the process of thinking is developed, based off of different age groups. He became interested in how organisms adapt and conform to its environment. He believe that it was labelled as intelligence. He observed these behaviors by controlling them through schema or schemes. In other words, Piaget organized experiments that are based off of intellectualRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory On Cognitive Development1045 Words   |  5 Pageshave shaped our understandings of the human mind and our behaviors. Jean Piaget was by no means an exception. Piaget was a clinical psychologist known for his pioneering work in child development. He was the first psychologist to make a systematic study of cognitive development. Over the course of his later career in child psychology, he identified four stages of mental development that took into account young people s development from basic object identification t o highly abstract thought. This paperRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development1553 Words   |  7 PagesJean Piaget is considered to be very influential in the field of developmental psychology. Piaget had many influences in his life which ultimately led him to create the Theory of Cognitive Development. His theory has multiple stages and components. The research done in the early 1900’s is still used today in many schools and homes. People from various cultures use his theory when it comes to child development. Although there are criticisms and alternatives to his theory, it is still largelyRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development1071 Words   |  5 PagesIn this essay I want to analyse Jean Piaget’s (1936) stage theory of cognitive development and Erik Erikson’s (1959) theory on stage development. Piaget’s theory focuses on cognitive development where Erikson’s applies a more psychosocial lens. I will be analysin g the key concepts of each theory and comparing them to see the similarities and differences in the theorists thinking. Piaget’s theory is made up of four stages. The first stage was the sensitometer stage. This occurs from birth to twoRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development877 Words   |  4 PagesJean Piaget is one of many theorists to have proposed ideas about development. However he was the first to make a methodical study of cognitive development. In his theory Piaget describes four main stages of psychological development which he believes children move through. His theory suggests that each stage helps to construct the next; leading cognitive abilities to become more advanced as we grow older. When taking into consideration discontinuity and continuity; Piaget’s cognitive stages leansRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development1641 Words   |  7 PagesJean Piaget (1936), was a developmental psychologist from Switzerland. He was known to be one of the first psychologists to study cognitive development. His contributions include an in depth theory of cognitive child development. His studies include many detailed child observations and a series of simple but ingenious tests to reveal a child cognitive abilities. Before Piaget’s theory of development many psychologists believed that children were just less competent thinkers then adults. Piaget arguesRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive And Affective Development1693 Words   |  7 PagesMethodology and Cognitive Theory of Jean Piaget The Methodology and Cognitive Theory of Jean Piaget Timothy Carlton Southwest Tennessee Community College A Paper Presented In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For Life Span Psychology 2130-L01 July 31, 2014 â€Æ' â€Æ' Abstract Jean Piaget’s theory of Cognitive and Affective Development is a result of an interdisciplinary approach to understanding mental processes and the behaviors presented by those processes. Piaget’s theory encompasses developmentRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development895 Words   |  4 Pageshave contributed to the study of Psychology. One of these great contributors is Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist. He is mostly known for his theory of cognitive development. Jean Piaget used his own life as well of the lives of his own children to develop this theory. He believed that the thought process between children and adults were different and thus that began the process of Cognitive Development. Jean Piaget is a Swiss psychologist who was born on August 9, 1986. He is one of the mostRead MoreJean Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development943 Words   |  4 PagesJean Piaget’s theories of cognitive development broke new ground in the field of Psychology leading to the extension of further research into the area of developmental psychology. In this essay I seek to examine these theories whilst considering their current relevance to modern psychology and society. A major part of Piaget’s theory focuses around the idea of schemas; a set of linked mental representations used to make sense of the world. According to Piaget (1952), we are born with a small set

Caterpillar Company Analysis Essay - 4206 Words

Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar Incorporated is the world’s largest producer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. Caterpillars headquarters are located in Peoria, Illinois, United States. The company operates in three principal lines of business: machinery, engines, and financial products. The machinery segment includes the design, manufacture, marketing, and selling of all kinds of machinery such as; tractors, forestry and mining machinery, off-highway trucks, and paving products. The machinery segment also includes logistics services for other companies. The second business segment that Caterpillar operates in is engines. This includes the design, manufacture, marketing, and†¦show more content†¦As reported in The Globe and Mail on March 22, 2012, Raymond James analyst Theoni Pilarinos points out that Caterpillar’s latest figures, while still impressive, show a moderate decrease in sales growth. Machi nery sales in February fell to 21 percent from 27 percent in January, while engines sales growth decreased to 13 percent from 22 percent. This somewhat troubling trend also extended to Caterpillars global operations. In the Asia/Pacific region, growth slowed from 31 percent in December 2011 to 20 percent in February 2012 (CBS News March 20, 2012). This drop in sales may suggest that Caterpillar has reached its’ peak and is likely to come back down to Earth, along with their stock price. It is never smart to invest in a company that has likely reached their peak, since there is nowhere to go but down. Investors should be wary of this news and should probably hold off on buying Caterpillar’s stock until the price inevitably comes back down due to the slow sales growth. Financial Ratios Potential investors examining Caterpillar’s stock’s value will see that Cat outperforms the competition in almost every area concerning stock valuation. Earnings per share is a measure of a company’s net income relative to the number of shares of common stock outstanding. Caterpillar’s earnings per share of 7.40 dominated the industry in 2011. The second best EPS in the industry was 3.91, posted by CNH Global.Show MoreRelatedCompany Analysis : Caterpillar Inc Company1638 Words   |  7 PagesCaterpillar Inc Company Analysis The Company For the last 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. continues making growth possible while promoting constructive change throughout the world. However, customers turn to Caterpillar for the assistance of expanding infrastructure, energy, and natural resources. Sales and revenues for 2014 were $55.184 billion netting $3.695 billion, which were just below 2013 numbers of $55.656 billion resulting in $3.789 billion. Caterpillar is the front-runner for the manufacturingRead MoreCaterpillar, Inc. Financial Analysis1743 Words   |  7 Pagesï ¿ ¼Caterpillar, Inc. Financial Analysis ï ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Andrew Hutson, John Beckman, Patrick Gregory, Marquese Martin-Hayes 25 September 2014 CATERPILLAR, INC: FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 1 Company Summary Caterpillar is a machinery manufacturing company headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. Established in 1925, Caterpillar has become the largest domestic manufacturer of construction, mining and agricultural machinery. After becoming a leader in each of those three industries domestically, Caterpillar has branched out intoRead MoreThe And Construction Machinery Industry1650 Words   |  7 PagesMachinery Industry, n.d.). Therefore, Caterpillar edges out the competition in regards to return on equity while falling short of the benchmark average for the industry. Asset Utilization Ratios The asset utilization ratios consist of receivables turnover, average collection period, inventory turnover, fixed asset turnover, and total asset turnover. The Caterpillar ratio analysis will focus on receivables turnover and inventory turnover. Receivables turnover is a company s total sales divided by receivablesRead MoreCaterpillar Analysis1709 Words   |  7 PagesCaterpillar Inc. Analysis FIN400 – Analyzing Financial Statements June 23, 2013 Caterpillar Inc. Analysis Caterpillar Inc. is a global company headquartered Peoria, Illinois. They specialize in the manufacturing and selling of construction, mining, and farm equipment. Caterpillar Financial Services is a subsidiary company that offers financing options to their customers. I currently work of a construction company and I specialize in the accounting management of the company’sRead MoreCaterpillar, America s Best Representation Of Corporate Sustainability Essay833 Words   |  4 Pages Caterpillar, America’s best representation of corporate sustainability! In researching this company I found that Caterpillar to be one of America’s best. I would like to invest a quarter of a million dollars into the Powering the Future Sustainably program; Focusing on the L.E.A.D. project (Leadership Excellence in Accountability and Development). LEAD is a program within Caterpillar, which is made up of three eight man teams that are to analyze and solve existing problems in the company whileRead MoreEssay about Review of Caterpillars Code of Ethics1012 Words   |  5 PagesReview of Caterpillars’ Code of Ethics Caterpillar Incorporated (Caterpillar) is the world’s top in manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. In 2008, Caterpillar reported sales revenue of $51.3 billion dollars from domestic and worldwide operations (Caterpillar, 2008). As reported in Caterpillar’s 2008 Annual Report, Caterpillar is a worldwide company with 67% of their sales from outside of the United States (Caterpillar, 2008)Read MoreCase Study on Komatsu Limited1578 Words   |  7 PagesTakeuchi Mining Company was founded. A major expansion occurred in 1917 when the Komatsu Iron Works was established to manufacture mining equipment and machine tools. The name Komatsu came into existence in 1921 when iron works separated from the mining company to become KOMATSU ltd. Despite a name that means â€Å"little pine tree†, Komatsu produces line up of big equipment. The company is the world’s second largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, after Caterpillar Inc. KomatsuRead MoreEssay about Case Study: Caterpillar Inc.1240 Words   |  5 Pages1. Why was Caterpillar able to meet Japanese competition and succeed where other major US manufacturers failed? Due the leadership of Glen Barton, who was with Caterpillar from 1964 to 2004? Barton began his direction of Caterpillar at a time when there was weakened demand for its products in many markets around the world. By quickly redirecting its efforts into areas that showed more demand (such as smaller machines and truck engines), the company substantially outperformed its stiff competitionRead MoreCaterpillar: Organizational Structure and Corporate Management Controls1092 Words   |  5 Pagescustomer focus, position the company to build deep expertise in product development. âž ¢ A key change in the aligned structure is the creation of five end-to-end Machine Business Divisions: Mining, Quarry Waste, Excavation, Earthmoving and Building Construction Products. âž ¢ The alignment also introduces three new regional Distribution Services Divisions within Caterpillar, replacing the company s current marketing arms. They will have responsibility for Caterpillar s total portfolio of businessRead MoreCaterpillar Inc (CAT): Porters Five Forces Analysis1244 Words   |  5 PagesLow/Moderate Caterpillar faces a low to moderate risk of the bargaining power of suppliers. This is due to the large numbers of companies providing resources for Caterpillar and in turn, it can change its suppliers easily with no major setbacks. Additionally, Caterpillar make their own engines and assembles their own machinery, this helps the company save money in the long run. The suppliers of raw products such as steel, rubber, plastic and other raw materials are the only concern to Caterpillar. These

The Role of Women in the Tragedy of Julius Caesar free essay sample

Women play a minor role in the overall plot of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare but without them, two of the main characters: Brutus and Caesar would be incomplete and certain language could not be used. Shakespeare uses the two women: Portia and Calphurnia to show the audience the other side(s) of Brutus and Caesars characters and as R. Moore says in his article Women in Julius Caesar They also provide elements of love and loyalty in a play that is largely concerned with death and intrigue. (1) Portia is Brutuss wife and a very strong character, she shows us firstly that not all women follow the stereotype and are womanly as most men seem to assume. We know men of that time assumed this because it is considered a great insult to be called womanly and the insult is supposed to be directed at your strength of character. We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Women in the Tragedy of Julius Caesar or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is shown through out the play and Cassius uses it more than necessary an example of this is when he states, Our fathers minds are dead/ And we are governed by our mothers spirits. (I. ii. 82-83. Shakespeare). Portia, as the wife of Brutus and the daughter of Cato, is different and she sees herself as such. She is a stoic and a very strong woman both physically and mentally and she proves this many times in the play. The first time is when she stabs herself to show Brutus that she is capable of bearing his secret. She does this as she equates strength of body with strength of mind which would mean since she could stab herself she could bear Brutuss secret. Although Portia is in that way more manly she still retains the qualities woman possess, I have a mans mind but a womans might. (II. iv. 8. Shakespeare) illustrates that point exactly. By using her womanly qualities she implores Brutus to tell her his secret after failing to do so with her more manly virtues. It is not clear in the play whether or not Brutus tells her but by showing us these scenes with Portia we have more of an idea of what type of person Brutus is and how hard it is for him to decide to kill his best friend Caesar. Por tia continues to show her strength all the way through the play till she dies and this fact is well expressed by R. Moore: Her anxiety over Brutuss mission, she also considers a weakness, as though love were a weakness. Her final proof of strength comes when she horribly kills herself [by swallowing hot coals] because of Anthonys growing power which is a threat to her husband. (1) Calphurnia on the other hand is more stereotypical but she serves to show us the more private side of Caesar. Caesar has apparently become somewhat superstitious of late so when Calphurnia dreams of his death and places great importance on it and how soon it is to pass. He tends to believe her and to make sure he asks for a sacrifice to be made. Caesar still trying to suppress his more womanly side tells Calphurnia that her dreams might just be for the common people but Calphurnia stands her ground and replies: When beggars die there are no comets seen;/ The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. (Shakespeare. II. ii. 30-31) Meaning that all the signs and omens like the thunder and lightening storm that night were for no common people but for the prince which is Caesar. Then Caesar changes tactics and says Cowards die many times before their deaths, /The valiant never taste of death but once. (Shakespeare. II. ii. 2-33) By this he is accepting the fact he might die but he isnt going to waste time fearing death now as who can avoid what the Gods want. But Caesar for his part doesnt want to appear cowardly by not going to the capitol and carries on defending his point and ends by saying in so many words that it should be death that is afraid of him and not the other way round. Calphurnia has by now almost given u p and she tells him that his confidence is overshadowing his wisdom. Then Decius Brutus arrives and proceeds to flatter Caesar while turning Calphurnias dreams around and telling them as if they meant good for Caesar. By doing this he makes Caesar ashamed of heading Calphurnia and therefore also ashamed of yielding to his own weaker side. Calphurnia making a last effort to keep him safe tells him to use her fears as an excuse because for her love is better than courage which is what leads Caesar to die. She fails because unlike Decius Brutus she can offer no manly quality of reason so she as Portia did uses her womanly qualities to beg Caesar to stay home but Caesar doesnt give in to his more womanly side. By this we see that His [Caesars] womanliness is externalized in Calphurnia. (R. Moore. 2) The roles of Portia and Calphurnia in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar are important but still minor as they each show us something important about their husbands. Portia demonstrates to us how much stress and anguish Brutus is dealing with by having to decide between supposedly Rome and killing Caesar. While Calphurnia shows us Caesar as a husband and a man who rejects the side of him that he needs to listen to and then dies because of the side of him that is the soldier and politician.

Twelve Days of Christmas and True Love free essay sample

Title of Paper Your Name Course/Number Date Instructor Name (Doctoral students must include the following on the title page instead: title, author’s name, and institution name) Title of Paper 3. How many ways can you make change for a $50 bill using $5, $10, and $20 bills? 7. Marc goes to the store with exactly $1. 00 in change. He has at least one of each coin less than half-dollar coin, but he does not have a half dollar coin. a. What is the least number of coins he could have? b. What is the greatest number of coins he could have? 1. Recall the song â€Å"The Twelve Days of Christmas†: On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. We will write a custom essay sample on Twelve Days of Christmas and True Love or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. This pattern continues for 9 more days. After 12 days, a. which gifts did my true love give the most? (Yes, you will have to remember the song. ) b. ow many total gifts did my true love give to me? 13. Suppose you throw three darts at the target pictured below. All of the darts hit the target for a score. What are all the different possible scores? 14. The following is a magic square (all rows, columns, and diagonals sum to the same number). Find the value of each variable. References This is a hanging indent. To keep the hanging indent format, simply delete this line of text using the backspace key, and replace the information with your reference entry.

The Negative Effects of Computer Hacking free essay sample

INTRODUCTION Thesis statement: Computer Hacking satisfies obsession for forbidden information and exploitation of skills. I. General Consideration Hacking has been around for more than a century. At first, the term â€Å"hacker† was a positive term for a person with a mastery of computers who could push programs beyond what they were designed to do. But because of the exploitation of these knowledge and the obsession to forbidden information, it soon became a threat to computer technology. The root of computer hacking was dated back in the early 1960’s by a group of university students, especially in M. I. T. and Stanford. II. Statement of the Problem The researcher wants to know the answers to these following inquiries: A. What is hacking? A hacker? B. What are the different types of hackers? C. Why do hackers hack? D. What are the basic principles of a hacker? E. What are the negative effects of hacking in the society? F. We will write a custom essay sample on The Negative Effects of Computer Hacking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What are the ways to minimize potential for hacking? III. Objectives of the Problem A. To know more about hacking and hackers. B. To educate people about the negative effects of hacking. C. To prevent hackers in manipulating private information. D. To observe the effect of computer hacking in the modern world. IV. Importance of the Problem I choose this topic because as an IT student, this will be very helpful in my studies since this is related to my course and the benefits that I can get from this is I will be knowledgeable about the facts in computer hacking so that I will be able to fight hackers as part of my future occupation. Another reason is so that since I will be knowledgeable, I can educate people about its dangerous effects it can cause us and to find a solution for it. V. Definition of Terms A, Hacking intruding into computer systems by stealth and without permission or any crime committed with, by, through, or against a computer. B. Hacker A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. C, Webpage A Web page is what you see on the Net. One page with text and graphics. These can be about anything the author of the page wants it to be about. D. Software Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices. E. Programming creating a sequence of instructions to enable the computer to do something. F. Cracking – the art of decoding something. G. Cracker is someone who breaks into someone elses computer system, often on a network; bypasses passwords or licenses in computer programs; or in other ways intentionally breaches computer security. H. Filters A program that accepts a certain type of data as input, transforms it in some manner, and then outputs the transformed data. I. Computer System A set of related but unconnected components (hardware) of a computer or data-processing system. J. Install – to place or to put something in the computer for use. K. The Pentagon a five-sided building in Arlington, Va. , in which the main offices of the U. S. Department of Defense are located; hence, the U. S. military establishment. L. Patches is a quick-repair job for a piece of programming. M. Ethics A theory or a system of moral values. N. Server A computer that processes requests for HTML and other documents that are components of web pages. O. Virus an unsanctioned and self-replicating program which, when activated, corrupts a computers data and disables its operating system. DISCUSSION A. What is hacking? A hacker? Today the term â€Å"hacking† is used routinely to mean intruding into computer systems by stealth and without permission or any crime committed with, by, through, or against a computer. Hacking signified the unfettered exploration of computer systems for the sake of the intellectual challenge. It involved both the search for the unknown and forbidden and the joy in the art of programming. (Pipkin : 1997) Computer hacking always involves some degree of infringement on the privacy of others or damage to computer-based property such as files, webpages or software. â€Å"Computer Hacking† : http://www. ed. uiuc. edu/up/crime/hacking. htm) Hackers are obsessed with forbidden information. Their interest and ability to access this forbidden information have surrounded hackers with other people who hunger for this information to use for personal gain or social anarchy. (Pipkin : 1997) A Hacker can be defined as: 1. A person who enjoys e xploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing it. . A person capable of appreciating hack value. 4. A person who is good at programming quickly. 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work on it. 6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example. 7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming limitations. 8. A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. (â€Å"Computer Hacking† : http://www. ed. uiuc. edu/up/crime/hacking. htm) B. What are the different types of hackers? a. In-House Hacker is someone who is a valid user on a system but decides for whatever reason to perform unauthorized acts. This is often a dishonest employee and can be anyone from an end user who has access to the company ’s data, to a system programmer, who knows the system inside and out and has the ability to turn the system upside down. This type of hacker causes damage to a company’s computers and data. b. Superhacker does not brag and does not post information on the bulletin boards; rather, he watches what others are doing and absorbs the information about new and different ways to compromise a system. He moves freely throughout computer systems taking what he wants without leaving a trace. c. Professional Hacker It is a new breed of hacker. He is professionally trained to gather information from any means available. He has the social skills to get people to give him information and the technical skills to attack systems successfully. Most of them got their training from government intelligence agencies around the globe. What differentiates them from other hackers is that they hack for a very specific target with the value of the information in mind. Their information gathering maybe for government intelligence or more often corporate espionage. They are often a hacker-for-hire. (Pipkin : 1997) C. Why do hackers hack? Some hackers are anarchists wanting to perform random acts of violence, or wanting to become famous; others have a personal score to settle with someone or some company, while others plan to get rich stealing information on the electronic frontier and hack only for the financial rewards. Still others are classic hackers who just want to learn how systems work and hack for the thrill and excitement. (Pipkin : 1997) D. What are the basic principles of a hacker? In his book, Fighting Computer Crime: A New Framework for Protecting Information (1998), Donn B. Parker lists two basic principles hacker live by: 1. The belief that information sharing is a powerful good and that it is the ethical duty of hackers to share their expertise by writing free software and facilitating access to information and to computing resources whenever possible. 2. The belief that system cracking for fun and exploitation is ethically OK as long as the cracker commits no theft, vandalism or breach of confidentiality. Parker differentiates between benign and malicious hackers based on whether damage is performed, though in reality all hacking involves intrusion and a disregard for the efforts, works and property of others. E. What are the negative effects of hacking in the society? Computer hacking has greatly affected our modern society. And one who is greatly affected by these is the youth. As we all have seen, most common reports about hackers who are caught are mostly students. Some of the factors why youth involve in hacking is also because of influence. Most of the movies, especially action films, have hackers as one of the protagonists in the story. If they portray it that way, people will think of it as cool and not wrong. These hypothetical car thieves would be wrong, of course, in making that argument. They might lack the sensitivity needed to give weight to the victims feelings of manipulation, of fear, of anger. They may not understand how the experience of such a random attack can leave a person feeling a profound loss of order and safety in the world. Some adolescents dont have the empathy to see beyond the issue of loss of property. Some may show empathy in certain situations but not in others. The point is that the computer raises no new issue, ethical or pragmatic. The password hacker who says â€Å"we arent hurting anything by looking around is exactly analogous to the joyrider saying â€Å"we arent stealing the car permanently. The professional car thief and the teenaged joyrider are both social problems, but theyre different problems. To confuse the twoto treat the teenager like a career criminalwould be a disastrously self-fulfilling prophecy. There is also a middle ground between the young person who happens to break unimportant rules in the innocent exercise of intellectual curiosity and the hardened criminal. Consider the hypothetical case of a young man whose girlfriend moves to Australia for a year, and so he builds himself a blue box (a device used to place long distance telephone calls without paying for them) and uses it to chat with her for an hour every other day. This is not intellectual curiosity, nor is it a deliberate, long-term choice of a life of crime. Instead, this hypothetical adolescent, probably normally honest, has stepped over a line without really noticing it, because his mind is focused on something else. It would be inappropriate, I think, to pat him on the head and tell him how clever he is, and equally inappropriate to throw him in prison. What we must do is call his attention to the inconsistency between his activities and, most likely, his own moral standards. (â€Å"Computer Hacking and Ethics. † : http://www. cs. berkley. edu/~bh/hackers. html) Another that is greatly affected by the negative effects of computer hacking is the government. Having read an article about Pentagon worries about Chinese hackers, it tells about the Pentagon was sensing some intrusions from there concealed server which they find coming from China. They also said there were also some intrusions in different countries also coming from China. It was said that base on the infiltration, it is likely to be a preparation for the cyber-warfare from the Chinese military. (â€Å"Chinese Hacking worries Pentagon† : http://articles. latimes. com/2008/mar/04/world/fg-uschina4) As what I’ve read, even hacking is used to sabotage confidential files in the military which can be the result of war between countries. And lastly, Also Businesses are also greatly affected by these. Again, I also have read an article about this. Some companies in UK and also some part of the globe have cost billions for this issue. A problem of the companies is that â€Å"Too many companies have waited until an incident hits them before putting counter-measures in place. While awareness of the threats has never been higher, many businesses are still finding their precautions are inadequate, warned PwCs information security partner Chris Potter. Unfortunately, no computer software is immune from criminal attacks, warned software giant Microsoft. The security skills gap illustrated in the survey is an important issue, said Stuart Okin, Microsoft Europes chief security officer. There is a need for the industry to work together to minimise risks to information security. Computer Associates, which helped sponsor the survey, also called for an integrated approach to security threats. Without this, it said, companies would continue to play into the hands of the hacking community. By this, it only means that hacking also is being a threat to business men because their companies are being sabotage and if large companies are endangered, it will greatly affect economic status of one’s country. (â€Å"Computer hacking costs billions † : http://news. bbc. co. k/2/hi/business/3663333. stm) F. What are the ways to minimize potential for hacking? There are only three aspects of information security: †¢ Protect †¢ Detect †¢ Respond Protect system by keeping the system current with the security patches and valid configurations. Detect intruders by installing and monitoring all prudent detection software. Respond to security incident as you have previously established in your security policy. Security is everyone’s responsibility. Users must select good passwords and current and install security patches, as well as keep aware of current security issues. System vendors/suppliers must start shipping systems with an operating system that is more secure out of the box and the software suppliers must design their products with security in mind. KEEP THE SYSTEM CURRENT Keeping the system current is extremely important in keeping systems secure. A system that is well managed, with a system manager who keeps current with the activities of his system and its users, is much less likely to become the victim of a successful attack. Install the Most Current Software New versions of software fix known bugs that could have been used to compromise a system, sometimes without any notification of repair. It is more likely that older versions of software have had their behavior studied and their flaws exploited. Most security incidents are caused by exploiting known security problems, generally with older software. Install Security Patches By the time a security issue has been defined and a repair has been released for it, the hacker community also knows about the problem and how to exploit it. This is why it is imperative that you install all applicable security patches. This will protect you from known problems. Quite often it is these defects that are the basis of tools created to compromise a system that are utilized by unskilled hackers. As a general rule, if you are not using it, take it off the system. This applies to programs, data, accounts, files everything. Removing these things will not only make it more difficult for the hacker to probe and compromise your system; it will also free up resources, disk space, and processor cycles, which in turn will allow you to back up your system more quickly and on fewer removable media, saving you both time and money. (Pipkin:1997) There are a number of ways for schools to minimize potential for hacking. 1. Schools need to clearly establish acceptable use policies and delineate appropriate and inappropriate actions to both students and staff. 2. Students and staff need to instructed regarding hacking, the mentality associated with it, the consequences of various hacking actions and possible consequences of interacting and forming online relationships with anonymous individuals who claim to be proficient in invading others privacy. 3. The use of filters may be considered in reducing access to unauthorized software serial numbers and hacking-related materials, newsgroups, chatrooms and hacking organizations. 4. Teachers need to be aware of student activities in the computer labs and pay special attention to things they hear in terms of hacking behavior. Many schools have taken initiative in having teachers work with technology-oriented students who exhibit many of the characteristics which may eventually lead to hacking-type behaviors. Recent web-based activities and competitions, including ThinkQuest, Web to the Edge and ExploraVision, are outstanding opportunities for these and other technologically oriented students to utilize their interests, energies and abilities in a positive way. (â€Å"Computer Hacking† : http://www. ed. uiuc. du/up/crime/hacking. htm) CONCLUSION I learned that technology has greatly affected the lives of people and it also has changed my perspective in the impact of technology to people. I learned how hackers attack systems and their motives, the different types of hackers, and some techniques or tips on preventing a hacker to hack your system. RECOMMENDATI ON I greatly recommend to the people to use anti-viruses and to secure their systems twice as before, reading guides and awareness about prevention of computer hacking. And to parents who should take authority to their children to stop them from involving themselves in hacking. Works Cited â€Å"Chinese hacking worries Pentagon. † http://articles. latimes. com/2008/mar/04/world/fg-ushina4 â€Å"Computer hacking ‘costs billions’. † http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/business/3663333. stm Harvey, Brian. â€Å"Computer Hacking and Ethics. † http://www. cs. berkeley. edu/~bh/hackers. html Pipkin, Donald L. Halting the Hacker: a practical guide to computer security. Upper Saddle River: A Simon Schuster Company, 1997. Stone, David M. â€Å"Computer Hacking. † http://www. ed. uiuc. edu/up/crime/hacking. htm ABSTRACT Computer Hacking has long been a threat to the society. But this has not started as what it is right now. It only became a problem since programmers started abusing their talents. Hacking has affected greatly on people’s lives. It also affects the economy, the society and even the minds of the youth are being poisoned by the effect of computer hacking. As what I’ve read in some articles, even hacking can sabotage large companies and even the secrets of the government and military. Youth nowadays are much hooked up in computer hacking. They find this cool even though they know the negative effects in causes us because I their mindset, when you know how to hack, people find you a cool person, or sometimes people just want to become famous. But as we all know, every problem has a corresponding solution. The only one who can defeat a hacker is a hacker also. Since a hacker knows what his co-hacker is thinking, he also knows his strategies and plans. There are also a lot of preventive tips on the net to prevent a hacker in intruding your system or your files. I know that we cannot stop this dilemma, but I hope that we can prevent them from increasing by as an individual, to not involve in hacking and better to fight it.

Recreating Society- banning the N word

Recreating Society- banning the N word Free Online Research Papers â€Å"Nigga what? Nigga who? Nigga what, nigga who? Switcha flow, getcha dough; can’t fuck with this Roc-a-Fella shit doe. Switcha flow, getcha dough; cant fuck with this Roc-a-Fella shit doe. Cant fuck with me. Motherfuckers wanna act loco, hit em wit, numerous shots with the fo-fo’. All night get you wide up inside the telly. (Nigga what?). Make you think you can fuck with me. (Nigga who?). Recognize girl, Jay to the Z† (AZ Lyrics). These are examples of the lyrics that many people, who listen to rap music, will hear on a daily basis. The word nigga, as it is used in this song, with an â€Å"a† at the end, means friend or homie. It was originally derived from the word nigger, which back during the days of slavery and hate, referred to all African. The problem is that many people want the word banned because is its past connotation â€Å"as an expression of affection, as a joshing taunt, as a subversive appropriation of a word that still retains its power to wound† (Taylor). The word nigga is used in the every day vocabulary of many blacks. Most choose to say it, and others do not. The problem occurs when it blacks say it to each other nonchalantly, without knowing or without caring about the historical meaning of the word. There are many blacks who believe that people who use it are ignorant regardless of how it is used, and forming what we know today as the â€Å"uppity negro,† or a black person who thinks they are better than other blacks. There is already enough competition and tension within society as it is without having to increase it within a certain race. The city of New York has put an â€Å"official moratorium, a symbolic motion which carries no fine and is partly meant to stop the term from being used casually by youth and in music, on the n-word† (Shepherd). This got many legislatures thinking about banning the word all together because â€Å"it remains a principal symbol of white racism regardless of who is using it† (Middleton). There are many people who support the idea of banning the word nigger, but there are many who believe that banning the word would be taking away our first amendment right to freedom of speech, one of the many rights blacks fought for doing the civil rights movement. Beside the fact that people are using the word toward one another, it is the fact that people are using the word without knowing its true origins. â€Å"Historically, nigger defined, limited, made fun of, and ridiculed all Blacks,† and it is this historic humiliation which irks so many and constitutes it reasoning to be banned (Middleton). But, would actually banning the word solve the problem? Then comes problem of â€Å"†¦blacks [making themselves into] prisoners of the past or the ugly words that originated in the past† (Middleton). Most blacks do not use the word nigger but instead the word nigga, but there is also the argument that â€Å"nigger is the ultimate expression of white racism and white superiority no matter how it is pronounced† (Middleton). It has gotten so bad that many people who support the ban of the word have gone to the â€Å"RIAA with a request that the Academy refrain from nominating musicians for Grammy Awards if they use the term in their lyrics†, and with this request society has no choice but to prepare for the uprising that is yet to come (Shepherd). Instead of banning a word, which constitutionally is not possible, allow the word to be recreated. Society and blacks should be allowed to recreate the word nigger into the word nigga, and show that we can take something negative and turn it into something positive; also we are not allowing the past to haunt us by banning a word, but surpassing the future by allowing it to be recreated. The word nigger has a horrible and demeaning origin, but banning the word will not get rid of the hurt that it caused many blacks so long ago, and besides â€Å"when it comes to this sort of cleaning up of history, the result is of course, to erase history itself, and thus our ability to learn anything from it,† and that is only making the problem worse because we are being limited to a history which has helped to form such a diverse and intelligent race. Blacks have come a long way from being illiterate slaves to intelligent men and women. And with this intelligence have decided to take a word that once burdened them and turned it into just an ordinary word. The word nigga â€Å"has to be understood in its situation; repeated use of the word by Blacks will make it less offensive,† and although it may have come from a hateful word, they mean two different things. I sent a questionnaire to students in my English and Criminal Justice class asking them what they felt about the issue, and about twenty-five percent said that if nigga could be recreated and added into the dictionary then anyone should be allowed to say it. Which is true, as long as those other races have a clear understanding of the root word from which the word nigga came from, and as long as it is not being used to disrespect another race. Most races which use the word are not using it to be rude or insensitive, they are using it to sound hip or cool, but blac ks seem to have this double standard of living. We still believe that we are owed our forty acres and a mule, when in reality that is the ignorance which is holding us back, not the use of the word nigga. Many people want to blame rap music for the insecurities which they feel within themselves. But â€Å"hip-hop artists rap about what they see, hear, and feel around them, their experiences of the world. â€Å"†¦their messages are a mirror of what is right and wrong with society. Sometimes their observations or the way in which they choose to express their art may be uncomfortable for some to hear, but our job is not to silence or censor that expression,† which is exactly the reason why the Academy did not listen to all of the supporters who went to the RIAA (Stokes). Yes, children grow up listening to rap music most of their lives, but it is up to the parents and teachers to teach the young children about the word nigger and what it means. Banning a word because of its origins is limiting us to our freedom of speech. The word nigger and nigga should both be allowed to be in the dictionary, with a clear understanding and distinction between the two. The word nigger has had its turn to overshadow the hard work that blacks have put into making a better name for themselves. Nigga may not be that much of a better word, but it is a word which shows uprising and empowerment. It is a word that regardless of who doesn’t like it, will not and cannot be banned. Research Papers on Recreating Society- banning the "N" wordHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCapital PunishmentQuebec and CanadaThe Spring and AutumnThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed

Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments. What’s a Theme? Why Are Themes Important? Before I get into the nitty-gritty of howThe Cruciblethemes are expressed, let's do a quick overview of what themes are and why they matter. A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. They're also revealed though events in the plot. Themes tell us what the purpose of the work is. What is the writer attempting to convey to the viewer? The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time.If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level.In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. Theme 1: Irony First off, what is irony? Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect.The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. Well, it's not. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devil’s handiwork actually perform it themselves.The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation.As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, â€Å"Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots’ cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellion’s spoke?† (Act 4, pg. 121). The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. These people are the only ones who refuse to throw out false accusations or lie about involvement in witchcraft, so they find themselves condemned (this is the fate of Rebecca Nurse). This means that much of the population that remains is comprised of the power-hungry, the selfish, and the cowardly. Act 1 There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. 22).The irony is that, in the face of John’s rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents.She puts on a fake front to get what she wants, ultimately creating a persona that’s even worse than that of the hypocrites she criticizes.Abigail’s many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods.In this act, she yells â€Å"Don’t lie!† at Tituba immediately before she tells some of the most damning lies of the play accusing Tituba of witchcraft (â€Å"She comes to me while I sleep; she’s always making me dream corruptions!† pg. 4 1). Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation.He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Betty’s affliction.Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: â€Å"You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!† (pg. 42).This â€Å"confess or die† mindset is one of the central ironies of the play.The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached.In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. Act 2 In Act 2, John Proctor’s guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery.This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so you’d think it would be the first one to spring to mind.The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the â€Å"powers of the dark† that are attacking Salem (pg. 61).This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme.Hale doesn’t realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark.Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. Act 3 In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft.While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he â€Å"dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it† (pg. 91).This â€Å"immaculate proof† that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge.These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the â€Å"evidence† that was presented to him. Abigail’s presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed.When she is brought in for questioning and claims to see Mary’s familiar spirit, she says â€Å"Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.†Abigail herself has acted out of envy for the entire play.Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor’s position as John’s wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household.John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigail’s dismissal.John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth.Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve John’s reputation, not knowing he has already confessed.This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. Act 4 Act 4 is Danforth’s turn to shine in the irony department.He is appalled by Elizabeth’s lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. 123).This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play.He refers to John’s refusal to confess as â€Å"a calamity,† looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that John’s confession may not be the truth. He insists,â€Å"I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie† (pg. 130).Of course, we know that Danforth has been trading people’s lives for lies this whole time.He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed.To Danforth, anything that doesn’t confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Discussion Questions Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: How is Parris’ fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? Why do certain characters seem to be blind to the irony of their actions (Abigail, Danforth)? Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? Explain the irony of Hale’s position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. Ironically, he is the first to demand a confession from Tituba based on Abigail's dramatic but false testimony. Theme 2: Hysteria The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem.The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment.The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because they’re beggars and slaves.No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because they’re seen as innocent children and partially because many â€Å"witches† confess to avoid the death penalty. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused.Hysteria blinds the people of Salem to reason as they become convinced that there is a grand Satanic plot brewing in town, and they must not hesitate to condemn anyone who could be involved.This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Act 1 Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community.Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children.Ann’s extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves.Hale’s involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Betty’s illness.Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. The madness begins in earnest with Abigail’s claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods.Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation.Thomas Putnam tells him to â€Å"Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.†Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. It's atoxic strategy that causes panic to spread quickly and fear for one’s life to take the place of rationality.Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other â€Å"witches† to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Betty’s accusations, now validated by a coerced confession.This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Act 2 By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft.Many people confess when threatened with execution, and this only heightens the paranoid atmosphere.The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft.Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of â€Å"evidence† of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. This hysteria-based â€Å"evidence† of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it.Elizabeth's side of the story is disregarded because Abigail’s testimony is far more dramatic."She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." (Cheever pg. 71). The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. Act 3 The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victim’s testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial.He is completely oblivious to the fact that the â€Å"victims† might be lying.The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent.Danforth is convinced that â€Å"there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!† and anyone who doubts the decisions of the court is potentially involved.They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that they’re willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer.Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment.She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her.Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria.Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that he’s in the presence of witchcraft.This leads to Mary’s hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesn’t contribute to it. Act 4 Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the court’s actions.As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse â€Å"Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin’ to keep this conspiracy any further. Will you confess yourself with him?† (pg. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he won’t name names in his confession: â€Å"Mr. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil† (pg. 130).Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed.Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Discussion Questions Here are a few questions about hysteria to consider now that you've read a summary of how this theme was expressed throughout the plot of the play: How does the hysteria in the play get started? What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigail’s story? Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? Even though there is significant reason to believe Abigail is lying about Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbing her, the frenzied investigators ignore testimony that challenges their chosen witchy narrative. Theme 3: Reputation Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible.Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives.John’s concern for his reputation is strong throughout the play, and his hesitation to reveal Abigail’s true nature is a product of his own fears of being labeled an adulterer. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong.The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. The overall message is that when a person's actions are driven by desires to preserve favorable public opinion rather than do the morally right thing, there can be extremely dire consequences. Act 1 Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Parris initially insists that there are â€Å"no unnatural causes† for Betty’s illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof.He questions Abigail aggressively because he’s worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him.Parris is very quick to position himself on the side of the accusers as soon as Abigail throws the first punch, and he immediately threatens violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. 42).He appears to have no governing system of morality. His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation.She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household.Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor.She says, "My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (pg. 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a person’s position in this society severely and irreparably. Act 2 In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations.Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. It’s easy for more respectable citizens to accept that she’s in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba.When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmer’s wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture.She’s not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway people’s opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions).Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested.This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." Hale pg. 67).People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community.The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray.Proctor’s good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesn’t deserve it. In a way,John welcomes the loss of his reputation because he feels so guilty about the disconnect between howhe is perceived by others and the sins he has committed. Act 3 John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail.This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows.Elizabeth doesn’t realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life.She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. This lie essentially condemns both of them. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. If Danforth accepts Mary’s testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail.Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Act 4 Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent.John and Rebecca’s solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials.Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned.He says, â€Å"I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town† (pg. 118). However, this runs up against Danforth’s desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge.He believes that â€Å"Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering† (pg. 119).Danforth’s image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris’ concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. The price he has to pay in reputation to save his own life is ultimately too high.He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesn’t think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. As he says,â€Å"How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!† (pg. 133) Discussion Questions Here are a few discussion questions to consider after you've read my summary of how the theme of reputation motivates characters and plot developments in The Crucible: How are characters’ behaviors affected by concern for their reputations? Is reputation more important than truth? Why doesn’t John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? How does Parris’ pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in the play? Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? Why does he decide to do so anyways? Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? If you're an old beggar woman who sometimes takes shelter in this creepy shack, you better believe these jerks are gonna turn on you as soon as anyone says the word "witch." Theme #4: Power and Authority The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events.Abigail’s power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe.Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot.She has the power to utterly destroy people’s lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church.These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation.The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. Act 1 As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem.Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority.He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control.This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation.She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority.One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctor’s wife.When she can’t get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented.No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play.Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigail’s ascent to power. Act 2 By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials.Mary Warren’s sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court.Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of â€Å"the daughter of a prince† (pg. 50).This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem.Abigail’s low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation.No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted.In one of the most well-known quotes in the play, John Proctor angrily insists that â€Å"the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom† (pg. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. Act 3 In Act 3, Abigail’s power in the courthouse is on display.She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. Though Danforth is the most powerful official figure in court, Abigail manipulates him easily with her performance as a victim of witchcraft. He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court.The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her.Logic has no power to combat paranoia and superstition even when the claims of the girls are clearly fraudulent.John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 i n despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. Act 4 By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated.Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials.He is weak and vulnerable after Abigail's theft of his life's savings, and he’s even facing death threats from the townspeople as a result of John and Rebecca's imminent executions.In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God.The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power.The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. Discussion Questions Here are some discussion questions to consider after reading about the thematic role of the concepts of power and authority in the events of the play: How do the witch trials empower individuals who were previously powerless? How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies they’re telling? Mary Warren when she comes back from Salem in Act 2 A Quick Look at Some Other The CrucibleThemes These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. I'll give a short summary of how each plays a role in the events of The Crucible. Guilt The theme of guilt is one that is deeply relevant to John Proctor's character development throughout the play. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. His guilt leads to great tension in interactions with Elizabeth because he projects his feelings onto her, accusing her of being judgmental and dwelling on his mistakes. In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!). Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. There's a message here about the choices we have in dealing with guilt. John attempts to crush his guilt instead of facing it, which only ends up making it an even more destructive factor in his life. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. Both Hale and Proctor don't want to live with the consequences of their mistakes, so they try to ignore or undo their past actions. Misogyny and Portrayal of Women Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. The attitudes towards women in the 1950s, when the play was written, are evident in the roles they're given. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. She is cast as a villain. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. She is a sensible, saintly old woman who chooses to martyr herself rather than lie and confess to witchcraft. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. The Crucible presents a view of women that essentially reduces them to caricatures of human beings that are defined by their roles as mothers, wives, and servants to men. Abigail, the one character who breaks from this mold slightly, is portrayed extremely unsympathetically despite the fa ct that the power dynamic between her and John makes him far more culpable in their illicit relationship. Deception Deception is a major driving force inThe Crucible. This includes not only accusatory lies about the involvement of others in witchcraft but also the lies that people consistently tell about their own virtuousness and purity in such a repressive society. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. AbracaDENIAL! How to Write AboutThe CrucibleThemes It's one thing to understand the major themes in The Crucible, and it's another thing completely to write about them yourself. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Some will be very direct. An example would be something like: "How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. How is Miller’s underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?" In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. Essay questions that ask about themes in this straightforward way can be tricky because there's a temptation to speak in vague terms about the theme's significance. Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. Here's another example of a potential essay question for The Crucible that's less explicit in its request for you to discuss themes of the play: "Most of the main characters in the play have personal flaws and either contribute to or end up in tragedy. Explain who you believe is the central tragic character in the play. What are their strengths and personal flaws? How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? How do outside forces contribute to the character's flaws and eventual downfall?" In this case, you're asked to discuss the concept of a tragic character, explaining who fits that mold in The Crucible and why. There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. Even with prompts that ask you to discuss a specific character or plot point, you can find ways to connect your answer to major themes. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout th e play. What's Next? Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. You can also read my full summary of The Crucible here for a review of exactly what happens in the plot in each act. The Crucible is commonly viewed as an allegorical representation of the communist "witch hunts" conducted in the 1950s. Take a look at this article for details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: