Draft1: Comparative Essay

Darkness engulfs society as personal aspirations, and manipulation leaves their mark upon society. John Connolly and Arthur Miller in their respective works have incorporated manipulation to emphasize the presence of evil as both stories unfold. Personal aspirations and manipulation have led to society’s bombardment of evil as protagonists are left with a last stand against evil. Most importantly, all writers who have spent a number of months on a novel or play can admit to the importance of character development.

Mischief, otherwise known as the Crooked Man in the Book of Lost Things represents the main antagonist as Abigail Williams has in the Crucible. The Crooked Man is known as the manipulator of mankind as he had cost the lives of many throughout the course of his life. The Crooked Man is a person that uses manipulation toward his advantage, throughout the entire course of the story in order to get David (protagonist) to give up his brother’s name. By giving up his brother’s name The Crooked Man can live the lifespan of the young child. This process of manipulation takes place in such a way that David starts to build hatred toward his brother. The Crooked man, whose actions are all intent on the benefit of him, goes on all fours in his attempts to corrupt David. If compared closely, the Devil (Lucifer) can be compared to Crooked Man, as the devil is always looking to ensnare mankind from righteous paths. No matter how hard mankind fights against the inner devil, the devil persists to torture mankind both mentally and physically. This torture is felt by David in the Book of Lost Things, as David falls apart due to hysteria, life lessons along the way help him strengthen his clout on the Crooked Man who eventually dies.

Abigail Williams is a person of self aspiration as all her ill actions are intent on regaining Mr. Proctor for herself. “I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” Abigail spent the first act worrying desperately about the possibility of being disgraced for having cast charms with her friends in the forest. Tituba's confession, however, offers an example of a way out, and Abigail takes it. She confesses to associate with the Devil, which, according to the beliefs of Salem, means that she is redeemed and free from guilt. Then, as the next step in clearing herself of sin, she accuses others of being witches, thus shifting the burden of shame from her shoulders to those she names. These show prime intentions of evil as manipulation has once again started to bring mass hysteria upon society; with these accusations even the innocent is punished. Seeing Abigail's success, the other girls follow suit, and with this pattern of hysterical, self-serving accusations, the witch trials get started. All this corruption and hysteria were because of her lust for John Proctor for whom she had once worked; this lust eventually results in her black magic in order to kill his wife Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail Williams’s clout upon society subsequent to her confession was determined to make everyone in the village pay for bad mouthing her of Adultery although it was the truth, as revealed in the following quote. “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!”

As the darkness had grown immense, light at the end of the tunnel had helped David break through and eventually over throw evil. It takes the good to have character; having character simply means that you are honorable and honest, have integrity and are reliable and responsible. Most importantly it means that you are courageous and determined to finish what had been started by oneself and this is the side of the spectrum where David falls. Unlike Jonathan Tulvey who had seemed to lack this character, which eventually led to his downfall and corruption. Ever since David’s entrance into the new world his challenge had been to develop character, and throughout his journey David discovers the inner beauty that is within him. The unique character that David had discovered within him, helped him overcome the mental and physical temptations of the Crooked Man. “Do not judge a book by its cover,” is a common quote that everyone has heard throughout their lives, however, the Crooked Man had not understood the meaning behind this quote. Upon David’s initial arrival, the Crooked Man was convinced that his intentions would succeed; however, the Crooked Man soon realizes that it was a grave mistake and as a result loses his life.

John Proctor is the protagonist in the Crucible’s tragedy. Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, a lethal flaw. The only light to the tragedy relies on Proctor’s statement, but that statement comes with a price as it will ruin his name; Proctor is a proud man who pays great emphasis to his reputation. By the time Proctor finally realizes that he must reveal the secret, it had been too late, and matters have gone too far and not even the truth can spear open the truth from the frenzy that Abigail had whipped up. Proctor’s immense pride and fear of public opinion compelled him to withhold his adultery from the court, but by the end of the play he is more concerned with his personal integrity than his public reputation. Proctor still wants to save his name, but for personal and religious, rather than public, reasons. Proctor's refusal to provide a false confession is a true religious and personal stand. This personal stand is the final stand against evil, as Abigail prevails and all good is lost in the trials. Society only realizes this truth once Abigail flees in the final scene, absconding with the money of Parris. Proctors presence was the only light in the play, which was immersed in darkness, and with Proctor’s tragic last stand gone astray, society had fallen to the hands of evil and the play ends a tragedy.

"Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree."(Abraham Lincoln) Personal aspirations and manipulation are two powerful characteristics of individuals that lead to corruption. As both stories have unfolded the audience is able to realize the differences between good and evil as major events unravel the truth behind personal aspiration and manipulation. These two characteristics corrupt society although one novel overcomes this corruption, another has fallen prey.