The Puritans brought with them their “strict and somber way of life” when they developed colonies in the newly-found continent of America (Miller 4). And a series of witch trials dominated the theocratic Salem during the late Seventeenth Century. These hearings were a manifestation of the clash between vengeance and honesty, where, based on the now ancient traditions, one’s reputation mattered more than their life. This story is portrayed in Arthur Miller’s Tragedy “The Crucible,” in which the characters’ names are “subjected to very high temperatures” in a “metal container,” where their true colors are shown. These names, rather than their real character, are considered of utmost importance in the community. This eventually created a paradox;
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However, this phenomenon is one of the numerous times something like this had occurred throughout history. Even recently, in the technologically and morally advanced world, the importance of one’s name wrecked havoc in the society. A series of “common but brutal” hazing rituals took place in the bus of a university band, which “cost [one student] his life” (Alvarez 1). A superstitious ceremony was developed by the band to prove each students worthy of being in the group. During this “formality,” the students are pummeled and clubbed by other band members with hands, drumsticks, and other band equipment. Even if someone was “reluctant to participate,” they “were singled out to cross the bus” (Alvarez 10). Similar to the trials in “The Crucible,” these rituals relied upon the need for reputation as an alternative to virtue. The student attempted to “[get] the respect of people, just acceptance,” by crossing the bus, but it took his life instead. These experiences, both from incidents that occurred in real life, prove that the importance in reputation rather than the truth would result chaos. And this “occasion of severe test” would result in the death of, one, if not the deaths of
However, this phenomenon is one of the numerous times something like this had occurred throughout history. Even recently, in the technologically and morally advanced world, the importance of one’s name wrecked havoc in the society. A series of “common but brutal” hazing rituals took place in the bus of a university band, which “cost [one student] his life” (Alvarez 1). A superstitious ceremony was developed by the band to prove each students worthy of being in the group. During this “formality,” the students are pummeled and clubbed by other band members with hands, drumsticks, and other band equipment. Even if someone was “reluctant to participate,” they “were singled out to cross the bus” (Alvarez 10). Similar to the trials in “The Crucible,” these rituals relied upon the need for reputation as an alternative to virtue. The student attempted to “[get] the respect of people, just acceptance,” by crossing the bus, but it took his life instead. These experiences, both from incidents that occurred in real life, prove that the importance in reputation rather than the truth would result chaos. And this “occasion of severe test” would result in the death of, one, if not the deaths of