Guilt in American Literature
Guilt is a powerful yet scary feeling that could do good or damage to one's mind. The meaning of guilt throughout these four stories all comes to a strong decision but eventually would be for the better of the person. In each story the characters are all put into a decision that would cause them to feel the guiltiness of not making the best one. In American literature, Guilt is a theme found commonly among books in past and present day society.
In “The Crucible” John Proctor thinks that he may have feelings for Abigail, Then eventually realizes the “feelings” he had were only signs of lust (Miller 920). John knew that Abbi was much younger than him also knowing the consequences (Miller 920). John and his wife had grown distant from each other which had been the cause of the affair with Abby. Later down the road Proctor knows this could be a big problem as Abigail has fallen in love and he only feels guilt. John wants all of this to stay a secret but Abbi is so deeply in “love” she will do anything to keep him away from …show more content…
“Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But i will cut off my hand before i'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller 922). John says this to Abby because he knows that he can never take the chance of getting in trouble with the “law” considering at that time in history you would be killed for the littlest thing. “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you more (Miller 922)”. John repeatedly tells Abby that he can’t go back and be foolish with her. He realizes this when he figures out that she could turn him in for adultery because it seemed the girls’s word meant more to the judge than the men's. John however is ashamed for his actions and later on would feel the guilt of never being able to take back what he has done with Abby. In “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” Mr. Shiftlet is a guy who is just looking for a place to stay. Coming across
Guilt is a powerful yet scary feeling that could do good or damage to one's mind. The meaning of guilt throughout these four stories all comes to a strong decision but eventually would be for the better of the person. In each story the characters are all put into a decision that would cause them to feel the guiltiness of not making the best one. In American literature, Guilt is a theme found commonly among books in past and present day society.
In “The Crucible” John Proctor thinks that he may have feelings for Abigail, Then eventually realizes the “feelings” he had were only signs of lust (Miller 920). John knew that Abbi was much younger than him also knowing the consequences (Miller 920). John and his wife had grown distant from each other which had been the cause of the affair with Abby. Later down the road Proctor knows this could be a big problem as Abigail has fallen in love and he only feels guilt. John wants all of this to stay a secret but Abbi is so deeply in “love” she will do anything to keep him away from …show more content…
“Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But i will cut off my hand before i'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller 922). John says this to Abby because he knows that he can never take the chance of getting in trouble with the “law” considering at that time in history you would be killed for the littlest thing. “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you more (Miller 922)”. John repeatedly tells Abby that he can’t go back and be foolish with her. He realizes this when he figures out that she could turn him in for adultery because it seemed the girls’s word meant more to the judge than the men's. John however is ashamed for his actions and later on would feel the guilt of never being able to take back what he has done with Abby. In “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” Mr. Shiftlet is a guy who is just looking for a place to stay. Coming across