Park 1

Annika Park

Mr.Smith

Junior English - A Block

12 April 2023

Rebelling against the government can be effective

Thesis:

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller and “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David

Thoreau, both authors agree on the importance of the action from principle to stand up against an

injustice; Thoreau believes that there is only so much one can do to ensure change while Miller

thinks that any way you rebel is effective.

Start Body Paragraphs:

Thoreau claims that one should rebel against preset norms if one feels change is needed

by breaking the law. Thoreau describes when someone should take action when he says, “Action

from principle, the perception and the performance of right, changes things and relations”

(Thoreau). Taking action against the government can often lead to positive changes in society. If

someone feels strongly about a law or idea that is wrong or unjust they should do anything in

their power to change it even if there will be repercussions. Thoreau, in particular, rebels by not

paying his taxes as he feels no one should support a government that believes in slavery. He does

this in hopes that the government will not continue to function without the financial support it

needs. To further demonstrate Thoreau's beliefs he feels the law must be broken to effect change.

Thoreau speaks his opinion on the law when he states, “Then, I say, break the law” (Thoreau),

leading to the idea that if someone feels that a law or idea is unjust, then rebelling against it is a
 Park 2

justified action. They should be the ones to stop the government and or system from allowing

these laws to be in place. Thoreau breaks the law (by not paying taxes) because he believes that

change is needed in the government. It is the only way to get people to see what is happening and

why things need to be changed. It is revealed that individuals have a moral obligation to not

blindly follow the rule of law.

Miller illustrates the importance of rebelling against unjust norms through the characters.

During the trial, Proctor brings out a petition and says, “It's a sort of testament. The people

signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca, and my wife, and Martha Corey” (Miller 86). In

this community, the church is their government and their form of authority. Proctor rebelling

against the church is one and the same as going against society's government. In Puritan society,

the Bible has this apparent injustice that witchcraft exists, and Proctor trying to speak against it

demonstrates rebellion. He is rebelling to save his close friends and stop the continuation of

injustice. Similar to standing up against the Bible's injustices, Proctor also tries to defend his

name. When being forced to confess to witchcraft John Proctor states, “Because it is my name!

Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not

worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!” (Miller 133). If he confesses to committing

witchcraft, he will be sentenced to death. Although he knows it was not right to lie, he also

knows he is supporting an idea he doesn't believe in if he confessed. He rebelled against the law

and stood up for what he believed in. Proctor standing up for what he believes in and trying to

stop unjust actions proves Miller finds importance in rebelling when society goes against one's

morals.

While Miller and Thoreau both believe action against principle is necessary for a society,

they disagree with the types of actions that can be taken. Thoreau's act of civil disobedience (not
 Park 3

paying his taxes) is similar to John Proctors' religious disobedience as they both go against their

own government's ideas. The authors, however, have different ideas on what actions can be taken

that are effective. Thoreau believes that someone can only break the law, and they can't wait for

everyone else and need to remove themselves from the system to ensure the change will happen.

He believes that petitioning against the government isn't an effective way to rebel. Breaking the

law is the only way to enact change because, inside a democratic government, petitions can

move very slow throughout the branches and can be easily denied. On the contrary, Miller

creates events where someone works within the system (Proctor giving the court a petition)

which proves to be at least partially effective. Proctor is a contributing factor to Reverend Hale’s

changed view on witchcraft. This shows that bringing a petition to the government can cause a

change in the minds of some people. Miller and Thoreau both share the core ideas that rebelling

against the government is the only way to bring change. But they disagree with the effectiveness

of petitioning. Thoreau feels it's ineffective because of the uncertainty of it being approved.

While Miller thinks it can be effective as John Proctor contributed to the changing parts of the

government's minds.
 Park 4

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. 2000. The Crucible. Penguin Modern Classics. London, England: Penguin

Classics.

Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862. Walden ; and, Civil Disobedience : Complete Texts with

Introduction, Historical Contexts, Critical Essays. Boston :Houghton Mifflin, 2000.

 Park 5

Rubric
Skill Not Foundational Proficient Advanced
Yet

Identifies a topic Makes a statement Makes a complex

that answers the statement that
Thesis/Claim essential question or answers the
relates to the conflict essential question or
of man versus relates to the conflict
society of man versus
society; addresses a
nuance or limitation
of the claim

Includes evidence Includes multiple Includes specific,

from one or less of pieces of evidence meaningful, and
the texts from both texts that well-chosen
Evidence relates to the thesis evidence that relates
Some evidence to the thesis
relates to the thesis

Summarizes sources Explains how Explains

evidence supports well-selected points
Analysis/ topic sentence of of comparison
Synthesis individual among sources and
paragraphs and evidence and their
thesis/essential connection to the
question thesis/essential
question
Explains how the
texts/sources are
related, though
points could be more
selective or better
developed
 Park 6

Includes elements of a At least three Follows paragraph

Organization multi-paragraph paragraphs with clear organization and is
response topic sentences, organized to show how
transitions, and ideas build on one
concluding statements another
that return to the
thesis/essential
question

Shows evidence of Most quotes are All quotes are

basic proofreading correctly integrated correctly integrated

Follows essay Shows evidence of

Conventions
organization careful proofreading

Shows evidence of
proofreading