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Right Choice or Wrong?

Learning about thinking: To make any decision, a person must first identify the alternatives, determine the pros and cons of each alternative, predict consequences of each, and determine criteria to evaluate each. Some decisions, such as what kind of car to buy, can be made purely on the basis of which alternative is most practical, useful and beneficial. Moral decision making, however, is more complex because it involves evaluating whether the choices are moral or immoral. A person must use his or her own system of moral values to decide which options are right and wrong.

Thinking about the play: In Act Four, John Proctor must make a moral decision that will have profound consequences for both himself and others.

A. In the chart below, describe the pros and cons of each choice.

Choice Pros Cons Falsely  He lives  The court would be confessing  He might save the lives of others by benefitted/supported to encouraging them to confess  His reputation would be ruined witchcraft  He would be around to parent his  His confession would be posted on children and be with his family the church door  He would get to meet his unborn child  Would look incriminating to other  He would be able to help or rebuild his people in the community relationship with his wife  Commit a sin in lying  He would be dead  Would betray himself  Would minimize actions of others (would make them look less saintly) who were willing to die rather than confess to witchcraft Continuing  He can retain his dignity – Elizabeth  He doesn’t think he’s a saint and to deny the says he has his goodness now doesn’t want to be considered a saint charge of  Wouldn’t feel guilty  He would be dead, obviously witchcraft  Would stay true to himself   Would be supportive to other innocent but accused people – united front  Could start some sort of rebellion regarding the court – like in Andover  He is a martyr and hero  Importance of serving as a role model for his sons and other people

B. From a purely practical standpoint, which choice makes more sense? Why does Proctor hesitate to make that choice?

 Lie to live seems like the obvious choice  then Proctor would live.

 He hesitates to make this choice because he wants to protect his dignity (his name), to serve as a model to his family, and to support those who have died before him and those who have been falsely accused.

C. What is Reverend Hale’s attitude toward the choice Proctor has to make?  Hale advises Proctor to lie and live – says God may damn a liar less than someone who throws his life away for a principle.

D. What is Rebecca Nurse’s attitude toward the choice Proctor has to make?

 Rebecca Nurse tells Proctor to not fear anything because another judgment awaits them all, meaning that God will judge him later and Proctor should not be afraid. Rebecca is all good – believes in moral absolutes.

E. Explain why Elizabeth Proctor will not help her husband make up his mind even though she has strong feelings on the subject.

 Elizabeth herself wouldn’t lie to save herself. She does not help Proctor make up his mind because she wants the decision to be solely Proctor’s – it’s a life-and-death decision. She tells him the magistrate sits in his heart – he must make the decision for himself.

Tomorrow you will type a paragraph in which you take a position, support your position with evidence and include a counterargument. Begin to plan your ideas on the attached page. Writing about the play: Do you think that Proctor makes the right choice? On a separate piece of paper, explain your reasoning in detail. Consider the moral values explored in the play.

Topic sentence/claim: Proctor makes the right /wrong decision because ______

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Reason 1 /Detail / Fact with Transition:

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Explain: ______

______Reason 2 /Detail / Fact with Transition:

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Explain: ______

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Reason 3 /Detail / Fact with Transition:

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Explain: ______

______Counterargument: (leave blank for now)

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Refute (disprove) the Counterargument: ______

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Conclusion with concluding phrase ______

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