91- Word Response

“I think it’s the kind of event that replays itself throughout history cultures come under stress. When societies come under stress these kinds of things happen. People start looking around for essentially human sacrifices. They start looking around for somebody they can blame. And they feel if only they can demolish that person, then everything’s going to be okay.” (Margaret Atwood in her interview with Bill Moyers)

Instructions:

Read the excerpt from Margaret Atwood’s interview with Bill Moyers (above).

Consider this: Like Atwood (author of “Half-Hanged Mary”), Miller writes about what he perceives to be an unresolvable struggle between society’s desire for order and justice, prejudice and tolerance, and our tendency to sacrifice others to “save” ourselves.

Using at least two of the sources below for proof/evidence – defend, challenge or qualify the idea that a society under stress will always scapegoat a person or a group of people. You can add ideas from your own experience, or from your knowledge of history or current events. You should attribute both direct and indirect citations.

Sources (Choose Two):  The Crucible by Arthur Miller  Excerpt from Timebends by Arthur Miller (explanation on why he wrote The Crucible)  “Half-Hanged Mary” by Margaret Atwood (poem)  Biblical Allusion – Pontius Pilot (Proctor compares Rev. Hale to Pontius Pilot in Act II)

Requirements:

1. 91 words (no more no less) 2. MLA Format (heading, title, double-spaced, header, etc.) 3. Typed 4. Grammatically flawless 5. Your 91-word response is due by the end of class, Thursday, September 22. 6. Last time to resubmit your 91-word response is due by the end of class, Thursday, September 29.

Value:

Major Grade