1. Kimberly Mena
A Symbol in a Story
In the The Crucible, there are many objects that symbolize things and can be interpreted
in many different ways. I would like to concentrate on a word that I felt was a very strong
symbol throughout the whole story. That word in the title and that word is crucible. I remember
hearing that word in chemistry class, “Use your crucible tongs to flip over the penny.” I realized
that I had no idea what the word crucible meant and perhaps if I understood the word crucible, I
would understand the story better. The word crucible is interpreted as a literal symbol because it
is what actually happens in the story.
The definition of crucible is a heat resistant container used to test the purity of certain
substances via high temperatures. Throughout the story, Salem residents became symbols of
crucibles. They were put on trial which is like the temperature being raised and once they
confessed they were thought of as pure and faithful. It was hard for many of them to success
because they had absolutely nothing to do with the devil. However, I believe some of the people
created false confessions in order to live a little bit longer. Some people even pushed the guilt
onto other people in order to save themselves.
The only true crucible in the story was probably John Proctor. He was the one character
that was placed the most tests and everything lied heavily on his confession. In the end, Proctor
chose death because he knew he was impure but he didn’t want to commit a false confession.
Proctor was probably the purist of them all because he didn’t commit a false confession due to
selfishness. He would have rather died than be selfish and that was what made him very pure.
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2. Kimberly Mena
Symbols for Myself
I am many things and people have mentioned many things in the past that I symbolize. I
am going to concentrate on the words bright and counselor, as well as being a diary. I have been
familiar with the word bright all throughout my lifetime. When I would go to get my report card
with my parents, my teachers would always say I was a very bright girl. This is probably true
since I am Hispanic and I was raised as an American. I learned Spanish before learning English
but I can speak English and write it more easily than Spanish. Throughout my years I have
remained in honors classes with good grades and the potential to be whatever or whoever I want
to be thanks to my ability to learn. The word bright is a conventional symbol because it has been
used all throughout history to describe intelligent people.
The word counselor and diary fit together like pieces of a puzzle. I have many friends and
I am the one that they tell all their secrets to. I have one friend in particular that calls me her
diary because the first person she tells the latest issue and problem to is me. Usually I am the one
that has to counsel my friends and tell them what to do and what not to do in certain situations. I
have to tell them what is wrong and what is right and sometimes I give them advice. I am always
there for my friends to lend an ear but I am also there to share my voice and consol them. All
throughout my life I have been there to help others. The symbol of a diary is a private symbol for
me but it has been turning into a conventional symbol as time progresses.
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