Pit and the Pendulum alternate ending

As the fiery stones were moments away from pushing me into the abyss, I saw a slit open in the wall ahead. My captors have decided to watch my demise. All of the sudden a mad idea crossed my brain, so mad it just might work. I had to time my jump just right or else I would surely fall to my death. The Pendulum was at its lowest directly over the pit so when it made its next pass I leaped for it. I made it and just barely cleared the razor sharp  blade at its base and clung to the arm. I could almost sense the shock of my captors, and in their hesitation I began to climb the arm of the Pendulum. Up an up I climbed until all I saw below me was a fiery square that encased the pit that was meant to be my tomb. The higher I went, an eerie silence set in. It must have been one hundred feet before I finally reached the top of the arm. Here I found a hatch out of the room. I enter a maze of corridors that led in all directions. I noticed a guard coming through on a patrol of the halls and waited for him to pass. I subdued him with a crushing blow to the head with a rock I found on the ground. Now armed with his sword and torch I was ready to face my captors. I slowly made my way down until I reached their control room. Once inside, I mercilessly slaughtered them except for one. I took this ones robes, broke his legs, and tossed him into the dungeon he had put me in. Then donning his robes, I walked right out of the dungeon. The light at the surface was blinding, but the feeling of freedom along with the fresh air made it well worth it. The rest of my day I spent far away from this place, but I never forgot my ordeal and supported general Lassalle's efforts to end the inquisition with my lucrative trade business.

Crucible Reflection

The Crucible was a surprisingly enjoyable play to read in class; it is so much easier to read than Shakespeare. I found the trials particularly interesting. Its crazy to think that a devout religious society like the Puritans could murder people in the name of God. I think its ridiculous that they based the trials off of here-say and circumstantial evidence rather than hard proof when peoples lives were on the line. Abigail's word was treated like a prophet's and nothing could disprove it. For the judges to go along with her when she had all the motive in the world to get rid of the people that were on trial seems unreal and that it could never happen. Yet numerous other times mass hysteria has caused unjust things such as the HUAC trials in the 50s. Another interesting thing to think about is how people justify horrible things such as the witch trials with the will of God. Time and time again throughout history people promote their own selfish agenda under the guise of religion. Overall, the trials in the Crucible and the real Salem witch trials have a lesson to be learned that when mass hysteria is about conventional thinking goes out the window and the most radical things are held up as acceptable.     

Political Climate in the 50s

Red Scare Video
This video was done by a student for a history class, and I thought it was pretty well put together. It addresses the Red Scare and spread of Communism. I found the Anti-Communist music at the beginning interesting in that people were so far against Communism that they even wrote songs about it. Another surprising part of the video was the numerous photos of the masses of Communist at gatherings in other countries. I also learned that the FBI helped McCarthy illegally obtain information about the Communists which would coincide with the fact that J Edgar Hoover was willing to bend rules in order to keep America safe. Although I feel as if the Communists in America were so few that they didn't pose a legitimate threat to national security. Nevertheless, the HUAC trials and the spread of Communism created an unhealthy fear in America that would last for a long time. I think people today joke around about the Red Scare because some of the things going on at the time were pretty ironic or comical, but it's important to remember the Red Scare did have serious consequences that wrecked many peoples lives and reputations.