Shadow Box
Artist statement
12/15/10
This picture is supposed to depict Mary (the girl in front) calling out to the girls in the back round (Abigail and others) who are acting as though they are being tortured, even though Mary is crying with fear and desperation. It is a very emotional scene and hard to capture in such a simple frame but I've done my best.
As media I used thick brown, dark brown, and black paper, yellow tissue paper, black paint, and glue.
Artist statement
12/15/10
This picture is supposed to depict Mary (the girl in front) calling out to the girls in the back round (Abigail and others) who are acting as though they are being tortured, even though Mary is crying with fear and desperation. It is a very emotional scene and hard to capture in such a simple frame but I've done my best.
As media I used thick brown, dark brown, and black paper, yellow tissue paper, black paint, and glue.
The Crucible final project
Cypress Ellen
10/25/10
#20
Mary's point of view
When Mr. Proctor asked, no, ordered me to, I knew I was a soldier,
entering a battle I would never win. Neither with him, nor with Abby.
Something would give, and that something might just be my life.
I answered all the questions in a tone that was almost mute. I were
scared. I thought I might die. I was hopin' I might sink into the floor, never
to return, and thus leave the mess behind. Or that time might stop for me
so I could run and run and run and never return. But time kept movin'.
Much much faster than it should have.
And then Abby came. As soon as I saw her face I knew what she would
do. No, really I had known all along.
I began to tremble terribly.
They asked me to faint, but I could not do it. I had pretended, I knew it, I
knew it desperately, like it were my only hope.
It was.
They did not believe me, they did not want to believe me! I began to
cry, but they did not believe.
I was afraid, trembling, sobbing, uncontrollable, a mere child who
could understand nothing but fear. But I could not faint! And the court
would not believe me! And Abby...
Her face was a stone, cracked slightly with anger. Beneath that I knew
there was fear. But she had power. And she used it.
They began to pretend.
“Stop it Abby!!” I yelled, but they would not stop. Instead the yelled
back as though I were witchin' them to do so.
“Stop it Abby!!” They cried pitifully.
I shouted and they shouted back. I cried and they cried as well. But
they did not cry with me. It was a war of tears! Each of us trying to be
more humble, more pathetic, more hurt that the other.
But I had already lost before I even began.
The Crucible Final Project
Cypress Ellen
10/26/10
Abigail's point of view
When I walked in, I didn't really know what to expect. I was led into the court room unsure of why, until I saw her.
Mary.
I saw her cowering, sniveling, and next to John Proctor. I glanced at him, desperate for a moment. Then, when he remained stony, I composed myself and remembered.
I had the power here.
I would win.
John would be mine, or if he would not, he would die.
And Elizabeth, she certainly would die. I would see her gone.
But this mattered not at the time. I had to focus. I couldn't believe what Mary was doing. She had betrayed me. She would pay.
I sat down elegantly, like a queen or a saint would. I felt majestic even in my contempt of those who opposed me.
“Now this girl, who was once complaining with you, has come again to say that what she did was a lie. That she was just pretending and that the rest of you are as well. What do you say to this?” The judge Danforth stopped in front of me, giving me the perfect invitation to speak. The judges would not go against me; they believed me as I believed myself. Somewhere deep in my heart I knew this was all a lie, that there were no witches among the women I had killed. They knew this too. But why was it my fault? I had not killed them! I had never thought of such a thing! I had only meant to save myself. And to rid John of Elizabeth. The others’ deaths had nothing to do with me. For all I know, they might be witches after all.
I had never liked them anyway.
“She is lying sir. Everything I have spoken is the absolute truth.” My voice was clear and without hesitation, though I cannot omit my irritation.
Inside I am thinking two things, neither of which have anything to do with what I am saying.
I am terrified.
I want power.
Cypress Ellen
10/26/10
Abigail's point of view
When I walked in, I didn't really know what to expect. I was led into the court room unsure of why, until I saw her.
Mary.
I saw her cowering, sniveling, and next to John Proctor. I glanced at him, desperate for a moment. Then, when he remained stony, I composed myself and remembered.
I had the power here.
I would win.
John would be mine, or if he would not, he would die.
And Elizabeth, she certainly would die. I would see her gone.
But this mattered not at the time. I had to focus. I couldn't believe what Mary was doing. She had betrayed me. She would pay.
I sat down elegantly, like a queen or a saint would. I felt majestic even in my contempt of those who opposed me.
“Now this girl, who was once complaining with you, has come again to say that what she did was a lie. That she was just pretending and that the rest of you are as well. What do you say to this?” The judge Danforth stopped in front of me, giving me the perfect invitation to speak. The judges would not go against me; they believed me as I believed myself. Somewhere deep in my heart I knew this was all a lie, that there were no witches among the women I had killed. They knew this too. But why was it my fault? I had not killed them! I had never thought of such a thing! I had only meant to save myself. And to rid John of Elizabeth. The others’ deaths had nothing to do with me. For all I know, they might be witches after all.
I had never liked them anyway.
“She is lying sir. Everything I have spoken is the absolute truth.” My voice was clear and without hesitation, though I cannot omit my irritation.
Inside I am thinking two things, neither of which have anything to do with what I am saying.
I am terrified.
I want power.