Looking back on Puritans, it’s easy (and common) to just say that they were uptight, incredibly strict, unbearably constricting, and that their ways of life were a thing of the past. However, that's not always true. Elements of the Puritan lifestyle and social norms are present in modern cultures and societies today.

“Modern Puritanism” still exists in the sense of a theocracy and having no separation between church and state is really prevalent in the Middle East. Sharia, or Islamic law, has a huge influence on the laws and constitutions of Islamic nations. For example, countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Iran Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Algeria have no separation between church and state. All laws and crimes are judged and according to sharia. A strong parallel to the Scarlet Letter is that civil and social functions are also governed by sharia.

Another parallel exists between sharia and the theocracy of Puritanism seen in The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter: a new generation starting to break off from the traditional system. Muslim countries, like Egypt, who have just overthrown the previously super strict regime are struggling with ideas of secularity and sharia in the drafting of their new constitution. The newer generations are considerably more "Western" and secularly minded, and they are starting to diverge from the traditional laws and constrictions of sharia.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor starts out the play as a "social hero" in Salem. Even though he isn't a textbook Puritan, he is well liked in the town because he is viewed as an honest, honorable man. Proctor isn't afraid to speak his mind, which attracts an unofficial following of people who look up to him as an aspirational figure.

Like all heroes, John Proctor had a fatal flaw: lust. His attraction to his young maid lead to a not-so-secret affair with Abigail Williams, the reverend's teenage niece. His momentary inability to not get caught up in his emotions and the moment gives Abigail a spark of hope that they can be together, unintentionally starting the talk of witchcraft in Salem after Abby drinks a charm to kill his wife.

John's priorities are tested when his own wife is accused of witchcraft and brought to trial before the town. In the middle of the play, John is faced with the decision to either save his wife (and potentially other women convicted of witchcraft) or save his reputation and keep the affair a secret. John finally decides to admit to his affair with Abigail after he thinks the trials are going too far and are putting too many innocent people's lives on the line.

John ends the play as the tragic hero of the witch trials. Convicted himself of witchcraft, he refuses to give a false confession and is sentenced to be hung. John's ability to keep to his word and stick to his morals is truly honorable and heroic, especially because he knew he could save his own life if he accused someone else.vJohn's personal integrity shows and validates the strength of his faith and his morals, both of which where tried multiple times in the play.

There Goes The Neighborhood

Urban Dictionary defines the saying "there goes the neighborhood" as "the first you-name-the-ethnic-group has moved in, and the racist neighbors are restless." This definition definitely rings true with the interactions between the native americans and the european explorers. Both sides were quick to jump to conclusions about the other group based on superficial observations and a fear of the unknown. Both sides were quick to isolate themselves from the foreigners and, as a result, had countless misconceptions that fed both positive and negative stereotypes, prejudice, and profiling. 

The majority of clash that happened between the groups was not because the cultures or people were too different; the clash between the natives and the explorers was caused by ignorance. Neither side heard the other out. If there was some connection and impartial communications between the native americans and the europeans, there would have been a better chance of them seeing the situation as less black and white. Bridging the gap between monotheism and polytheism, for example, and identifying that both religions had common values and roots, could have eased some of the animosity and tension. 

Education and personal narratives are they key to teaching coexistence and tolerance. Last year, I was able to not only study the history and multiple narratives of the Jewish-Muslim Israeli dynamic, but witness the relationships between the two groups firsthand. The misconceptions, lack of communication, stereotypes, prejudice, religious differences, hostile encounters, land/territory conflicts, and segregation on both the Jewish and Muslim sides parallel that of the Natives and Europeans. Add that to not only the political issues between the Palestinians and Israelis, but the entire Arab world/region... and you get a world of hostility and disconnect. All of the coexistence efforts I visited and learned about focussed on education: educating both sides about both religions, narratives, common goals, fundamental similarities. Supplementing the knowledge with personal stories of loss, regret, hopes, and goals add a dimension of reality to the relationship and makes coexistence more than just something on pen and paper: a necessity. 

Obviously, even if there was a better understanding of the others' views, some clash would still have been unavoidable between the Natives and explorers. Even now, with technology and the ability to look back on the way things played out, there are still negative stigmas associated with Native Americans and Americans of European descent on both sides. Especially after reading Susan Powers' narrative in Museum Indians, it is apparent that even in todays society there are physical and mental barriers that separate Native Americans from society as a whole. Reservations are an example of both: not only to they literally segregate Native Americans, but they attribute to negative stigmas of Natives such as that they are uneducated, poor, and unlike the "common American."

On the same token, there have been many recent strides in pop culture and mainstream media to familiarize all of America with Native Americans and bridge the gaps between cultures. On Season Eleven of Project Runway, Native American Patricia Michaels used traditional techniques, concepts, aesthetics, and cultural influences in all of her designs. She made it her personal mission to keep true to her roots and represent the Native American community.