Journal #7- Bullying

Bullying can have major effects on both the bully and the victim.  This impact can be both physical and emotional.  The bully normally starts with an identity problem that leads them to take these actions against other people.  They believe that bullying other people will make them feel better, when really it does not.  Bullying often leads to more hurt feelings on both sides and the bully's integrity of themselves is decreased because of their actions.  The victim on the other hand may be effected either physically, emotionally,  or even  both.  The bully could physically hurt the victim by beating them up or he could just say hurtful comments.  Either way, the victim is often left scarred and feels inferior to everyone else after an effect like this.  The victim learns to fear the bully and avoid him as much as possible.  Bullies and victims are seen in many pieces of literature including The Crucible.  Abigail can be considered a bully because she causes so many families to be broken apart and the town split between ideas.  Her identity problem of wanting Proctor, but not getting him led her to take these actions.  As she continued to go with the "witchcraft" idea, she fell farther into the pit she was digging herself.  Being a bully in this case, caused her to lose her child innocence and integrity to her God and community.  Though others did not know she was acting, God did who would judge her in the end.  Puritan life was centered around God and following his commands.  By starting this "witchcraft" Abigail had bullied and lied to her own society to try to fit in.  The victims were the countless souls that she and the other girls accused of witchcraft.  There lifes were destroyed by either actual death by hanging, or life in prison.  Even if they confessed, they had to deal with the guilt of lying.  Bullying as seen in The Crucible can lead to major consequences for both the bully and the victim.