How Equal Are People In America Today?

  The people who live in America are not as equal as the Founding Fathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence claims they are. Minorities, immigrants, and women are all, even today, at a lesser stature than their fellow white male counterparts. In the movie "Gran Torino", a family of Hmong immigrants reside in an old, run-down, decrepit neighborhood overrun by gangs of different racial backgrounds. The violence and poor living conditions of this neighborhood of immigrants displays the inequality still faced by many Americans today, because for many immigrants, impoverished neighborhoods are the only places accessible to them to settle down and try to make a living. On the other hand, the social aspect of the immigrants portrayed in "Gran Torino" also proves the claims that all men are created equal in America wrong. Walt, the only white man living in the neighborhood, starts out by treating his Hmong neighbors like the dirt beneath his feet, because of the time he spent serving in the Korean War. He refers to them with a plethora of racial slurs, demonstrating that those of different races and those in the minority in America are still considered to be "less-than" Caucasian Americans by some people. This means that there are still instances of inequality in this country, even in present day. The economic and social statuses of immigrants and minorities in present-day America, as displayed in the 2008 movie "Gran Torino", prove that not all Americans are truly equal like this country claims that they are.

The Crucible Act III Purpose

   Arthur Miller's purpose in Act Three is to show how it is sometimes best to keep quiet in order to protect yourself or the ones you love. An example of this is when Giles refuses to give any names in the dispute over land with the Putnams. He says: "I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife's name once and I'll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute" (Miller, 90). This demonstrates Miller's purpose because Giles previously made the mistake of mentioning his wife, who is now under questioning, and now he realizes that he must remain silent in order to protect the other innocent people. Another example of Arthur Miller's purpose in this act is when John Proctor, in his anger, suddenly accuses Abigail of being a whore, and then realizes that he must confess to the court that he had had an affair with her. The line and stage direction that go with this are as follows: "PROCTOR, trembling, his life collapsing around him: I have known her, sir. I have known her" (Miller, 102). This exemplifies Miller's purpose because, since Proctor made the sudden accusation of harlotry against Abigail, now he must confess to committing adultery, and therefore potentially ruining his own life in the process. The purpose of Act Three is shown through several of the characters in the scene making the situation much worse for themselves and their loved ones when they speak up, instead of staying quiet.