Critical Lens

Joseph Ng

A statement can describe different pieces of literature. The saying by Robert Burns, "Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn" describes the books "The Crucible", and "Romeo and Juliet". The statement conveys the idea that an action by a man done to another can make thousands mourn.

"The Crucible", takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, during the colonial times where Puritans lived. The book was about the Salem Witch Trials, and what occurred. In the town of Salem, about twenty-one people died because of accusations about witchcraft. Although witchcraft was not actually practiced, the idea scared people. The statement applies to this piece of literature because of mankind’s inability to accept different beliefs. For that reason, innocent people died. Although the results weren’t felt immediately, later on when it was contemplated, it made a lot of people feel remorse.

"Romeo and Juliet" was another tragedy. The play is about two characters that come from distinguished families that despised each other falling in love. There was so much hatred between the two families that the two characters couldn’t be with each other. Through a lot of events, Juliet decides to fake her death, with somebody sent to tell Romeo the message. However, the message never got to Romeo, and when Juliet awoke, Romeo had committed suicide. The tragedy struck a lot of people, and people also felt regretful.

The two stories were similar because people felt remorse mostly after the death. Innocent people died because of differences. The difference between the two pieces of literature was the fact that the accused witches were forced to confess about things they didn’t do and died anyway, while the other was based solely on hatred between two families.

The statement "Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn", expresses the idea of how much an act of inhumanity of a man can make people remorseful and regretful. The statement describes the books "The Crucible", and Romeo and Juliet".