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Jenny Stevens
AP Lang Pd.1
Kelley
2/8/14
Prevalence of Wooden-headedness
In the March of Folly, historian Barbara Tuchman addresses the prevalence of woodenheadedness in a variety of human affairs. Such people suffer from being stubborn and shielding
themselves from facts they may not want to accept. Wooden-headedness develops through a
series of stages which determine the severity of it in individuals, affecting the society around
them.
Wooden-headedness, or the denial of contrary signs to a preconceived thought, is
commonly prevalent in those with alternative motives, driven to do something which may only
benefit them. Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, based on the Salem Witch Trials, portrays
several hidden agendas in various characters. Specifically, Judge Danforth demonstrates
persistence in killing accused witches in order to gain a highly respected status. He boastfully
discusses the amount of trials and hangings he has conducted, and refuses to stray from the setin-stone laws and listen to any defenses, leading to the deaths of innocent civilians due to his
narrow mind set. His unnecessary denial of contradicting facts in order to achieve his personal
goal harmed a parcel of the population. This sort of constricted thought and desire is common in
the business world in more recent affairs. At the end of the nineteenth century, the government
was built on economic interests, specifically when dealing with foreign affairs. William Howard
Taft created what is known as the Dollar Diplomacy system which interacted with countries
overseas with the aspiration of achieving great economic success. The drive to achieve a single
purpose in disregard of effects on others validates the prevalence of wooden-headedness.
Stevens 2
Stevens 3
Works Cited
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, Penguin Books. 1953. Print.