The Crucible
Ratings310
Average rating3.6
A great play about the madness of the Salem trials and how fare can humanity go on false pretence. A classic of American literature I hadn't read since now and that I truly recommend!
I first read this play in school and only years later actually saw it performed. To really appreciate it, you have to see it and not only read it. A shocking revelation of the results of mass hysteria and selfish lies.
4.5 stars
In 1692, nineteen people were executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
The events described in Miller's play are true and historically documented. Yes, Miller took some artistic liberties with some of the people (such as ageing Abigail and having her be in an affair with Proctor), but the core of the play reflects the very real and horrible events of the witch trials.
The play takes place in a small farming community outside of Salem and centres around a group of young girls who accuse their neighbours of witchcraft and of cavorting with the devil. By the end of act I, we clearly see how the accusations and subsequent trials are pure conjecture and nonsense, which women being accused of “sending their spirits” forth to harm others, women killing babies through “supernatural means,” and plain, old-fashioned hearsay and rumours born out of superstitions and ignorance. In this town, the fear of God is ingrained into everything, and people are found guilty based on their level of belief or how many times they go to church. Here, the law is not separate from the Church, which creates a conflict in how people are judged for their alleged crimes. This theocratic society caused pain, torture, and death to its inhabitants because of a mass hysteria brought on by a group of scared and misguided children.
Because of the nature of this play, one should not expect a happy resolution to the problems and, indeed, the conclusion to the play is as bleak and heart wrenching as what you can imagine. To me, Giles Corey's death was the most poignant. Giles had never done anything other than try to protect his land from those who would have him murdered for it; and yet, he was still killed during questioning because he refused to admit to something he didn't do. Giles' line of "more stones" as a response to his torture was, in my opinion, the saddest part of the whole play.
Miller's retelling of this horrific event is masterful in both its execution and the affects it creates. Miller wrote this play during a time of unrest in the United states, and it was originally meant to draw parallels between the witch trials of old and McCarthyism. This shows that “witch hunts” are still very much present in our society, only that they take on different forms each time they appear.
This is horrifying. A good read for October.
It is a nightmare, anything you say will be used against you, it will be twisted, it will not only be used against you, it will be used against everyone you hold dear, and you will be doomed and judged and condemned, because someone said something against you... and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
How people cannot feel the horror, I can't understand!
Maybe they seriously don't understand the horror of McCarthyism.
Just remember, when the Abigails get all the Rebeccas and Elizabeths hanged and burned and executed, you get to live with Abigail... and she WILL turn on you. One day you will be tried and found dealing with devils.
It doesn't say a thing about witchcraft, puritans, Christianity, Catholicism, or anything. It could be set anywhere. It's about people. It's about simple ideas that grow into mass hystery flamed by “good intentions”, “morality”, all kinds of things that are “good”. We all do it.
About Abigail's “sex mania”. I have known a lot of young women who think “love” - how ever it is defined - excuses everything, even murder. There is no more wicked thing than a teenaged girl. A teenaged boy can be more cruel, but they have the “benefit” of having more physical power and higher societal status in patriarchy than girls, so girls have to use their brains to get what they want. They have still the childlike amorality and cruelness and curiosity - the fairy quality - but they are old enough to understand the human nature.
3.5 stars, it was a quite predictable read. I liked the historical throwback and find the uses of the past as warranted although other people find them to be harsh and uncalled for. It is brash but it does highlight the past for women well.
The Crucible is the second play that I have read from Arthur Miller. Although Death of a Salesmen was a good play (after I understood it), The Crucible by far, was so much better. The setting is in Salem, Massachussetts in 1692. We all know that time specific time in history is most well known for the witchcraft accusations and burnings that have rose in the city. The story starts out as the Reverend Parris's daughter takes ill right after he sees her and a group of women including his niece Abigail dancing “naked” in the woods, in what seemed like a ritual with Lucifer. Then the entire catastrophe unravels itself as more and more people are getting accused by others either out of spite, or to save their own skin. The book really shows the importance of religion at this time; especially since this was early before America even became an official country, and english were leaving their country because of religious persecution. We are able to see the ways that they lived and how theocracy truly governed their state. Miller did a great job with character development and capturing his audience with a very interesting moment in history.
Its not the worst book I've read and it's not the best either. I would have rated it higher if I wasn't forced to have read it in class and then have to analyze it.
Scary, the power of the group over an individual's right to practice what they want and how they get it all wrong.
Arthur Miller knows how to tell a story. Period.
The Crucible is one of my favorite classics as it isn't actually about the Salem Witch Trials, but the Red Scare of the 60s (70s? Not exactly sure about the time).
The language is facile to comprehend and the symbolism is wonderful for an English nerd like me. I found the characters beautifully depicted in all their hypocrisy and evilness.
If you get a chance, please please read this!! Make sure you read the article in which Arthur Miller provides his insight into writing the novel - it's an interview with someone and I believe it's a NYT article, but I'm not completely sure.
So, we had to read (act out, really) this book for school and I actually really enjoyed it!
As a play, I found this entertaining and easy to follow. I was never confused and the language was not dense enough to trip me up as a reader.
I adored the plot line! It was a fascinating plot that revolved around the Salem witch trials- a topic that I have always had interest in. It was unique, especially since I haven't read any pieces of fiction regarding the Salem witch trials, as well as engaging. I dislike many school books, but this was not one that I dreaded going to class to read.
The only real gripe that I have with the book, and why I didn't think it deserved a 5, was John Proctor. John Proctor is the main character and supposed hero of the book, however I did not really like him to be quite honest. I understand the actions he undertook, but I do not agree with them. I was also upset by his decision to die rather than have his confession tied to his name. He left his pregnant wife alone with three kids because of this. Couldn't that be considered a worse sin than lying?... Overall I found him abrasive and hard to sympathize with, especially since I personally did not agree with the majority of the decisions he made. Due to his abrasive nature, I also found it difficult to follow his relationship with Elizabeth. I understood that they were married, yet some of the decisions they made suggested that they had a deeper love for one another than I had interpreted in the novel.All in all, I thought this was a very well-written play that I would certainly recommend to many people, especially when you conduct research surrounding its creation. It's one of those books that makes you more worldly and truly understand the consequences of people's actions.
This is an excellent little play by Miller. I can remember reading Death of a Salesman a number of years ago and really enjoying it, so when I saw that this was available to listen to, I jumped at the opportunity. It was an excellent play to listen to, especially since it was the BBC radio adaptation of the play. If you can afford it (the price on Amazon is currently around $72) then I highly suggest you buy this book on audio and listen to it. It was fantastic!
Very important book and always relevant.
I had to read it in 3 sittings, even though it's quite short, as it was getting suffocating. The way a group of people vilify the Other, turning that difference into the incarnation of the Devil. It happened in Salem, it happened in Nazi Germany, it's mirroring what happened during the “red scare” of the McCarthyist era (according to Arthur Miller), it happened to the queer community during the aids epidemic and it's been happening to the immigrants and refugees everywhere. It's always the same rhetoric, “they bring crime, and rape to our community”, while crime and rape have always been part of your community, you just got a new group of people to pin them to. In states like Arizona, you now “have to” report anyone you suspect as being undocumented, POC keep being threatened by being “reported to ICE” by any racist they encounter, and thus starts a new witch-hunt in America.