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Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller with layers of meaning and subtext. Miller's mission was to draw a direct analogy between the social and political themes of the 20th century with those of pre-Revolutionary America. Setting the play in Puritan New England, in the town of Salem, allows the playwright to explore the thematic connections between the witch trials and McCarthyism. Doing so seems seamless, as the audience perceives three main themes that remain salient in American culture. Those three themes include that of social conformity; sexual repression; and religious rigidity. Miller explores social conformity, sexual repression, and religious rigidity throughout The Crucible, to warn of the cyclical nature of history and the resistance to change that permeates American society.
One of the primary themes of Miller's The Crucible is the ways social conformity and mob mentality manifest in American society. The Crucible remains primarily concerned with the ways personal psychology interface with social norms, values, and expectations. The Reverend Parris, for example, has internalized the Puritanical values and mores to an extreme extent; surrendering his desire to think creatively, critically, and independently. When he states to Abigail, "if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it," his self-centeredness in the matter is extraordinary (p. 10). Rather than be concerned for Abigail, Reverend...
He also relinquishes responsibility, blaming Abigail and telling her that "punishment" will come from on high: "your punishment will come in its time," (p. 10). Here, Reverend Parris is attempting to instill the Puritanical values and norms into Abigail: in order to mold her in his idea of what a Puritan female should be like. The very idea that Abigail and the other girls would consider developing their own worldviews is preposterous to the religious right in Salem. Social conformity is achieved via psychological intimidation, persuasion, propaganda, and violence.
Given that the persecuted members of society comprise a vast underclass based almost entirely on gender, Miller makes a broad statement about the way gender roles and norms play out in American society. Sexual repression means not just the prudishness for which Puritans are well-known; sexual repression also entails the suppression and oppression of women. Women's sexuality is demonized in Salem; just as it was certainly demonized also in Miller's milieu in the middle of the 20th century in America. Abigail's budding sexuality, for example, has been demonized by Proctor. Proctor in turn cannot bring himself to take responsibility for his own moral transgressions and lays blame on Abigail for her seductiveness. Even if Abigail is manipulative, it is likely because women in Salem have few options in terms of how they can express themselves…
Work Cited
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Online version: http://asbamericanlit.edublogs.org/files/2011/10/21078735-The-Crucible-Arthur-Miller-2hmdzot.pdf
In Act III of the play, Miller describes the vestry of the Salem Meeting House, lit only by candles, which makes it possible that such a vessel as an earthen lamp could be present in this room. Lastly, the title could refer to a severe test or trial. For instance, when the girls are placed on trial before their Puritan elders, they experience much trauma and tribulation; also, the character
However, using today's less rigid religious standards make the outcome of the trials seem ridiculous and completely unjust. Today, most people do not consider witchcraft a reality, and so, basing a court decision on the confession of bewitched young women seems almost ludicrous. As critic Bloom maintains, "Today's audience cannot take the possibility of witchcraft seriously; the implication for us is that no enlightened citizen of any age would
However, Rebecca is convicted of witchcraft by the court, and Hale begins to see the hysteria at work in the community, and begins to feel he is responsible. He tells the judge, "I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, Your Honor. I'll not conceal it, my hand shakes yet as with a wound!" (Miller 92). He begins to see how his own actions helped create
Intolerance to Difference: Social Realities and Norms in the Crucible, The Guest, And the Old Chief Mshlanga Human societies have, throughout the years, established norms, values, and artifacts that are collectively agreed-upon by its members. The culture of a society can be both advantageous and disadvantageous to its people. Norms and values held important by members of a society can be advantageous in that it provides people with social structure and
While he resists coming completely clean and exposing his affair, he eventually tells the whole truth, but only after the town is in chaos. The climax of The Crucible occurs toward the end of the play when Mary accuses Proctor of being a witch and he is summarily arrested. Prior to this the action builds as several girls in the play get caught up in the witch hysteria. Proctor's arrest
Crucible Dramatic Tension in the Crucible One of the reasons that The Crucible is such a successful play is that the drama is established early. A consideration of the first 20 pages of the play will show that Arthur Miller creates dramatic tension in the first scene and establishes the themes, setting, and plots that will continue throughout the play. The play opens the day after the girls were seen dancing in the