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¶ … Crucible
Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" is set in Salem, Massachusetts in the last part of the 17th century. The play itself is based on the Salem witch trials that took place during that time. People who lived during that time period were very religious, and also very superstitious. The play revolves around power, jealousy, and superstition, all of which were very common during the Salem witch trials and the years surrounding them.
In Act I of the play, one of the main characters, Reverend Parris, believes that his daughter has been involved in some form of witchcraft with a Negro slave. His daughter is now in a state of unconsciousness, and he believes that it is the work of witches (Classic, 1999). During the first act many of the main characters are introduced, and it is easy to see the power that the idea of witchcraft has over these individuals. Also easy to see is the petty jealousy that often runs rampant in a small town.
Impending doom is the mood that runs through most of the play. The protagonist of the story, John Proctor, finds himself caught up in the very human decision to do what is right or do what is easier. He has committed adultery with Reverend Parris' niece Abigail Williams, and he is overcome with guilt by this. Throughout most of the play he wrestles with the good vs. evil that is inherent in every human being.
Eventually, in Act IV, Proctor decides that he cannot give a written confession that will cause harm to others. He has written a confession, but he tears it up, because he realizes that it will also affect the lives of others in the town in a negative way (Classic, 1999). By doing this he feels a sense of duty and his conscience is cleared so that he can die with dignity. It appears that good has won the day once again, but John Proctor and many others in the play suffered a great deal in order to obtain a reasonably happy ending.
Works Cited
ClassicNote on The Crucible (1999). ClassicNotes. 7 April 2003 http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/crucible/fullsumm.html
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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
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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
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