The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts [Turtleback]

 

 

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The crucible - the famous allegory for the McCarthyism era - is a thought provoking play, from one of the most eminent American playwrights, based on the ignorance of man which still exists. I will not go into details concerning the relation between McCarthyism and "The Crucible" since I am reviewing the play; for further reference I suggest seeing the movie "Good Night and Good Luck." I liked the concept of the play but found the play itself rather dull for most part, even though the ending slightly reconciled me. The character cast is a miscellany from the grotesque to the simple and is my favourite aspect. Overall the story is quite shocking and I suggest reading it because of its allusion to the common man under excruciating circumstances rather than as literature.

This is a riveting story told with in-depth expression in this book.

The Crucible- A play, I enjoyed reading that had an interesting plot and showed how humans act when faced with life or death depending on their testimonies, and how life is a series of tests until death.
The word crucible means a heat-resistant container or a severe test. I believe Arthur Miller, the author, had called it "The Crucible" because his play is about a severe test or tests. The main characters are Reverend Parris, who has a daughter Betty, John Proctor, who is married to Elizabeth, Abigail Williams, is a teenage that lies, has an affair, and is a niece to Reverend Parris, and Reverend Hale, who is a young minister that claims he is an expert on witchcraft.
I liked this play because it is similar to everyday life of facing good and evil. It gives an outlook for knowing the right things to do and putting words into actions. The play illustrates the effect it can have on someone's life when so much evil has caused damage before learning to be honest and doing what is right. Throughout the play there are times when the character must make a choice, lie and live, or tell the truth and die. The test of lying to live is something I would never want to have to face, especially in that time period when the means of execution was hanging.
John Proctor, a farmer, is truly put to the test. He is a good person, but has an affair with Abigail. When Reverend Parris' daughter is said to be bedridden due to an unknown illness, everyone in town is concerned. The truth of what happened is that Abigail and a few girls did a witchcraft dance around a fire at night and drank blood. Because Betty is feeling so guilty, she stares and doesn't talk while she is bedridden. Abigail wants everyone to lie about what happened around the fire. John Proctors comes to visit Betty. When he arrives, Abigail looks at him with alluring eyes. Proctor states, "Ah, you're wicked yet aren't you!" (22) Here is a test for John Proctor. He has done wrong by having an affair and now alone with his former lover, he is tempted by her to try again. Abigail tries to encourage him, but he refuses her. This part I like in the played because it is a test of what is right.
Elizabeth knows her husband is a good person, even though he has sinned by having the affair. John stops going to church because the guilt of his affair and the dislike he has of the sermons of Rev. Parris about material things. John states to Elizabeth, "He sees no light of God in that man"(58) John recognizes this greed, but also his sorrow for his affair and having to be reminded by it, if he did go to church. Here is another test for John, a test of faith.
Abigail has her group of girls having everyone in town believing that the town is filled with witchcraft. Her followers are: Mary Warren, Ruth Putnam, Mercy Lewis and Betty Parris. They tell everyone that they have seen different people with the devil. Of course, Abigail eventually states that Elizabeth is working with the devil and tried to put a needle in her. The town goes into hysteria and people are brought to trial. During the start of the trial John's wife, Elizabeth begs John to testify in court that Abigail is a liar. Here is another test for John. Should he admit his adultery to the town or let Abigail continue to lie at the cost of others' lives? John states, "My wife will not die! I will bring your guts into your mouth, but that goodness will not die for me!" (76 )John's wife forgave him for the affair but now her life is at risk. John once again is faced with a test, to lie and live or not.
Finally, John admits about his affair with Abigail. Abigail's jealousy and lies have caused the deaths of so many. John is placed in jail. Now John has to decide to cleanse his name or lie. John knows Abigail lies about witchcraft and falsely accusing people from her town as following the devil, caused deaths of innocent people.
Elizabeth cries out at the end, "He have his goodness now, God forbid I take it away from him!" (126) John had a choice to lie and save his life, or tell the truth and die. Elizabeth knows John is a man who is right, even though he has not always done the right thing. Should John lie and save his life? This is the final test for John. To find out the ending, read "The Crucible!"This play is a test about life and finding out how important honesty is to you.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Witchin book
The book "The Crucible" is interesting. In the beginning, this book was a little bit boring, but then it got interesting. Read more

Published on Mar 22 2004 by Millie

5.0 out of 5 stars Miller's Best...
This play has always held a special significance for me. It was the first Arthur Miller play I ever saw performed on stage, and it is also a chilling comparison between the past... Read more

Published on Mar 3 2004 by meiringen

1.0 out of 5 stars Unable to Read Beyond The First Act....
Yes, I know, I know, it's a major classic by one of America's greatest playwrights. But it was just plain ole BORING. Read more

Published on Feb 25 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars book report
The Crucible, a play written by Author Miller in the 1953. It is a drama about The Salem, Massachusetts witch hunt in the 1692 and people were accused of doing witchcraft without... Read more

Published on Feb 18 2004 by Chrystal Chang

1.0 out of 5 stars "The Crucible of Communism" by RexCurry.net
Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" is an unintentional condemnation of socialism/communism. The Crucible (1953) describes the witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, an... Read more

Published on Feb 7 2004 by Rex Curry

5.0 out of 5 stars "lowering heaven ...
The Crucible is the first Arthur Miller play I've read. The plot summary and reviews I read made it seem appealing, suspenseful if nothing else. Read more

Published on Jan 30 2004 by Daveda J. Campbell

5.0 out of 5 stars Miller's Masterpiece?
As much as I love DEATH OF A SALESMAN (my favorite play), A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (a gripping modern Greek tragedy), and ALL MY SONS (a sadly underrated play), I am sometimes... Read more

Published on Jan 19 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars The Crucible b
The small town of Salem is devastated to find out that its own young and charming women in the town are witches of the black art. Read more

Published on Jan 15 2004 by Marcus

4.0 out of 5 stars The Crucible
The Crucible

A witch hunt is what they wanted and a witch hunt is what they got. The small town of Salem is devastated to find out that its own young and seemingly innocent... Read more

Published on Nov 19 2003 by ofbluestar

4.0 out of 5 stars The Crucible: Everyone should read this.
The Salem witch hunt corresponds with the time period of the McCarthy Era. The McCarthy Era began in the 1950s when Joseph McCarthy charged the State Dept. Read more

Published on Nov 4 2003 by Ami, Sapna, Leigh, Jen

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