Author: Arthur Miller
Series: -
Genres: Fiction, Plays, Historical, Drama
Publisher: Penguin Classics,
Release: March 25th, 2003
Source: Audiobook
Pages: 143
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BLURB:
Written in 1953, The Crucible is a mirror Miller uses to reflect the anti-communist hysteria inspired by Senator Joseph McCarthy's "witch-hunts" in the United States. Within the text itself, Miller contemplates the parallels, writing, "Political opposition... is given an inhumane overlay, which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized behavior. A political policy is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence.
EXPECTATIONS: I recently discovered this book while I was doing my research for the witch trials in Salem. I was captivated from moment one, since the play takes place during the time of the beginning of Salem witch trials so expectations were high.
THE WORLD: The plot takes place in Salem town in Massachusetts, right at the start of the Salem Witch Trials. I have to say, even though the format of this is a play and not a book, and we received only several descriptions of the surrounding and such I didn't need any more The way characters spoke, acted and what they said told me everything about the people, the town, the events and the life these people lived!
CHARACTERS: Before we begin, let me just say that this play is more on the fictional side of the events, especially since Abigail Williams, the main character and villain of the story was actually only around 12 or 14 when the actual Salem trials began, and in this book she is written to be much much older and doing more pretty adult things. OK, so let's start with Abigail....wow, she was...wow and I'm not sure if I hate her or I admire her, because she was just without control and so reckless. To me Abigail was just a ill hearted young woman who didn't get what she wanted and just to prove how powerful she is caused this entire chaos to erupt just from shier stupidity and girly envy. However, I enjoyed her presence in the play the most. She was a truly strong and powerful character!
We also have the merchant turned reverend Parris, who in this play to me was portrayed just as in real life - a monster who had nothing but greed and prejudice in his heart and punished innocent people to simply make a point! Betty Parris, his daughter and the other girl who started accusing people of witchcraft remained a girl in the play and according to history was portrayed rather accurately.
Tituba and many other people who history tells us had something to do with the trials, were accused or even killed for them were portrayed very interestingly as well.
We also have the merchant turned reverend Parris, who in this play to me was portrayed just as in real life - a monster who had nothing but greed and prejudice in his heart and punished innocent people to simply make a point! Betty Parris, his daughter and the other girl who started accusing people of witchcraft remained a girl in the play and according to history was portrayed rather accurately.
Tituba and many other people who history tells us had something to do with the trials, were accused or even killed for them were portrayed very interestingly as well.
ROMANCE: Abigail and John proctor had an affair in the past and that is the driven force of the story, since Abigail will not calm down until she teaches everyone for her broken and hurt heart.
GOOD: I think the interpretation of the Salem Trials is wonderful in this story. It has everything, a motive, some doubts whether or not there was witchcraft involved or not and in general the feeling it has, you can feel how confused and scared people were and how awful they had to life in the time, where few unreasonable and crazy girls were deciding who lives and who dies.
BAD: Nothing.
OVERALL: If you love witches and don't mind the format of the text not being a novel but a play than go for this! Read and you will love it!
What do you think about THE CRUCIBLE?
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