The Crucible

5 Pages 1157 Words

The following paper will discuss the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The Crucible is

a depiction of the event, which occurred in Salem in 1692 also known as the “witch trails.” I

will give a brief summary of the play and discuss the differences of the work as it was portrayed

as a written play, movie and on Broadway.

The play was written in 1953 and story relates to the McCarthy trials. During the

1950's Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many American leaders of being communists. This

led to many unfounded accusations that people were communists. Some people believed him

because they were fearful of communism and he played on their fears. McCarthy was, in effect,

conducting "witch hunts". If you opposed the Salem Witch trials you were accused of being a

witch. If you opposed the McCarthy investigations you were accused of being a communist.

The play takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail and some of the young girls are

dancing in the woods. They conjure up spirits while dancing naked and they are discovered by

Reverend Parris. This leads the people of the town to believe the girls are witches. Reverend

Parris calls in Reverend Hale as an expert witness. He at first believes they are witches.

To save themselves the girls accuse other women of the town of being witches. This leads to

trials of these women with the girls as the jury.

Abigail worked for John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth. John Proctor had an affair with

Abigail. Elizabeth knows of the affair and dismisses Abigail from there home. Mary Warren

now works for them and is one of the girls that was found dancing in the wood. After a long day

at court she comes home and gives Elizabeth a poppet. Abigail then accuses Elizabeth Proctor of

being a witch. The poppet is found in the Proctor's house and this lead them to believe Elizabeth
is a witch. This comes to be because earlier Abigail was fo...