The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts

… and the balance has yet to be struck between order and freedom.” Arthur Miller wrote this play in 1953, in a not very subtle allegory about McCarthyism, another “witch-hunt” in America, but in the version of ’53, the “witches” were the communists, who were purportedly under every bed. One of my favorite quips was made by Voltaire: “It is amazing how few witches there are since we stopped burning them.” (Ain’t that the truth about the Communists too, now that they buy our T-Bills?) Miller’s play is roughly based on the historical events in Salem, Massachusetts, and environs, which occurred in 1692-93. These events are commonly called the “Salem Witch Trials.” As a result of these trials, 20 individuals would be executed, 14 of whom were women. It was one more example, but a dominant one for American history, of mass hysteria and the dangers of a theocracy, be it how a few old men understand the “will” of a bearded one on a heavenly throne, or the “will” of a slightly more abstract notion of a “free-market.” The play commences in the spring of 1692, with the Reverend Samuel Parris leaning over his daughter, Betty Parris, age 10, who is unconscious in bed. Is she physical ill or is it witchcraft? Miller thereafter introduces a number of other characters who live in, or near, this small frontier village. Abigail Williams is 17, and she had been caught dancing in the forest with Betty; in shades of Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Library) , they were purportedly dancing around a cooking pot. Were there toads in it? That is one of the questions asked. Tituba is a slave from Barbados, in her 40’s, who belongs to Reverend Parris, and can speak to the dead. Ann Putnam is a twisted soul of 45 who is haunted by dreams. Her husband, Thomas Putnam, is a man of grievances; his brother-in-law was denied the minister position and he was shorted in his father’s will, in favor of his stepbrother. Proctor, the protagonist, in his middle 30’s, an independent farmer, skeptical of the preachers, and the overall role of religion, and with a sick wife, Elizabeth. Proctor has the eye for Abigail, and she flaunts it. Mary Warren, a 17 year old subservient, lonely girl, works for Proctor, and his wife, as a maid. Rebecca Nurse, 72, 11 kids, lots of grandkids, with her husband, Frances, form their own town of Topsfield, near Salem. There is the itinerant preacher, Reverend Hale, and, the actually judges and bailiffs. Like that proverbial cooking pot in the forest, the above characters form a heady mixture, with those eternal concerns of money, community status, power, and sex. Miller brilliantly stirs the pot. Abigail Williams is “not without sin,” to use the Biblical phrase, but she is the prime stone thrower, hurling the charge of “witchcraft,” while manipulating a youthful “Amen” chorus. Such charges fall upon the fertile ground of “land-lust,” with the principles being the Putnam’s and the Nurse’s. And there is just plain ol’ lust, between Proctor and Abigail. Miller does “nuance” by having Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, state: “I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.” The power of hysteria is incisively depicted in the scene where Abigail sees “the bird,” and Mary Warren recants. It requires the abuse of authority, in terms of power-crazed judges, to fulfill the tragedy. In one of the asides, Miller states: “… the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together…the witch-hunt was a perverse manifestation of the panic which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom.” History does not repeat, but it does rhyme, as the old quip has it. Murky, no doubt forever, “Operation Phoenix” in Vietnam led to the death of truly an uncounted number of Vietnamese civilians, with an estimate as high as 50,000 in Binh Dinh province alone. That “pot” was spiced up by Americans who could not speak the language, but were all too willing to accept the word of one Vietnamese farmer against another, who was denounced as “a communist.” Rhyming again in Afghanistan, where such farmer denunciations of “terrorists” lead to an all-expenses paid trip to Gitmo. And as I write this, the Democratic Party in the USA is searching for “witches” to explain its recent electoral loss, and coming full circle as it were, a leading “witch” is a former Russian commie. Miller has written a play for all the ages, and provided an eternal lament that is the subject line. 5-stars, plus.

This book was written as a play in the ‘50’s. It is about the witch trials in Salem in the 1600’s. There are many parallels presented to McCarthyism and Nazi Germany. My granddaughter read this for school over 10 years ago. She considers this to be one of the best things she’s ever read. In today’s political atmosphere, there would be many more parallels to be drawn. Although it would be considered unpopular by many, this play could or should be on the stage again right now! Well written, well researched and insightful!

Thoughtful and alarming, the effect it can have on people, someone’s opinion. People will follow and are so selfish. Sad

good

It's the right book.

I think this is my fourth or fifth time reading The Crucible on my own. Like everyone else, I have also read the play back in high school. This play is about mass hysteria leading to the 1692 Salem witch trials, judgment, consequences & justice, and reputation along with a few other things. The Crucible is set in a theocratic society. With church and state being one and religion is strict, it is no wonder why people were afraid to be accused of being witches and seen with the devil! Deviation from their norms was not allowed as it would be seen as a threat to God, religion, and the public. We can see this with John Proctor—Mr. Forgets one of the Ten Commandments that is of course, Thou shalt not commit adultery. The themes mentioned above come into play for John especially toward the end of the play with his reputation. Proctor wants to keep his good name which leads him to not to make a false confession and to go to his death without signing his name to an untrue statement. ”Because it is my name. Because I cannot have another in my life! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Names are important, they mean something. Once your name is tarnished and dragged through the mud, its hard to fix that reputation and clear your name. And Giles Corey! A man who truly did nothing but bring up mention of his wife hiding books for him and in turn is accused of witchcraft and killed because of it. Although this is my favorite play, it is problematic, and there is racism involved. But that also is historically accurate for the time period. It was time I wrote a proper review of my favorite play.

This is a review, not of Arthur Miller's brilliant, classic play, but of this particular ultra-cheap paperback edition. How the hell is anyone supposed to be able to read this teeny-weeny type? And what are we to make of the (apparently) AI-generated blurb on the back cover? (Makes the text inside feel suspect: What changes might have been made to Miller's original text???) The whole undertaking has the stench of fishy, fly-by-night con artistry. DO NOT BUY THIS EDITION unless you're prepared to read with a microscope. Instead, purchase the Penguin edition with its scholarly introduction. Much more expensive, but worth it.

I had to read the slowly and take notes because there were so many characters and I wanted to be able to thoughtfully follow the plot and each character's part in this misfortunate event in history. It's seemed to be quite unfortunate that the first person to make an accusation was taken at their word and some people were given the benefit of Doubt because of their position.

The best books remain relevant generation after generation because the core of human nature does not change. And The Crucible is one of the best. Fake news, especially on social media, is a trending topic. How lies disguised with half truths succeed in changing the opinions people hold. The Crucible is about one set of lies that led to mass hangings in Salem in the 17th century. The obvious parallel was the McCarthyism of the 1950s in America, but if you read between the lines you can see similar forces distorting our perceptions of reality today. If you have not read the book, order it at once. Even if have read the book earlier, it is always worth a second read.

Llego en muy buen estado y es exactamente como en la foto. Muchas gracias!

O livro é a coisa mais linda, a capa tem as ilustrações com referência a obra, textura soft touch (o problema dessa textura é que empoeira rápido ), páginas amareladas, com boa diagramação e tamanho de fonte e papel gostoso e de bom. Eu amo quando abonequem lança edições com o corte repicado, dando um ar de antigo. Ainda não li o texto mas é um clássico do teatro e que deu origem a filmes e a outros diretores e escritores! Mal posso esperar

A classic of literature. It is worth the read. If you find it difficult using an audiobook is a great idea. There are some excellent ones for free on You Tube. The book arrived in good condition.

Im Abitur haben wir im Englisch LK das Buch durchgenommen gehabt. An sich fand ich das Buch echt geil, es lässt sich sehr viel hinein interpretieren, jedoch nicht so viel, wie 1984 von George Orwell oder sonstige. Da ich Mittlerweile eine Ansammlung an Bücher habe, aus verschiedenen Genre, die sowohl meinem Geiste, als auch meinem Verstand etwas bringen soll, habe ich mir gedacht, dass ich mir mal das Buch auch gönne und mir gebe. Das Abi ist ja auch schon etwas her. Ist es empfehlenswert? Ja auf jeden Fall. Gönnt euch. For the english people: Just buy it and read it. Insane stuff!!!