The Crucible by Arthur Miller (1953)
Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars
This book is well known among literary circles and centers on the Salem Witch Trials, a topic that fascinates me. Both of these reasons compelled me to read it; however, I found myself quite disappointed.
The Analysis:
The play tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony beginning in 1692. Released in 1953, the play was meant to highlight the modern witch-hunt style trials of McCarthyism. By reminding the audience of past injustices caused by paranoia and groupthink, Miller aims to invalidate the persecution of communists happening at the time.
Issues of historical inaccuracy are often a criticism of The Crucible, with many people reading this play as a historical text, despite the author warning readers not to do so. The reader is meant to recognize their own bias and prejudices as they see the effects of such ideas in the past. My problem, however, is that rather than simply using the historical context of New England in the 1690s to create a parable type story, Miller uses many real historical figures and events. Why use real people, names, and circumstances, but then change details and motivations? If the Salem Witch Trials are a perfect example of the harm done when society is fueled by paranoia, then why change it? By twisting the facts, Miller undermines his point that this sort of societal tragedy has happened before because his version of the history is different.
A separate complaint: this book is boring. The old style of speaking makes the dialogue appear authentic (although again, it isn’t), but makes the text tough to get through. I didn’t enjoy reading The Crucible and wanted to just power through to be done with it. I also think that while the point of allegories is not to specifically spell things out, the play (in most versions) doesn’t mention McCarthyism or the Red Scare at all. The most significant aspect of the play is its scathing condemnation of McCarthyism through a historical lens, yet it may be too subtle to be effective. This text was disappointing for me and I would not recommend it.
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