Customer Reviews
"Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it." - By: Mary Whipple, 02 Dec 2005 
When John Proctor says these words to his wife Elizabeth at the conclusion of this play, he has faced accusations of beingin league with the Devil & is ready to face consequences meted out by the religious tribunal he has faced. Though he has sinned by committing adultery with Abigail Williams, he believes the witchcraft trials which have ultimately consumed him to be the result of human, rather than godly, forces. Playwright Arthur Miller sets the scene for this actionin an Overture explaining the theocracy which controlled Salem. Powerful clergymen, some more rigidin their interpretations of Scripture than others, "protected" citizens by enforcing conformity with the church's teachings.
Through detailed character sketches inserted into the structure of the play, Miller broadens the realism, & when a group of hysterical young women makes accusations of witchcraft, resulting ultimatelyin the deaths of nineteen of their fellow-citizens, Miller has prepared his audience to accept the trials & the behavior of the characters as plausible. His straightforward prose, use of homely details, & simple sentence structure (despite its archaic tone) further add to the realism. When the affair between John Proctor & Abigail Williams, who precipitates & then promotes the hysteria among the young "afflicted" girls, is revealed within the play, the modern reader is given a "hook" with which to identify with characters & situations which might otherwise feel foreign.
Miller's play is a powerful revelation of themes involving mass hysteria, fear of the unknown, & a beliefin the essential evil hidden within the hearts of men. As the accused are required to prove their innocence, questions regarding the role of individualism within this society, its intolerance of differences, its justice as defined by the state & by clergymen who differ, & the hysteria which grows from repression all surface within the dramatic action, leading to an intensity of feeling rarein modern theater. When John Proctor is faced with a choice of telling the truth & being sentenced to death or lying & being saved, the ironies of the play are fully revealed.
Writtenin 1952, slightly before the McCarthy era, Miller's depiction of these trials presages the McCarthy hearings & illustrates his belief that the fear of Communism is the equivalent of fear of the Devilin colonial times. Miller, however, has selected facts which illustrate his point of view & his themes, making no pretense of accuracy regarding the witchcraft trials themselves. In reality, Abigail Williams was eleven, & John Proctor was sixty, quite different from the dramatic circumstances here. Mary Whipple
School book material - By: , 17 May 2005 
I read The Crucible for GCSE at school, & made sure that I absorbed the plot & characters because I would be writing at essay on it for coursework. If it wasn't for the fact that it was compulsory for me to read itin class, then I don't think I would havein my own time- but it's not a bad book, & people who enjoy plays setin the olden-days where God was a major characterin society & women did the cooking & cleaning, may enjoy it. I wouldn't read it againin the future, but I wouldn't advise people against it.
"Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it.", - By: Mary Whipple, 21 Jan 2005 When John Proctor says these words to his wife Elizabeth at the conclusion of this play, he has faced accusations of beingin league with the Devil & is ready to face consequences meted out by the religious tribunal he has faced. Though he has sinned by committing adultery with Abigail Williams, he believes the witchcraft trials which have ultimately consumed him to be the result of human, rather than godly, forces. Playwright Arthur Miller sets the scene for this actionin an Overture explaining the theocracy which controlled Salem. Powerful clergymen, some more rigidin their interpretations of Scripture than others, "protected" citizens by enforcing conformity with the church's teachings.
Through detailed character sketches inserted into the structure of the play, Miller broadens the realism, & when a group of hysterical young women makes accusations of witchcraft, resulting ultimatelyin the deaths of nineteen of their fellow-citizens, Miller has prepared his audience to accept the trials & the behavior of the characters as plausible. His straightforward prose, use of homely details, & simple sentence structure (despite its archaic tone) further add to the realism. When the affair between John Proctor & Abigail Williams, who precipitates & then promotes the hysteria among the young "afflicted" girls, is revealed within the play, the modern reader is given a "hook" with which to identify with characters & situations which might otherwise feel foreign.
Miller's play is a powerful revelation of themes involving mass hysteria, fear of the unknown, & a beliefin the essential evil hidden within the hearts of men. As the accused are required to prove their innocence, questions regarding the role of individualism within this society, its intolerance of differences, its justice as defined by the state & by clergymen who differ, & the hysteria which grows from repression all surface within the dramatic action, leading to an intensity of feeling rarein modern theater. When John Proctor is faced with a choice of telling the truth & being sentenced to death or lying & being saved, the ironies of the play are fully revealed.
Writtenin 1952, Miller's depiction of these trials presages the U.S. Congressional investigations to identify communistsin the government &in the entertainment industry, & illustrates Miller's belief that the fear of Communism is the equivalent of fear of the Devilin colonial times. Miller, however, has selected facts which illustrate his point of view & his themes, making no pretense of accuracy regarding the witchcraft trials themselves. In reality, Abigail Williams was eleven, & John Proctor was sixty, quite different from the dramatic circumstances here. Mary Whipple
Exciting 20th century play about the 16th century trials. - By: , 08 Feb 2000 
This play was very well written & is easy to read, even though it has been written for the stage. Numerous characters are introduced, all with a range of personalities. This is a great demonstration of the perils of vengeance & the greatness of loyalty. It is also very enjoyable to act out, as it is all set indoors & rewquires very few props. A great read.
