Drama coursework- comparison between: ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller
‘Vinegar Tom’ by C. Churchill
We are currently performing a piece of drama called ‘The Crucible’ and have studied a play called ‘Vinegar Tom’. ‘The Crucible’ was written by Arthur Miller in 1953 and was set in Salem, Massachusetts USA in 1692. ‘Vinegar Tom’ was written in the 1970’s and was set in the 17th century. Although ‘Vinegar Tom’ was written about the 17th century, the ideas parallel those of the issues of the 1970’s. The issue was feminism. Although women were beginning to work the same jobs as men, their wages were drastically different, with men being paid a lot more for the same job. More women started to go to university in order to gain the qualifications that would enable them to do the jobs that men did. Some parts of the play reflect the feminist issues that were happening at the time the story was written. In ‘The Crucible’ the issues surrounding the time of when the play was written was McCarthyism. Arthur Miller was interested not only in the Salem witch trials, but also the more current affairs of the USA. The opposing look on communism sparked a massive conspiracy theory that set neighbours, friends and family against each other. People were accused of being communists, and, in order to free their name and the risk of being blacklisted, they had to give the names of other that were communists. This set off a long chain of innocent people that were accused by people trying to free their own name. Several innocent people was accused and charged, as they would not give their names of others. This is the same as the plot of ‘The Crucible’. John Proctor will not give other peoples names in order to free his, and so is charged of being a witch. Arthur Miller was accused of being a communist and as he wouldn’t give the names of others in order to free his name. After this was when ‘The Crucible’ was written. Both stories tell of false accusations, and of people scapegoating others.
