Another issue of concern is conflict between Religious beliefs of the townsfolk through land and money. The play is based in the town of Salem in U.S.A. The town of Salem has been shown as rather new, being existence for only 40 years. In the play the life in the small town of Salem is shown as hard. Salem town is shown as following a religious lifestyle. A Puritan type or Quaker lifestyle, placing a ban on theatre, singing or dancing. The people of Salem are shown as migrating to America to escape religious persecution back in England. The people of Salem have come to America to practice their Puritan lifestyle, which they seriously and strongly follow in their everyday life. They fiercely guard their moral values. This Salem community is supposed to be highly religious. But there had been many conflicts through land and money. People are accusing other people of taking their money. There is also one of the seven deadly sins in Salem. For example, rivalry between Abigail and Elizabeth. Elizabeth Proctor displays loyalty, when she is brought in and questioned even though she does know of his affair. John Proctor displays dignity when at the morning of his execution; he refuses to allow his signed confession to be posted on the door of the church, as he does not want hi friends and family to think badly of him. He chooses to allow his execution to go ahead rather then give up his good name.
The play is based on the witch-hunting trials in Salem and McCarthyism. The play links to the McCarthy trials of the 1950’s in many ways. Miller’s play ‘The Crucible’ is based on a story, which is corresponding to the McCarthy era. In that period, the public of U.S.A. were going through uncontrollable emotions, and were too ready to believe things. The public were too ready to defame the name of their rivals to their advantage. This type of fear and situation was created in 1950’s, by Joseph McCarthy a senator, who had managed to campaign against Communists, ex-Communists and their friends and associates. He had made false statements about the number of secret Communists in important positions. This anti-Communist policy led to many people losing their jobs, including famous writers and filmmakers. Arthur Miller’s play ‘The Crucible’ was first produced in 1953. It was a time when Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-Communist campaign was being practiced. So in the play a person will find many corresponding issues like unsupported accusations, unfaithfulness and selfish people who denounce their friends; creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.
Another similarity is hypocrisy. In the play, Abigail and the other girls accuse innocent people such as Goody Proctor of working with the devil. While Abigail herself has been in the forest, dancing naked and calling out spells and charms. This links to McCarthy trials as in 1954, McCarthy had been accusing people in his anti-Communist campaign. However, McCarthy’s false accusations and interrogations lead to his downfall. Especially McCarthy’s charges against Presidents, Truman and Eisenhower. McCarthy’s associates also accused people in the Army by falsifying evidence. All this lead to McCarthy resigning as a chairman of the committee.
For many hundred of years, throughout Europe, there was a belief in witchcraft. At times, this belief would develop into hysterical fear leading to campaign of persecution against suspected witches. Many of the women accused were old such as in the play Goody Osburn is accused probably because she is old. These events in the play relates back to McCarthyism, when a person is a Communist or even a friend of Communist could face jail or even execution. These events are in the same way as the “The Crucible”.
“The Crucible” is one of the most famous plays of Arthur Miller. The play deals with a story, which is a typical writing style of Arthur Miller as a dramatist. Miller’s plays always highlight difficult and controversial issues of the society. The dramatist always creates such a situation in his plays, where his audiences change their views on society. The audiences are made aware of unpleasant human behaviour. In the play, Miller has once again involved his audiences into such a story, which is exciting, gripping, suspenseful and full of social issues.
“The Crucible” won an award in 1953. It was written at a time when social issues it deals with were prevailing at that time. McCarthy anti-communist Campaign and investigations were going on and the audience were quick to recognize the resemblance. For example, people like famous Communist people or innocent people with little or no evidence were simply ruined. These people suffered and all hope of their career was lost. Senator McCarthy created the atmosphere of suspicion in United States resembled the plot in the play. Especially McCarthy charges against President Truman and Eisenhower. However, like “The Crucible” the witch-hunt continued for some years and Arthur himself was called in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956. He was asked to name people who had attended a Committee meeting some ten years previously. He refused to do so and was fined for contempt of Congress. Although Miller himself has tended to play this down it was a courageous thing to do in those circumstances and he could have been sent to prison. Miller’s play “The Crucible” also highlights the political and personal injustice suffered by people of that time. Miller portraits his heroes and heroines as ordinary working class people. His most famous social dramas are “Death of a Salesman” and “A View from a Bridge (1955) are set in Brooklyn, New York, and the “the Misfits” etc. In 1996, Miller completed a screenplay for a film of “The Crucible” starring Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder.
Arthur Miller’s Play, “The Crucible” is a story where events are carefully organized by the playwright in order to show how a situation can be worked out. In Act 3, we come across a situation, where the plot reaches its climax. In Act 3, we find characters of the plot or people have to face this situation, since the people in the plot are good or bad, clever, likeable or unlikeable. But we find the characters change a lot in Act 3. In Act 3, we find all the loose ends of the plot are tied. All the unsolved points are explained. Act 3 has the most dramatic element of the whole plot, it consists of constant rising of suspense, whether the characters are guilty or not. In Act 3 the dramatist is trying to show how the rich people of Salem can manipulate the less fortunate. The dramatist also tells us through his play that the 17th Century was an era of a strong belief in supernatural, etc. So even the authority in power, were very cautious of dealing with anyone who threatened them.
The Play’s issues and concerns are shown through dramatic devices and effects as played by characters in the plot. Act 3 is played in the meetinghouse vestry, which is also used as the General Court. In the Courtroom, we are presented with a strong case of struggle between superstition and reason.
The opening of the Act 3 is based in the General Court. Judge Hathorne can be heard questioning Martha Corey, who denies hurting the children. Miller has also used a very powerful dramatic effect, when the Act 3 opens, the curtain rises, the room is shown empty, but for sunlight pouring through two high windows in the black wall. The room seem solemn, even forbidding, when all of a sudden Giles voice comes roaring, “ I have evidence for the Court, Thomas Putnam…Land”. Giles dramatic entrance grabs the interest of audience. While Giles is ignored as he is a poor farmer. Though Giles Corey cry of “Thomas Putnam is reaching out… Land” is a clear example of the cry of people who have suffered under law and are oppressed. Giles is removed from Courtroom by Herrick. Superstition element in the play is revealed when Giles think his wife has been arrested because he said she read strange books.
Following this, Proctor enters with Mary Warren, who cannot bring herself look at anyone in the room, claiming she is sick. She speaks about witchcraft and saying it was all pretence. Mary Warren, “I cannot lie no more, I am with God, I am with God”. It appears now that Judges don’t really want to listen to Mary, but only want her to change her mind. Abigail and girls are brought in. Another example of dramatic effect when in Court, Danforth says to Abigail “that a poppet was discovered in Mr Proctor’s house, stabbed by a needle”. The judge asks how Abigail had witnessed Mary struck her needle into the poppet for safekeeping. To which Abigail said, “Goody Proctor always kept poppets”. Another dramatic effect when John Proctor confesses about is affair.” Everything depends on Elizabeth’s evidence. Elizabeth is brought in. Proctor and Abigail hold their breath and Elizabeth answers very hesitantly. Most dramatic part and dramatic Irony used, is when asked by Danforth in Courtroom, “Has he ever threatened you?” Mary Warren – “No Sir”. Here Mary Warren lies to Danforth as she says Proctor has never threatened her, when he forced her to testify the truth. Despite Elizabeth’s denial. Hale insists on Proctor’s word being true. Just at the moment, the most dramatic incident happens, Abigail screams and claims that there is a yellow bird on the beam, and that it is attempting to attack her. She speaks to the bird, as if it has been sent by Mary. When Mary tries to stop her. Abigail repeats Mary’s words “Abby, you mustn’t”. Abigail’s power is once more evident as she goes to control the girls psychologically just as much as she did physically in Act 1. The girls soon join Abigail in mimicking Mary. The girls also flee from the yellow bird they say is attacking. There is a mass hysteria, and Proctor’s attempt to persuade the court that the girls are merely pretending does not works. The dramatist shows the character of Elizabeth, which is full of kindness forgiveness and loyalty, who denies any knowledge of affair between John and Abigail. Proctor’s attempt to persuade the court that the girls are merely pretending, does not works, when Mary cries out “You’re the Devil’s man!” She further claims that Proctor tried to make her sign the Devil’s book. Proctor is arrested and accused of being ‘combined with ‘anti-Christ’. Hale denounces the court and leaves with Danforth angrily calling after him. Proctor is put under pressure to confess by the judges when Proctor says, “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another”, and “They think they can go like saints. I like not to spoil their names”. It means that Proctor knew most of the crimes or sins committed of the characters in the play. But he himself became a martyr and paid up with his life for other people sins.
Act 3 is quite successful in showing the play’s issues and concerns through its use of dramatic devices and effects. Many of the events in “The Crucible” occur because of the oppressive nature of the society in which people lived in the 17th Century. Act 3 takes place in the courtroom and presents us with the life or death struggle between superstition and reason. Hopes are raised and dashed. A crucial point in the drama is reached when John confesses to his adultery to Elizabeth. But it is Mary who denounces John Proctor who is arrested.
