Elizabeth [faintly]: No, sir.”
It is at this point that a wave of frustration passes through the emotions of every person. This proves how well Miller creates audiences’ reactions through his script, and also uses situations people can relate to in the modern world.
“Proctor [crying out]: Elizabeth, I have confessed it!
Elizabeth: Oh, God!”
Miller specifically writes that Proctor cried out, consequently showing the desperation he is in, and just how well Miller captures the emotion of the scene in his script. This is also shown by Elizabeth’s words. In her reaction she exclaims with blasphemy, going against the ‘Ten Commandments’ of their religion, immediately showing regret that she lied to the courts. During this scene much suspense is created and the audience or reader experiences many emotions that are still familiar today, confirming the quality of the play.
Another example of the impressive script is how Arthur Miller builds up the characters’ personalities. At the start of the play an opinion is formed of each character, but as the story develops, the reader or theatregoer’s view will change dramatically; to cite an example, Abigail.
“Abigail Williams, seventeen, enters – a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling.”
Miller comments on her beauty and generally portrays her as likeable before the story has even begun to develop. By mentioning that she is an orphan, he suggests she has suffered in her life before, perhaps bringing pity for her. However this portrayal of Abigail is false, as during the course of the play, the true manipulative, spiteful and selfish side shows through and all sympathy previously felt for her is lost.
“Abigail: Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.”
Abigail’s sudden change of personality draws the audience or reader’s attention closer and as her altered character emerges the audience is captivated.
The script of ‘The Crucible’ is very well written and each scene has an absorbing atmosphere due to the actions and words of each character. The way it has been written grips the reader right until the end making it an excellent play to be produced, partly explaining why it is so frequently produced.
Although ‘The Crucible’ was based on the Salem witch-hunts, the play was written with another purpose. During the era in which the play was written, American Senator Joseph McCarthy accused hundreds of his fellow countrymen of betraying their country through having communist sympathies, and encouraged them to accuse each other. He never produced a single shred of evidence, yet millions of Americans believed he was a crusader, fighting to make America safe for democracy. Miller uses his play to highlight the absurdity of the accusations in 1950s America, in which he was involved, through the theme of seventeenth century witch hunts.
Those accused were ostracized, and in some cases, imprisoned. Many were left jobless and found many turning against them – all because of an unjust accusation. After studying the plot, it is clear to see the relationship between the hysteria in America and that of ‘The Crucible’. For example, the scene in which the girls wish to save themselves is by accusing other members of the Salem community.
“Tituba: I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!
[As she is speaking, Betty is rising from the bed, a fever in her eyes, and picks up the chant.]
Betty: I saw Martha Bellows with the Devil!”
These women are then almost immediately imprisoned with no one listening to their side of the story, despite no evidence being given in support of the accusation against them. As soon as Tituba begins to accuse others, Betty quickly joins in. This relates closely to McCarthy’s actions as he gave no evidence, and encouraged the public to copy his deeds.
Miller wrote the play aiming to criticize Joseph McCarthy and the acts against so-called Communists, and consequently change the minds of the public. Therefore it was very important that the play was written as it amounted to political propaganda. Miller is making the point that unfounded hysteria can occur in any society in any generation. Miller realised that this is true and it explains why the play has been so produced so frequently since then.
The other themes that Miller deals with are equally timeless, for example, hypocrisy and sexual jealousy. His perception concerning human nature is what ensures that ‘The Crucible’ is frequently produced. Audiences have always been able to relate to and understand the issues that Miller addresses. Love and sexual jealousy occur often in our every day lives, for example through love affairs. By dealing with these themes in his play, Miller continues to communicate with his audiences, giving the play so much appeal that the public still want to attend its productions.
Witch-hunts of the seventeenth century were horrific, unjust events where anyone accused would either admit to witchcraft or be hanged. The play could be interpreted as a warning to the modern world, a caution and reminder. It is a lesson to be learnt from history, and help us to understand what could potentially happen to victimised groups in our world today. It is a method of subconsciously informing many people, and this is why it may be seen as important to produce the play frequently.
Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ is an exceptionally well-written play that has constantly attracted audiences since it was first written in 1953. However its excellent script that uses key timeless themes and is one that many can relate to is not just the reason for its frequent production. Events in history need to be used as key reminders of what can happen in the future, and ‘The Crucible’ addresses these issues well. However, I think the most important and perhaps main reason it has been such a popular play is the on-goings in America at the time it was written. Not only does it remind us of events from the past but also informs us about McCarthyism from a targeted person’s point of view. The message ‘The Crucible’ gives is interpreted differently for each person, but there is one thing it has in common; the reader or audience will never forget it. It is a play that is frequently produced, and needs to be for the sake of the future.
