The Crucible Is Still Relevant Today - 1971 Words

â€Å"The Crucible,† a play by Arthur Miller later turned into a major Hollywood movie, explores the politics of fear, social norms, and the fight to recapture a man’s moral compass. Miller paints his story using the small tight knit community of Salem circa 1692 as his canvass, brilliantly weaving historical fact and fiction to portray a scenario not unlike events seen since. The infamous witch hunts of 1692 and wild accusations of a subversive culture that threatened to tear away at the fabric of society are at the center of the film. Originally conceived in the 1950’s during the red scare, it is well known and accepted that Miller sought to highlight the similarities with the ongoing persecutions of accused communist sympathizers. The†¦show more content†¦In the early post-9/11 days, the country was engulfed in paranoia about who would try to destroy their way of life. Middle Easterners were viewed suspiciously any where they went. Prison camp s filled with suspected terrorists sprang up in foreign countries. Bush and his administration were the modern day equivalent of Abigail to some extent. In some ways terrorism was the new communism. Threats from abroad were pounded in to the American psyche. Calls to increase border security, put up a fence along the Mexican border, communities torn between allowing a Mosque to be built or not, questions of allegiance to the State, questions of patriotism: all of this was summed up when Bush exclaimed you were either with us or with the terrorists. Fear was utilized by the Right, just like in the 50’s, to push their agenda. Fear was used by common villagers in â€Å"The Crucible† to get what they wanted and persuade the masses to accept their side of the story over any others. Miller faced a lot of criticism when his play went public. The initial response to Miller’s â€Å"The Crucible† revolved around the charge that â€Å"such an analogy was specious—that there never were any witches but there certainly are Communists† (Miller 160). But it was a flawed argument from the start as Miller points out [In the 17th century, however, the existence of witches was never questioned by the loftiest minds in Europe and America†¦Of, courseShow MoreRelated Why The Crucible Remains Important Today Essay976 Words   |  4 Pages Why ‘The Crucible’ Remains Important Today For a story of any kind to have any relevance or meaning some 50 years after being written and indeed almost 400 years after it was set, it needs to contain themes and ideas that have been uniformly felt and experienced by people from all walks of life as well as continuing to speak to and have meaning to new and changed generations of people. Years after being written, Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’, still successfully speaks to numerous generations ofRead MoreEssay about Why the Crucible Remains Important Today1015 Words   |  5 PagesWhy ‘The Crucible Remains Important Today For a story of any kind to have any relevance or meaning some 50 years after being written and indeed almost 400 years after it was set, it needs to contain themes and ideas that have been uniformly felt and experienced by people from all walks of life as well as continuing to speak to and have meaning to new and changed generations of people. Years after being written, Arthur Millers ‘The Crucible, still successfully speaks to numerous generationsRead MoreTelevision Interview : The Crucible 1118 Words   |  5 PagesRadio Interview: ABC: Good morning Daniel. Welcome to our radio show. D: Thank you for inviting me. It is a pleasure to be here and speak to your audience. ABC: You played the role of John Proctor in the movie, â€Å"The Crucible†. Tell us briefly about your role. D: Well, I play the role of John Proctor, Elizabeth’s husband, as a local farmer who is a stern, harsh-tongued man of high social standing and integrity and who hates hypocrisy. He is a proud man who places great emphasis onRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1355 Words   |  6 PagesArthur Miller during the 1950’s, and he proves his point through The Crucible, a play about the Salem Witch Trials. Miller attacks the red scare, which was a time of fear of communism growing in America, and proves the how similar the two events were, and how they are important. As a political allegory of the red scare, Miller’s relatively accurate comparison between the red scare and the Salem Witch Trials through The Crucible demonstrates the theme of subjective reality versus objective realityRead MoreEssay about The Crucible by Arthur Miller981 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible was based in 1692 in and around the town of Salem, Massachusetts, USA. The Salem witch-hunt was view as one of the strangest and most horrendous chapters in the human history. People that were prosecuted were all innocent and their deaths were all due to false accusation of people’s ridiculous belief in superstition and their paranoia. The Puritans in those times were very strict in personal habits and morality; swearing, drunkenness and gambling would be punished. The peopleRead MoreThe Human Lust For Power By Arthur Miller1689 Words   |  7 PagesThe human lust for power is a concept that is universally evident across both the historical and literary worlds. Historians and philosophers alike constantly analyze its corrupting influence and recursive nature. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, however, highlights a different facet of power: the means by which individuals strive to obtain it. In particular, he focuses on social power and the use of accusatory labels, such as â€Å"witch,† to obtain this power. The story is also a clear extended analogyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1191 Words   |  5 PagesThe Crucible Author s Purpose In the town of Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a mass of hysteria broke out. It all started in the spring of 1692, when a group of adolescent girls claimed the works of black magic within the village. This ultimately led to a â€Å"series of investigations and prosecutions that caused 19 convicted ‘witches’ to be hanged and many other suspects to be imprisoned† (Salem witch trials 1). Sparked by interest over such a series of tragic event, Arthur Miller produced anRead More Looking at the similarities and context of the plays; The Crucible,1001 Words   |  5 PagesLooking at the similarities and context of the plays; The Crucible, St. Joan and Antigone I shall be comparing the following three plays: The Crucible, St. Joan, and Antigone. I will be analysing the plays contents so that I can look at the similarities between the three of them and communicating the ideas that each of the three main characters have similar characteristics. The Crucible was written by playwright Arthur Miller and was first produced in 1953. The play is set in Salem, MassachusettsRead MoreReligion And Religion1112 Words   |  5 Pagesin the 17th century. Though these ideas were a way of life at one point in time, if these ideas were applied to our government today the process and sentencing would not be as extreme as the they were in the distant past. Religion is one of the foundation of politics, and the application of puritan beliefs in politics are the reason why we have some of the laws we do today. In â€Å"Puritan Laws and Character†, an article written by a historian named Henry William Elson, wrote â€Å"...the most striking featureRead MoreAdversity In The Great Gatsby1118 Words   |  5 PagesDespite the outdated settings and characters in many novels, the stories and the lessons they contain are still valued and relevant to a contemporary society. Books provide the reader with an escape from the adversity of reality and place them in the fantasies and dreams of the main characters. Along with emotion, a novel should teach people lessons and the morality of actions and their consequences. Although some books may vainly appear as obsolete and forgotten, each story shares a different voice