"The Crucible"

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. Specifically, it discusses whether justice was denied to those accused during the Salem Witch trials. The paper describes the 17th century justice system and how belief systems, superstition and religion blended to corrupt the system and condemn innocent victims. It discusses "The Crucible" in the context of this history.

From the Paper:

"If only considering the facts of the play, which are based on historical characters and documents, it is easier to see how the courts could and would rule for witchcraft. The pious Puritans of the day took the Devil and his powers seriously, and it was entirely possible to them that the Devil could (and would) bewitch children in order to bring new, innocent blood into his demonic world. However, using today's less rigid religious standards make the outcome of the trials seem ridiculous and completely unjust. Today, most people do not consider witchcraft a reality, and so, basing a court decision on the confession of bewitched young women seems almost ludicrous. As critic Bloom maintains, "Today's audience cannot take the possibility of witchcraft seriously; the implication for us is that no enlightened citizen of any age would be able to take it seriously" (Bloom 45). Thus, if the reader places himself or herself in the 17th century, the verdicts against the accused might make more sense, but they still indicate a lack of justice and reliance on the law."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003.
• The Crucible. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1999.

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