Arthur Miller

Coles Publishing Company. Editorial Board

A literary study guide that includes summaries and commentaries.

Notes

The Crucible

"I believe that the reader will discover here the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history," Arthur Miller wrote of his classic play about the witch-hunts and trials in seventeenth-century Salem, Massachusetts. Based on historical people and real events, Miller's drama is a searing portrait of a community engulfed by hysteria. In the rigid theocracy of Salem, rumors that women are practicing witchcraft galvanize the town's most basic fears and suspicions; and when a young girl accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, self-righteous church leaders and townspeople insist that Elizabeth be brought to trial. The ruthlessness of the prosecutors and the eagerness of neighbor to testify against neighbor brilliantly illuminates the destructive power of socially sanctioned violence.

Written in 1953, The Crucible is a mirror Miller uses to reflect the anti-communist hysteria inspired by Senator Joseph McCarthy's "witch-hunts" in the United States. Within the text itself, Miller contemplates the parallels, writing, "Political opposition... is given an inhumane overlay, which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized behavior. A political policy is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence."
--back cover

Tali ⋆.˚🦋༘⋆

PROCTOR: You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!

PROCTOR: ...God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands, I know you must see it now.

It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked were, but naked now. 

oh you tell that hag, becky girl. so real. she's like "uhm chile idgaf bye." ikdr 🙂‍↕️

REVEREND HALE: I cannot tell. If she is truly in the Devil’s grip, we may have to rip and tear to get her free.

REBECCA: I think I’ll go, then. I am too old for this.

I know you. She is weeping. I cannot sleep for dreamin‘. I cannot dream, but I wake and walk about the house as though I’d find you comin’ through some door. She clutches him desperately.

RIP abigail williams, you would've loooved megan thee stallion and victoria monet

ABIGAIL: I know how you clutched my back behind your house and I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near!

ABIGAIL: They want slaves, not such as I. Let them send to Barbados for: They want slaves, not such as I. Let them send to Barbados for that. I will not black my face for any of them! With ill--concealed resentment at him: concealed resentment at him: Do you begrudge my bed, uncle?

Arthur Miller's classic parable of mass hysteria draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch-hunt of 1692 - 'one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history' - and the McCarthyism which gripped America in the 1950s. The story of how the small community of Salem is stirred into madness by superstition, paranoia and malice, culminating in a violent climax, is a savage attack on the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false accusations.

A Play in Four Acts

audrey 🪐

The Crucible.

A Joan of Arc aspect without as much or any religious inspiration

Zeke Taylor

this play is obviously a play to teach a lesson not a play to tell a story. which is fine but like the lesson i feel doesnt hold up in the modern day, which is why i rated this lower cause it was just hard to resonate with me. 

the writing is good though and i enjoyed the extra scene that was in my version. 

alice l

this play is obviously a play to teach a lesson not a play to tell a story. which is fine but like the lesson i feel doesnt hold up in the modern day, which is why i rated this lower cause it was just hard to resonate with me. 

the writing is good though and i enjoyed the extra scene that was in my version. 

"The Crucible" is an outstanding play by Arthur Miller that explores the most sinister aspects of human nature as well as the treacherous boundaries of societal mistrust and paranoia. Set during the Salem witch trials, it investigates widespread subjects that resonate over time and culture. Miller revealed the fragility of truth, the effects of insanity, and the struggle for intelligence via masterfully constructed characters and astounding storytelling.

The characters from "The Crucible" are multi-dimensional and profoundly imperfect, making them both relatable and haunting. It's worth noting that a few readers, like myself, may find Abigail Williams to be a compelling character, in spite of her ethically flawed actions. Of course, she was one of the main antagonists, however, I was impressed by her absolute 

 energy to continue lying to get what she wants.

Having read and studied the play twice, I wholeheartedly agree with its status as a literary gem!

"The Crucible" is an outstanding play by Arthur Miller that explores the most sinister aspects of human nature as well as the treacherous boundaries of societal mistrust and paranoia. Set during the Salem witch trials, it investigates widespread subjects that resonate over time and culture. Miller revealed the fragility of truth, the effects of insanity, and the struggle for intelligence via masterfully constructed characters and astounding storytelling.

The characters from "The Crucible" are multi-dimensional and profoundly imperfect, making them both relatable and haunting. It's worth noting that a few readers, like myself, may find Abigail Williams to be a compelling character, in spite of her ethically flawed actions. Of course, she was one of the main antagonists, however, I was impressed by her absolute girlboss energy to continue lying to get what she wants.

Having read and studied the play twice, I wholeheartedly agree with its status as a literary gem!

Someone of the worse voice acting you’ll ever encounter. 

Jeremy Boyd

God forbid a 17 year old girl have a little bit of fun in the forest 

jaya kohol

sani

only read this book because there was a mention of it in another book. if the book tried to make me sympathise proctor then it was a waste because i would never sympathise with a cheater like him. the whole book really tried to paint abigail like a monster.

"First published in the United States of America by Viking Penguin Inc. 1953"--title page verso.

Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld

I give Miller’s play five stars, the added material in the form of essays, reviews and excerpts from different texts gets four stars.

Rahmat Junaid

rhegan🧋

Sydney Minick

Mythos

Its not the worst book I've read and it's not the best either. I would have rated it higher if I wasn't forced to have read it in class and then have to analyze it.

Anna

I cried...I thought i wouldn't. But I did. Like a baby.

My English teacher sucks but this play doesn’t 

Delaney LaFalce

enya

IB English lit you will pay for what you've done...

Katherine Yang

THANK you, English class. Also, watching the movie at the same time didn't hurt :)

angie

The Crucible (Penguin Modern Classics)

Julia Lotz

Inhalt: Arthur Miller's depiction of innocent men and women destroyed by malicious rumour, The Crucible is a powerful indictment of McCarthyism and the 'frontier mentality' of Cold War America, published in Penguin Modern Classics. Arthur Miller's classic parable of mass hysteria draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch-hunt of 1692 - 'one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history' - and the American anti-communist purges led by Senator McCarthy in the 1950s. The story of how the small community of Salem is stirred into madness by superstition, paranoia and malice, culminating in a violent climax, is a savage attack on the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false accusations. Arthur Miller (1915-2005), American dramatist, was born in New York City. In 1938 Miller won awards for his comedy The Grass Still Grows. His major achievement was Death of a Salesman, which won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for drama and the 1949 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. The Crucible was aimed at the widespread congressional investigation of subversive activities in the US; the drama won the 1953 Tony Award. Miller's autobiography, Timebends: A Life was published in 1987. If you enjoyed The Crucible, you might like Miller's Death of a Salesman, also available in Penguin Modern Classics. 'One of a handful of great plays that will both survive the twentieth century and bear witness to it' John Peter, Sunday Times (Quelle: Amazon)

Vor der Rezension: In Klassik Edition stelle ich euch Rezensionen zu etwas anderen Büchern vor. Bücher, die ich vielleicht im Zuge der Uni gelesen habe, vielleicht auch ein bisschen out-of-comfort privat und die eine Rezension wert sind. Ich spreche von Büchern, die viele unter euch als nervige Schullektüre bezeichnen würden. Mit der Ausnahme, dass die Bücher, die ich hier bespreche teilweise auch weg gehen von dem Lektürekanon. Ich möchte euch mit diesen Rezensionen zeigen, dass Klassiker auch toll sein können und da besondere Bücher auch besondere Rezensionen erfordern, werde ich die Rezensionen der Klassik Edition anders aufbauen als alle anderen. Schreibstil und Co sind bei diesen Büchern nicht wichtig. Der ist eh anders und meistens gewöhnungsbedürftig. Nein, ich möchte Literatur solcher Art kontextualisieren und weg gehen von „Was will der Autor uns damit sagen?“. Und wer weiß, vielleicht kann ich euch ja sogar dazu animieren den einen oder anderen Klassiker zu lesen und zu lieben. 

Meine Meinung: Nicht nur das Cover der schönen Penguin Modern Classics-Edition hat mich angezogen. Arthur Miller sollte man meiner Meinung nach wenigstens einmal gelesen haben und The Crucible klingt so spannend, dass es ganz oben auf meiner Liste stand. 
Die Weltgeschichte hat viele dunkle Kapitel geschrieben. Weltkriege, Kreuzzüge, Seuchen. Eines dieser Kapitel, eines, das mich gleichzeitig fasziniert und abschreckt, ist die Hexenverfolgung. Von historischer Genauigkeit kann man bei Millers Werk, welches dieses Thema behandelt, nicht sprechen. Die Schicksale sind ausgedacht, Namen erfunden aber den Wahnsinn zu dieser Zeit, den kann keiner erfinden. Und so hat dieses Werk seine ganz eigene Genauigkeit und Schrecklichkeit, die für uns heute kaum nachvollziehbar sind. Das Drama spielt 1692 im amerikanischen Salem und der herrschende Puritanismus damals, hat die ganze Situation dort sicher noch einmal verschlimmert oder sogar erst möglich gemacht. 

Puritanịsmus

der, -, die Geisteshaltung der Puritaner. Im Mittelpunkt des Puritanismus steht das »studium purioris religionis« (Studium der reineren Religion); seinen Ausdruck findet er in einem biblizistischen Bibelverständnis (Biblizismus),der sabbatähnlichen Sonntagsheiligung, einer durch strenge Selbstzucht geprägten Ethik und der Ablehnung vonUnterhaltung, Vergnügungen und Zerstreuung im weitesten Sinn (z. B. Tanz,Theater, Kunst). Der Puritanismusstand mit seiner Innerlichkeit, die sich u. a. in einer eigenen, tendenziell weltflüchtigen Erbauungsliteratur darstellte, in Opposition zur anglikanisch-katholischen Politik und Kirchenstruktur und zeigte erst nach dem Ausbruch der Revolution 1642 das eigene politische Potenzial. Sein presbyterianisches Gesellschafts- und Kirchenverständnis hat England sowie die Einflussgebiete in Nordamerika bis in die Gegenwart stark beeinflusst. Seiner religions- und geistesgeschichtlicher Bedeutung entsprechend, fand der Puritanismus breiten Niederschlag in der angelsächsischen Literatur (amerikanische Literatur, englische Literatur). (Quelle: http://universal_lexikon.deacademic.c...)

Mädchen tanzen im Wald. Das ist im Puritanismus eine Sünde und da die Mädchen selbst nicht schuldig sein wollen, täuschen sie Krankheiten vor, die nicht anders erklärt werden können, als dass sie Teufelswerk sind. So denunziert bald jeder jeden, mit dem er noch eine Rechnung offen hat und die Stadt versinkt in Chaos. Aus diesem Chaos entstehen persönliche Schicksale von denen wir lesen. So ist The Crucible ein sehr ernstes und ja, irgendwie auch ein sehr trauriges Werk, was berührt und den Leser diese Zeit reflektieren lässt.

An dieser Stelle möchte ich nun auch noch einmal sehr gerne auf die Sprache eingehen. The Crucible ist kein alter Schinken aber dennoch ziemlich alt. Anspruchsvoll ist dieses Werk so oder so und das führt dazu, dass das Englisch nicht unbedingt leicht ist. Die Redewendungen sind alt, die Wortwahl größtenteils schwer und so eignet sich das Drama nicht unbedingt für den Anfang. Greift zu diesem Werk, wenn ihr ein sehr gutes und fortgeschrittenes Schulenglisch habt oder schon länger/häufiger englische Bücher lest. 


Bewertung: The Crucible ist ein gefühlsgewaltiges und wundervoll geschriebenes Drama aus der Feder von Arthur Miller. Trotz einiger Längen überzeugt es und verdient von mir 4 von 5 Füchschen. Ein Klassiker, den jeder gelesen haben sollte. Falls ihr lieber zur deutschen Übersetzung greifen wollt: Sie ist unter dem Titel Hexenjagd bei diversen Verlagen erschienen.

Courtney Gendreau

Really good play, I enjoyed it very much. I wish Williams would have gotten what she deserved.

Lana Palacios

This play was indeed enjoyable, but I couldn't help to think that the beginning was a little slow paced and a bit confusing, but other than that, it's a book worth reading! 4/5 stars definitely

l.h.

horny teenager causes murders and religious fervor. more at 11.

Rach

nina

i think this is another play about the potential of questioning an idea that would've been much better handled by a woman. the fact that this is about witch hunts but centres a man as the core victim of these hunts, the one who we're rooting for... really misses the point of what criticism of the witch trials is about.

i also could not care less for a man who labels holding rapists accountable as a witch hunt.

Stacey 

I was invested up to the halfway point but then got uninterested. I got bored and didn’t care how it ended, just wanted it to end already.

The Crucible Notes

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