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 Clear and Effective but Dull January 11, 2008
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Arthur Miller's Crucible is an eloquent rebuttal of the Red Scare and the McCarthyism of the time period in which this work was written. But it does not bear the mark of brilliance. Straightforward and simple in both its story and language, The Crucible is an effective albeit unremarkable work on the Salem witch trials.
Both the plot and the characters perform the necessary tasks, but are also basic. Trying to describe the plot and characters, my mind immediately wanders to some more curious topic. The story is typical. Evil is in the form of those prosecuting innocent men and women, falsely accusing others in the hope of acquiring land. Good comes in the form of those who resist. John Proctor plays a protagonist, with supporting protagonists, Abigail a sort of seductress, and the court fills in the role of of villain. People hang others, people resist those doing the hanging. Paranoia dominates. Miller succeeds in critiquing the hysteria over communism during the 1950s. But the story is plain and unmoving.
In Miller's case, style mimics the plot and characters. The play's style is also plain, reminiscent of the King James Bible. Miller's diction is simple and unaffected, and in light of many other books, this is an asset. However, in the light of great books, The Crucible is lacking.
Though it makes its point, Arthur Miller's Crucible is an unremarkable work.
 Absolutely AMAZING work of art! December 28, 2007
The Crucible is my absolute FAVORITE piece of literature. It definitely is one of the best pieces of literature ever written. It's moving and beautiful in every way.
A+ June 8, 2007
This will remain, in my opinoin, one of the best pieces of literature ever written.
 The Crucible-a moving story January 31, 2007
I have recently read 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to everyone. This was a moving and rather depressing story of the Salem witch trials but I loved it. Abigail is a young girl who, with other girls in the town, claims to be tortured by spectors (spirits) in the village of Salem, but really just makes these accusations up. But these aren't just friendly accusattions. If you are accused of being a witch you can confess and "come back to God" and be fogiven, or you can deny the accusation all together and be hanged.
This is an intense story of love, courage, and tragedy and how the peculiar town of Salem reacts to all of these.If you can handle this great tear-jerker, then I highly recommend it.
Good Play January 12, 2007
A quick read considering it being a play, the Crucible offers some insight into the victims and those involved in the Salem Witch Trials.
Since it was a play, Miller's style did not amaze me in anyway, but i enjoyed the play aspect in this case, since it was something different from the typical read. Instead of the common vivid descriptions or the over the head type of figurative language, Miller uses subtle detail to create the same effect, it is hard to explain just how, but each minor detail seems to add so much to the picture projected in my mind, and it really seemed as if a play was held before me.
I could see everything--the fear in the people's eyes, the tension between every conversation. There may not have been a lot of words, but I felt that even the single "no.. no.. " told a lot.
Most shocking was the inhumane--yet ironically humanly--moral depictions of the characters. I was surprised with their extremely careful eye for reputation and name--to the point of setting up innocent friends and family to the sacrificial alter to calm the fearing people. So much for honestly, so much for loyalty. The people were monsters when it came to saving themselves at the cost of anybody. Though disgusted as I was with these characters, I was more a little shaken myself. Looking now to the type of society around me, I could envision another enactment of the witch trials. Yes, it was inhumane; yes, it could have been avoided. BUT, I find that many of the characters' flawed traits still exist in today's society. We see people hiding secrets, hurting others, telling lies, to save their own name. We see people dressing up with hope of impressing--or sometimes, deceiving--others. Society today still has its hand tightly gripped on reputation, and it doesn't seem as if it is letting go soon.
Rather than the typical history lesson, The Crucible is a drama that tells a lot. Love triangles, back stabbing, and affairs flood the story, and characters with every aspect revealed hold it up. The Crucible was meant to depict the mind settings and the circumstances of the people involved in the Salem Witch Trials--and it did just that.
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