The Crucible in MHSHS Reading Group

Oct 18, 2010 Svitlana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I LOVED Arthur Miller's motivations and ideas behind the play! Even though the text itself did bore me a little as a reader, but I still strongly recommend to read it. Although the play portrays Puritans and their religious social hierarchy, the author's purpose is clearly visible between the lines. Isn't it awesome that you don't only get to read "The Crucible" but also become part of Miller's perception of government and the fundamental principles society operated upon in the 1950's??? Like "A ...more

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Oct 17, 2010 Eliza Brittni rated it really liked it

The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953. This was a time where communism was a big issue. Fear and paranoia was seen through out the country known as the “Red Scare”. This lead to the idea of McCarthyism, which is the idea that one is guilty of “disloyalty, subversion, or treason” without any significant evidence. This leads to the use of scapegoats, and Arthur Miller was used as one himself. He therefore wrote this allegory The Crucible. It takes place during the Salam Witch tri ...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Mandy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I think I understand this book...until my teacher asks me questions that required deeper thoughts. I like how this book was put into a dialogue form. It keeps the boring descriptions out. Because of there are short descriptions of scene, and action, it is easier for me to imagine. It is also easier for me to understand it this way.

Reverend Parris appeared at the first scene wanting to rescue his daughter deceived me into believeing that Parris was the protagonist meanwhile, he was accually somew I think I understand this book...until my teacher asks me questions that required deeper thoughts. I like how this book was put into a dialogue form. It keeps the boring descriptions out. Because of there are short descriptions of scene, and action, it is easier for me to imagine. It is also easier for me to understand it this way.

Reverend Parris appeared at the first scene wanting to rescue his daughter deceived me into believeing that Parris was the protagonist meanwhile, he was accually somewhat against the real protagonist John Proctor. Devil was the real antagonist of play even though Abigail played a whole role of helping the Devil. Faithful believers, like Rebecca Nurse, were being accused of wrongdoings when in reality, I think they didn't commit any crime.

I think this is a tragety because the protagonist ends up being hanged. I think Governor Danforth didn't know how to tell between lies and truths. Even if he might realized the truth, he was too full of hubris to admit it because he was the governor. I realized that most character came out of the play one way, after few scenes, they reveal their personality and had another characteristics. For example, Parris came out wanting to save his daughter, and praying for her, but what he really wanted was not to have witchcraft or anything near witches in his house. Proctor came out of the scene debating Parris, who I thought was originally good; so Proctor came out rebelling, but he ended up being the scapegoat of the devil.

Parris, I think, suspected Abigail of doing witchcraft, but he didn't want to admit that he was wrong, he kept on supporting Abigail going against Proctor. Abigail, though, was one first that was antagonist from beginning to the end. She was two-faced, and we saw the other face when her "girls" were at scene. Abigail used the accusation of witchcraft and wanted to be wife of Proctor, but in the end, she accused Proctor in order to save herself. Like my teacher said, I agree that this act of dancing in the forest was just few teenager trying to express and release themselves out of the tightness of the society instead of doing witchcraft. ...more

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Oct 11, 2010 Mohammad rated it it was ok

The allegorical play of "The Crucible", written by Arthur Miller, had depicted what lengths people would go through in order to assert power, "other" many people, and keep themselves from being the ones who were debauched. Miller's characters had represented people from the 1950s. Such that the people who were being accused as witches, were the people who were being accused of being communists. Like in the Red Scare, where McCarthyism was prevalent, and people were accused of being communists, ...more

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Oct 14, 2010 Ling rated it really liked it

I just finished this book.
While I was reading, I was very angry at people who are accusing others, at girls who are pretending all these times and act innocently to take away people's lives. It's a shame that those judges actually believe in them and hang people who don't "confess".
This play is an allegory that refers to the "Witch Hunt" Communists in 1950s. Miller was one of the victims.
The story of this play originated from an affair between Proctor and Abigail. It is the stupidness and veno ...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Xing rated it really liked it

I think Abigail is an evil character in the book. She is the one who starts the whole accusation of witchcraft. She accused other people for thing that they didn’t do which caused the accusers to use other people as scapegoat. It’s like a chain reaction, more and more people got involved in the trial.

Within The Crucible, there are also presents of Othering. However, reputation played an important role in the society. Normally, the people who suffered from Othering and accusation had a lower sta ...more

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Oct 16, 2010 Sanum rated it really liked it

Wow, This book was just CRAZY! I don't get how anyone could be so ridiculous to believe this. This book really shows the differences in Puritan society, and in American society today. It is very hard for religion to be a part of state because morals always come in between the laws made. This is one of the paradoxes of Puritan society.
This Puritan Society was full of hate, Proctor's hate of Puritan government, and going to the church to listen to Parris' teachings. Elizabeth's hate of Abigail,th ...more

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Oct 18, 2010 Sabrina rated it really liked it

In the beginning I thought Miller's play was going to be similar to that Anne Hutchinson that we read in Ms.Moore's history class. However, Miller based his play on the scapegoating occurring in his present day society in the 1950s. McCarthyism was occuring at the time Miller published this book. I love the way Miller weaved in his opinions of McCarthyism using paradoxes within the play. He based the play off his experience during the Red Scare in the 1950s when he was accused of being a communi ...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Laura rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller was about a puritan society containing many conflicts. There wre people being accused of witchcraft and many lies were going around, which is not allowerd in a Puritan society. There is also lust going around, between a very young, and beuatiful girl and an older man. There are scapegoats in the society and many people are being othered. I thought this play was okay, but quite boring to read. As i read it, i couldn't seem to focus on it. I think one of th ...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Sutapa rated it really liked it

This was a perfect book to show examples of othering, hubris, and the voice of reason. The characters in the book were full of hubris which led them to "scapegoat" others. The book talks a lot about witchcraft but the author has a skillful way of talking about Puritanism and it's values on society. Overall the book was interesting and very descriptive. ...more

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Oct 11, 2010 Jahziel rated it really liked it

“The Crucible”, written by Arthur Miller takes place in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem witch trials. Constant scapegoat usage causes the imprisonment of many innocent townspeople. These trials were not only prejudiced but it was also unfair. Throughout the play, one can see the lies and conspiracy that takes place behind the doors of a Puritan society. It definitely demonstrates and shows that even in the purest societies, the use of scapegoat is prominent as it is today in many societie ...more

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Nov 05, 2008 Sarah rated it it was amazing

This book was wonderful and full of love, hate, trust, and jealousy. It was a very dramatical and intense. I learned that the people that you love may not always be the most honest. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a drama.

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