Set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, Arthur Miller's The Crucible depicts the witch hunts that saw harmless people hanged for crimes they didn't engage in. The Crucible provides an accurate historical account of the witch hunts, but its real success lies in the many important issues it addresses. Miller's concerns with conscience, guilt, and justice develop into significant and thought-provoking themes throughout the work. These themes are developed through the characters of Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Lieutenant Governor Danforth. The Crucible is even more successful when you consider the broader relevance of these issues. This particularly occurs when the themes of the work are examined in relation to events that occurred during the time Miller was writing. The inhibitions born of the Puritan values of the time are perhaps what forced Abigail Williams into such evil behavior. Abigail and the girls are not allowed the freedom to have fun, a point illustrated by their fear that their parents will find out that they were dancing in the forest. Later, as the girls successfully accuse more and more people of witchcraft, they begin to seek revenge on the adults in their lives who oppressed them and whom, until now, they were forced to obey tirelessly. Abigail Williams describes Miller's concern with guilt and conscience. When talking about the Salem witch hunts, Miller talks about "men handing over their consciences to other men." This delivery of consciousness is one of Miller's most important concerns in the play. When people free themselves from the responsibility of their conscience, they are no longer able to feel guilt and their sense of right and wrong is left more central to the card than the alleged threats themselves. This is because people lose their sense of justice through the “surrender” of conscience and the elimination of guilt. The fact that this pattern repeats throughout history indicates Miller's mastery: he recognizes a crucial concern of the individual in society. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible the issues of the "surrender" of conscience, the shedding of guilt, and the administration of justice are presented to create masterful drama. The Crucible addresses issues crucial to all people of all times and is therefore a timeless and highly important work. Works cited and consulted Karlsen, Carol. The Devil in the Form of a Woman, Witchcraft in Colonial New England. Robinson, Enders. The Devil Discovered, Salem Witchcraft 1692.Starkey, Marion. The devil in Massachusetts.

Topic > Set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, Arthur Miller's The Crucible depicts the witch hunts that saw harmless people hanged for crimes they didn't engage in. The Crucible provides an accurate historical account of the witch hunts, but its real success lies in the many important issues it addresses. Miller's concerns with conscience, guilt, and justice develop into significant and thought-provoking themes throughout the work. These themes are developed through the characters of Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Lieutenant Governor Danforth. The Crucible is even more successful when you consider the broader relevance of these issues. This particularly occurs when the themes of the work are examined in relation to events that occurred during the time Miller was writing. The inhibitions born of the Puritan values of the time are perhaps what forced Abigail Williams into such evil behavior. Abigail and the girls are not allowed the freedom to have fun, a point illustrated by their fear that their parents will find out that they were dancing in the forest. Later, as the girls successfully accuse more and more people of witchcraft, they begin to seek revenge on the adults in their lives who oppressed them and whom, until now, they were forced to obey tirelessly. Abigail Williams describes Miller's concern with guilt and conscience. When talking about the Salem witch hunts, Miller talks about "men handing over their consciences to other men." This delivery of consciousness is one of Miller's most important concerns in the play. When people free themselves from the responsibility of their conscience, they are no longer able to feel guilt and their sense of right and wrong is left more central to the card than the alleged threats themselves. This is because people lose their sense of justice through the “surrender” of conscience and the elimination of guilt. The fact that this pattern repeats throughout history indicates Miller's mastery: he recognizes a crucial concern of the individual in society. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible the issues of the "surrender" of conscience, the shedding of guilt, and the administration of justice are presented to create masterful drama. The Crucible addresses issues crucial to all people of all times and is therefore a timeless and highly important work. Works cited and consulted Karlsen, Carol. The Devil in the Form of a Woman, Witchcraft in Colonial New England. Robinson, Enders. The Devil Discovered, Salem Witchcraft 1692.Starkey, Marion. The devil in Massachusetts.