Arthur MillerÆs (1995) The Crucible is a drama I highly recommend for a number of reasons. The play, focusing on the Salem witch trials, exhibits socio-political and artistic values that remain highly relevant to modern readers. MillerÆs play demonstrates that separation of church and state creates an important check-and-balance on the dangers of power stemming from religious ideology that aims at persecution of the ôother.ö This recommendation will provide an analysis of the play, followed by a discussion of its socio-political and artistic values that make it relevant to modern readers.
In MillerÆs (1995) The Crucible, we are treated to the witch trials in Salem, brought about by false accusations, political ambitions, and fear and paranoia. Combined, these forces create among the townspeople what Christopher Bigsby labels, in his introduction to the play, ôthe breaking of charity with one anotherö (Miller 1995, xv). The town is thrown into a panic when seven seemingly healthy babies die. Reverend ParrisÆ political ambitions and strange goings on in his own home make him determined to attack others as the cause of these happenings. Because of the religious ideology that is perpetuated by the townÆs religious and judicial leaders, Miller (1995) maintains the play illustrates the settling of old scores ôon a plane of heavenly combat between Lucifer and the Lordö (7).
In light of such a good versus evil mentality and the combined forces of religion and politics, those who oppose the court proceedings are immediately viewed as guilty. While John Proctor is guilty of sexual sin, he is not guilty of witch craft. None of the individuals accused and/or punished as witches are guilty either. Individuals like Mrs. Putnam, out of fear and paranoia, and individuals like Parris and Hale, out of political ambition and moral superiority, add fuel to the witch craze. As Mrs. Put
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