Part 1 of a reflection about the "Crucible play"

Last February 24 2010, in school we had a play called " The Crucible " by Arthur Miller .The play was performed by our professors and students who were members of our theater group in school.

The different layers in the play , compose of the different emotions that were caused by the suppression of women’s emotions, thoughts and actions have led to the sudden “ explosion” of wanting to be free, to imagine and express themselves have led for different emotions to occur that have somehow affected the society of the Puritans during that time. The emotions shown in this play, can be considered the first layer of emotions: lust, infidelity, corruption, greed, extreme traditionalists , honor , faith and dignity.

Like a water that is begin heated to boil, nothing can be suppressed forever. There is always a need to express oneself, may it be their emotions, point of views or options. During the Puritans time in Salem, women and children were not allowed to express themselves, even teenagers because it went against their religious context and the norm of society. “ Women they believed should be totally subservient to men” , we can assume that because of this Abigail Williams “submitted” to john proctor who became attracted to her , ( I’m waiting for you every night” –Abigail) and began an affair behind Elizabeth’s back.

We can consider that Abigail and Tabitha were the so called “proclaimed leaders” who have led other girls teenagers mostly to “rituals in the Salem forest over a fire” .Abigail devoted to the idea that John Proctor loves her, tries to “eliminate” Elizabeth so she and John can marry. When she, Betty and the other girls are caught she begins to accuse peoples within the society of using witchcraft, with first the proclaimed outcast of society and then going up to her main target Elizabeth , she believes that she and john can marry if Elizabeth is eliminated.

We see how innocent people are accused because of greed like Giles Corey , who in the play unconsciously places his wife Martha in risk, when he “ describes her as reading strange books , and his inability to pray when she is reading” he unconsciously condemns his own wife to die, he dies soon after “peine forte et dure” because he chooses to be silent then answer yes or no to the charges of witchcraft against him. But because of his silence, his children will still be able to inherit the estate “ it is the law, for he could not condemn a wizard without any answer the indictment”- Elizabeth Proctor