The Crucible was first produced as a
play in the 1950s. I selected this book for a few reasons: (1) a friend
of mine told me she read this book and it changed her way of thinking about
books, reading, and literature in general; (2) the story is about the Salem
witch trials and stories about witches sounds interesting; (3) I thought it
would be interesting to read a play with its different format; and (4) the book
is short, only 145 pages. I really have never likes reading so I thought
maybe I will be changed like my friend and become a better reader. If I
don’t like the book, then at least it’s short and about witchcraft and
something that really happened.
After reading the introduction, I am
confused. It says that the setting is 17th Century Salem,
Massachusetts, but it was written in 1950s, during a time of war and hysteria
over communism. So, the play was designed to be a contemporary parallel
to McCarthyism. I looked up McCarthyism (phrase coined in the
1950s). A United States Senator, Joseph McCarthy, was the person behind
the term. Wikipedia states that: “McCarthyism is the practice of making
accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for
evidence. It also means the practice of making unfair allegations or using
unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or
political criticism.’
The Crucible’s plot will compare America’s
heightened fears of espionage and communist influence to America’s heightened
fears of witches and warlocks and more generally an intolerance for people with
different beliefs. I think this part sounds a little too deep. I
was hoping to read about witchcraft and hangings rather than a history
lesson. But I am keeping an open mind because the theme of intolerance for
people who are different will be something I can relate to and could be
relevant for any time.
