Salem Witch Trials In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller writes a jaw-dropping play about the Salem witch trials, titled, The Crucible. In this drama, Miller describes the hysteria that overcame Salem during the 1690’s. Using a historical background, but writing the play as fiction, allows for Miller to incorporate key details of the Salem witch trials, while also keeping the audience on the edge of their seats by creating even more dramatic events compared to the real life witch trials. Miller uses John Proctor, a Salem farmer, and Reverend Hale, a Beverly minister, as characters to describe the truths of the witch trials, while also adding in more drama to the play. Through the crucible that they undergo, both Rev. Hale and John Proctor come to an understanding about the truths of

Hale discovered the truths of their time period, while repenting for their sins, by eventually dismissing the witch hunt as mistakes. John Proctor discusses with Elizabeth, that he wishes she would forgive him and stop judging him. “Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’… I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!” (Miller 54-55). John Proctor admits the truth about the affair to Elizabeth again, but Miller now uses this confession to prove to the audience the truth. “I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day,” (Miller 55). Rev. Hale appears at the home of Elizabeth and John Proctor, demanding that John recite the Ten Commandments, because he has not attended church frequently. John recites all the commandments, but one and Miller ironically makes him forget none other than, Thou shall not commit adultery. Elizabeth aids John, by supplying the last one, “Adultery, John.” (Miller 67) Johns immediately turns towards Rev. Hale, as though a secret arrow had pained his heart “Aye.” Trying to grin it away – to Hale: “You see, sir, between the two of us we do know them all.”