"The Crucible" by Arhtur Miller.

Essay by UifzHigh School, 11th gradeA, December 2003

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

Downloaded 38 times

Critical Analysis "The Crucible"

History tends to repeat itself. People forget the lessons that should have been learned from past mistakes, no matter how dire the consequences had been. The 1990 film "Guilty by Suspicion" which recreates the story of the "Blacklist Era" in Hollywood in the 1950's when accusations of communist activities rocked the creative community has many comparisons that can be drawn between those involved in the blacklisting Guilty by Suspicion, and the characters from Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," who played important roles in the Salem witch trials in the late 1600's. The character, John Proctor, a farmer in The Crucible, similar to David Merrill in Guilty by Suspicion. Both John and David tell the truth, neither of them will confess to something they did not do, and they both want to keep their names.

Both John and David tell the truth; well at least they tell what they know.

"I have known her sir, I have known her" stated John (Act II). He knows this is what he has to do to free his wife, so he reveals his biggest secret. When David is confronted about being a communist, he tells them that he had gone to a few meetings, but he never signed up for anything. They both thought that if they told the truth they would be let go, or let off easier. Apparently life is not always what we think it is and it is definitely not as easy as we think it is. What is a good reason to lie? All it does is get you into more trouble, so if you tell the truth to begin with everything will be a lot easier.

John and David are both fearful of what might happen to them if they...