For readers unaware of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," it is a three act play. The scene opens in Salem, Massachusetts in the late 16th century. The character of focus at the beginning is Parris, a Salem reverend. His daughter is lying in bed, unmoving and sick. She is ten years old. Evidently, Parris' servant is a practitioner of witchcraft, and Revered Parris saw his girls dancing in the forest with her. In the colonial day and age, Parris accuses Tituba, his servant, of bewitching the girl. He sends for John Hale, a minister and witch hunter, to heal his daughter, and find the true background story of the witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
Thus far, The Crucible's themes have been those warning against theocracy and narrow minded thinking. Judging that this came out around the era of McCarthyism, it may be that Senator Joseph McCarthy's biased views toward communism influenced the state of affairs in this Massachusetts town.
All in all an interesting read so far, and finally one I can sympathize with.
No comments:
Post a Comment