I think I've only read one other play by Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman, and it was for American History class in high school. I don't really remember what I thought of Death of a Salesman.

I picked up The Crucible because I've been listening to the podcast Girl Historians, and this season has been about the Salem Witch Trials. Also, I've been feeling angsty lately so I wanted to read something a bit darker than the romcoms on my shelf.

the best part of reading this book in my 9th grade english class was acting out the trials.

Rating: 3.5/5
This book pleasantly surprised me, I really enjoyed reading about the Salem witch trails and the ending is so memorable. It’s fast paced, quick, and unforgettable.

I picked up this play (finally) after watching the Tony Awards and seeing it nominated in the “best revival” category. It had always been on my list of things to get to eventually, but once I started reading it, it quickly became eerily appropriate given today’s social and political climate. I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much.

hings I Liked

1. Cross-Temporal Parallels: This play is so popular in part because it refuses to be bound by time. Miller wrote it to speak to the Red Scare in the 1950s, but I think it even goes further than that. With USA politics and media engrossed in Islamophobia and racism, I can’t help but think about the message that The Crucible sends about power and corruption and violence is as pertinent today as it was when Miller first wrote it.

2. Prose: Miller’s writing style flawlessly blends a lyrical voice with 17th century manners of speech. There are beautiful passages sprinkled throughout the play, and to hear these lines performed on stage would be a real treat.

3. Complex Structures of Power: This play is not just about religious power, but about political and social power as well. The judges get their kicks from being the ones to enforce their will on others, but the girls also demonstrate the rush of power they feel in accusing others and bending people to their will. There’s also economical tension between villagers that speaks to how complex societies and communities are and how this isn’t just a straightforward case of “purifying” a congregation.

Things I Didn’t Like

1. Women: This probably has mostly to do with the fact that the play was written in the 1950s about a 17th century society, but nevertheless, the women are not written very well. They don’t receive the complex attention that male characters do, and there’s quite a lot of misogynistic attitudes and phrases floating around. Some may excuse it as “part of the times,” and certainly, a Puritan society is not exactly a beacon of progressiveness. But still, I would have liked to see the women have more to do.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in the Salem Witch Trials, power struggles, and/or socially sanctioned violence.

Very intense and quite fast paced. I liked how it was a little difficult to tell who was telling the truth at certain points in the courtroom

Really funny!!! I couldn't believe how ridiculous the characters were and that they were real people who thought that way!!