Today I read the play by Arthur Miller titled, “the Crucible.” It retells the story of the Salem witch trials in which many people were prosecuted for witchcraft based on the accusations of a group of young girls. 50 people confessed to witchcraft to escape capital punishment while 19 were hanged refusing to confess to witchcraft before the trials were finally discontinued. The historical event took place in 1692, but the play was written in 1952. The 1950’s were also was a critical time in American history because it was amidst the McCarthy hearings in which countless Americans’ careers and reputations were on the line in fear of being labelled Communists.

It is generally thought that the author was commenting on the injustices of his times by writing such a play and it is for the injustices of my time that I sought out to find and read this American classic. Continue reading →