It's a play written by Arthur Miller, an American playwright, during what was known as 'The Red Scare'. This play is written about the Salem Witch trials, a time when numerous women were accused of witchcraft and killed because of these accusations. Just like during the 20th century when Americans were crying 'Communist!' the Puritans of the 17th centuries were crying 'Witch!'.

We're reading this in class and I just got done today, boy was I mad! While I was reading it I wanted to punch a ho, especially during Act III. Abigal. FFFFUUUU-

Humans are just so aggravating and to be honest, we haven't evolved very much since those times. If you read the book the motifs of hypocrisy and being status-obsessed among many others, is still prevalent in society today. This book makes you want to lose all faith and hope in humanity.

Did you guys ever read this book as well? I'd like to hear your thoughts about it :)

I never read the book, I did however see the movie produced for it. I have to agree with you Soma, if ever there was a ho that needed to be punched... Oh man. Abigail was her.

The sheer amount of undiluting hatred I felt for that slut by the end of the film... There really is no way to describe just how badly that bitch needs to be hurt.

Also, to add on to your communist reference, the Crucible was actually written as a satire/social commentary of that era. It's author was one of the people accused of being a communist, and while speaking out against the accuser simply condemned you further - He wrote this as his voice on what was happening in the states at the time.

The movie is so intense! Dat ending. I love the last scene so much, I had goosebumps.

It mirrors the events of The Red Scare quite well I think, of course what happened in the 20th century (thankfully) did not escalate to public executions. However, in both events paranoia and fear were the driving force behind the accusations of both 'witch' and 'communist'.

I think McCarthy is like Abigal, making accusations with little to no substantial evidence. McCarthy was also a senator which gave him a position with power same as with Abigal. McCarthy was influential just as Abigal was

You guys know it's a play right, not a book or movie? :P

Anyway, great play. Covered it in English in lots of depth. Very anti-McCarthy too.

>>4

You're a moron. There is a movie.

And did you even try to read the first post?

Soma: "It's a play written by Arthur Miller, an American playwright, during what was known as 'The Red Scare'."

ive seen the movie, read/watched the play, hate abigail, and find Sad's response to Raizen hillarious ...lol....

>>5
<3 <3 <3

I actually LOVED the play. It was brilliantly written, and cleverly took a stab at modern politics (at that time, the Red Scare i.e. Western paranoia of communism). I admit, when I first read it, I hated it, but now that I look back and re-read it, it's great.
The one thing I have to say is that you should stand up and try reading it aloud/acting it out in class/at home. It really adds to the drama and helps you to better realize each character's perspective. Put yourself in the character's shoes--take Abigail for example. Yes, Abigail is a "ho". Well, sorta. But the only reason she does what she does (and accuses who she accuses) is out of insecurity and self-preservation.
Sorry, I could go on forever...but this deserved a bump :)

>>8

Insecurity over the main character at first, understandably - she got used as a one night stand then tossed away for someone she viewed as cold and unattractive.

She wanted him back - either out of insecurity or lust, and once given power, especially power in a society where the female was oppressed, self-preservation flew right out the window. Insecurity died on that spot.

Abigail discovered power, power to control superstitions with the backing of the church, and she ran with it. She abused it to get rid of the people she disliked, the ones in her way, and she dragged the village girls into that gluttony of power.

Insecurity I can understand, but self-preservation? Hardly. When push came to shove and she saw that she might be put into any kind of harm - She turned tail and fled. Self preservation is running... What she did was obnoxious abuse of power for personal gain.

Especially if put into context of the red-scare. Politicians could jump on that bandwagon and declare their oppositions communists and instantly gain leverage over them. However, as the red-scare died down, the ones who did that were left with distrust as they attempted to either weasel their career back on track or slink out of public light altogether.

>>9 But think about it. Her greed and lust for power (and other things) originally stemmed from her insecurity and need to have attention. Truthfully, I'm not defending her actions, or trying to justify them. I'm just trying to help others see the situation she and all the other Salem girls were in.
Why did Abigail suddenly have an entire townful of girls following her lead and accusing others of witchcraft? They were afraid--insecure--that if they didn't join Abigail, they'd be against her.
Yes, what Abigail did was horrible, self-serving, and obviously abusive. But she was just a girl (although in real life she was bit older, haha!) and started off wanting the same things other teenage girls want: attention, power, and security. She went about attempting to attain these things the wrong way, of course.
As for self-preservation...well, I thought that one was self-explanatory :) Abigail was only thinking of self-preservation in the immediate sense. "How can I assert myself over others, and gain power that will make me untouchable?" Basically, she thought that reaching a state in her community that made her 'superior' would protect her. That is, in essence, self-preservation. Backing down, as well, and playing the coward is also a sad, pathetic attempt to safe yourself, but self-preservation nonetheless. Not to get technical or anything.
Sorry if that made no sense. At all. (Yes, this nullifies my entire post, but I figured it made me sound less douche-y.)

I love The Crucible. It's so awesome.

We read that in class not to long ago, the teacher had us choose parts and read it together...it was very amusing with who is in my class xD