The Crucible Film Analysis
The Salem Witch Trials are possibly the most notable examples of the persecution of witchcraft in the New World. In the 1996 film, The Crucible, based on the 1953 play by Arthur Miller, it portrays the trials from the point of view of a small community that’s disintegrated by frenzy and lunacy. In the film, it emphasizes the role of a group of girls being led by Abigail Williams, and illustrates how society was so strict for women, even as young as kids, that it caused a form of hysterical fear of witches, spirits and the Devil. These group of girls created an outlet of their own from their reality. The witch trials have been long used in political content as well as literature as a story to take into account how dangers of alienation, religious
…show more content…
The establishment of a godly, patriarchal society was built around secure family values and a stable home. However, the presence of internal conflicts within small communities were deeply disturbing to the upheld fundamental values. Within Salem, there were long-running disputes within families and between neighbors, in the accusations of witchcraft. These prior tensions and underlying currents are largely ignored in the film.
Arthur Miller admits that his focus on the oral and political message he wanted to interpret was more important in this film than historical accuracy. He also freely admits in a number of inaccuracies in the film such as increasing Abigail Williams’s age from 11 to 17, as well as John Procter was 60, or that Elizabeth, aged 41, was his third wife. Miller believed the moral of the story to be much greater than historical accuracy.
The story of the Salem witch trials is portrayed from a moral high-point of the twentieth century. The witch trials have been long used in political content as well as literature as a story to take into account how dangers of alienation, religious extremism, false accusations, and lack of omission can be. Although the film has been praised with many awards and criticism, it can be argued on whether the moral of the story, if fact accuracy is important, or if history is ever
The establishment of a godly, patriarchal society was built around secure family values and a stable home. However, the presence of internal conflicts within small communities were deeply disturbing to the upheld fundamental values. Within Salem, there were long-running disputes within families and between neighbors, in the accusations of witchcraft. These prior tensions and underlying currents are largely ignored in the film.
Arthur Miller admits that his focus on the oral and political message he wanted to interpret was more important in this film than historical accuracy. He also freely admits in a number of inaccuracies in the film such as increasing Abigail Williams’s age from 11 to 17, as well as John Procter was 60, or that Elizabeth, aged 41, was his third wife. Miller believed the moral of the story to be much greater than historical accuracy.
The story of the Salem witch trials is portrayed from a moral high-point of the twentieth century. The witch trials have been long used in political content as well as literature as a story to take into account how dangers of alienation, religious extremism, false accusations, and lack of omission can be. Although the film has been praised with many awards and criticism, it can be argued on whether the moral of the story, if fact accuracy is important, or if history is ever