The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller: A Summary

?Ben O’Connor Mr. Richards English 10 January 11th, 2009 -Crucible Essay- The Crucible written by Arthur Miller was a story in which takes place in a town called Salem, Massachusets. This story was directed towards the topic of the witch trials of 1692 and how the people were effected by the deaths and horrific torture treatments. The Crucible portrayed the perfect description of how the time of witch trials were so curropt and unfair. In this time if someone were to blame another person of something then the person blamed would immediatly be guilty and thrown in Jail or hung.
Is Salem many people tried accusing people of different crimes so that they could gain power aswell as land. Thomas Putnam was greedy for land because more land meant more power. Thomas Putnam had giles killed because he wanted his land, so he simply acused him of something which would result in his death from “pressing”. Also in the text a woman named Abigail Williams loves a man named John Proctor however John is married, so Abigail accuses Johns wife Elizabeth of being in the precense of the devil.
This in the mind of Abigail this will bring her and John closer togather however it only makes things worse. As many will see this time in Salem was a very terrible time and from 1692 to 2010 we have come a long way in our nation wide governmental system. In this time period there were many people accusing others of crimes so they could gain land, covet their neighbors wifes, or husbands, and much more. A man named Thomas Putnam was a greedy man and was hungry for land. Putnam rode to the farm of Giles Corey and told him that a section of GIles property was his.

Of course Giles objected to this statement, and Putnam rode off. Thomas Putnam then accused Giles of a crime that would have him killed. Giles is brought in and he states “Thomas Putnam is reaching out for land. ” pg. 84. however no one believes this statement and GIles is soon killed by the torture treatment called “pressing”. Fair trials in this town are completly absent and when someone is accused of something serious the odds of them being successful are very slim.
During the time period of the witch trials there were not only aqusations dealing with peoples land but there was also conflicts with peoples relationships. Abigail Williams was a women who loved John Proctor however John was married to a women allready named Elizabeth. Abigail tries to seperate John and Elizabeth by accusing Elizabeth of being in the presence of the devil. Mary Warren a close person to Elizabeth and John and she states “But i said I never see no sign of you ever sent your spirit out to hurt no one, and seeing I do live closley with you, they dismissed it”. g. 59. Even with this strong statement with a women who lives with John and Elizabeth, it is still not enough evidence to keep Elizabeth safe. Abigail desperatly wants Elizabeth gone and out of the way so that she can have John, so she brings along many other women to help her cause and this shows great evidence that Elizabeth is guilty even though she isnt. Abagail’s wishes go unanswered, because John ends up being exicuted due to Abigail’s actions. Mrs. Putnam was a women who had 7 babies, 6 of which died extremly young.
She has only one daughter living and she feels that it doesnt make sense that this many children could die all around the same age, around the same time. Mrs Putnam was sad, however grows angry and searches desperatly to put the blame on someone. “I knew it! Goody Osbourne were midwife to me three times. I begged you, Thomas, did I not ? I begged him not to call Osbourne because I feared her. My babaies always shriveled in her hands. “. Goody Osbourne is desperate to place the blame on someones sholders, so she is going around and blaming everone she knows.
What she did back then which was blame others for her pain i believe still exists for individuals today. Today when an individual has an issue many of them pass the blame to someone els so that they can feel better. The time of the witch trials must have been a horrible time in history, especiall for the innocent victims in the town. The way that the government ran in that time period compared to now have completly changed. In trials now there must be more evidence, and trials are longer for thought process, and time to gather evidence.
In 1692 it was as simple as if you were acused of something then you were automatically looked at as bad and guilty and you would soon be thrown in jail or exicuted. The witch trials were a terrible time in history, and many great people died simply because of peoples jealousy, or their greed for land. After this time period America learned a great lesson, that all American Citzens have the full rights to a fair trial. With out fair trials, and strict rules there would be complete a narchy.