The Crucible as a timeless play

Throughout all of history, there has always been discord between the forces of “good” and “evil”; it is the most basic of conflicts. In The Crucible, Miller has submerged the characters in an atmosphere of “evil”, such that their true personalities are revealed to the audience, and thus are subconsciously divided into “good” and “evil”. As there is both of these sides in any society, this division by the audience imparts a sense of reality upon the play and thus a sense of relevance.

The people of Salem – from which the audience derive their ”good” and “evil” characters – were superstitious and highly religious, and their Theocratic form of government offered them security and unity. However, this strong religious background also offered the option to use it misguidedly to promote the evil of false accusations. The excessive and blin

These honest characters are seen by the Theocracy to be undermining their ordered society. Their desire for individual freedom of conscience is in conflict with a totalitarian government which has become infected by paranoia, insecurity, fear and hysteria. The authorities, for the sake of conformity and unity, are willing to ruthlessly crush any hint of rebellious thinking. The witch-hunts provided convenient scapegoats, and hanging a final solution.

The Trials themselves are also condemned by Miller and his portrayal of them. Being a Theocracy, the authorities of the time believed they were carrying out God’s work, and so failed to see the evil of their powers and the subsequent chaos that it creates. The government shuts down any honest characters – such as Proctor, Giles and Rebecca – as soon as they have the chance.

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