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Crucible

 

            
             The Crucible written by Arthur Miller in 1953 is a classic American work. It is a story not only of witches, but also of love, lust and above all betrayal. The characters in this drama all play curious roles in this depressing time in our country's history. The movie version of The Crucible produced in 1996 is also written by Miller. Certain scenes that were only discussed in the play are acted out in the movie. These scenes remove much of the viewer's imagination and the integrity of the play. The film follows the theatrical version closely, with the major difference being the script of the movie is much shorter than the text of the original work. .
             The omissions are important, but significant are other key aspects of the film that either give the viewer keener insight into the atrocities or provide more tension. Increased drama is provided by a deeper depiction of the relationships between the characters. These include the relationship between John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth as well as the relationship between Abigail Williams and John. The observer gets a view of Abigail that is contradictory to the theatrical version and may change the way she is perceived. The film exposes struggles not only between people but also among classes. The division between the rich and poor is clearly shown in the movie and provides an interesting side story to the central theme. The movie version of The Crucible changes the perception of many of the characters and destroys the drama of this classic work.
             The parallels between the theatrical version and film are immense. The characters and plot are similar and this makes contrasting the theatrical version and movie difficult. Betty Parris is still ill at the beginning of the film, the girls were still spotted dancing in the woods by Reverend Samuel Parris, and subsequent denial of witchcraft begins. The accusations are started by Tituba when she accuses Sarah Good of being possessed by the devil.


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