The Crucible by Arthur Miller (4/5)

In his famous drama on the witch-hunts and trials in seventeenth-century Salem, Massachusetts, Arthur Miller proclaimed, "I believe that the reader will discover here the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history." Miller's drama, which is based on actual persons and occasions, paints a vivid picture of a society enveloped in panic. The most fundamental fears and suspicions are stoked in Salem's repressive theocracy by allegations that women are practicing witchcraft. When a small girl accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, the town's self-righteous church officials and residents demand that she be put on trial. The prosecutors' brutality and the witnesses' readiness to testify against one another perfectly highlight the catastrophic potential of socially acceptable violence. I would rate the book a 4 out of 5. The play is perfect if you want a quick and informational read, it is easy and simple.