The Crucible is a book written by Arthur Miller in the 1950's and is about the Salem Witch Trials. Although there were many differences between The Crucible and the actual witch trials Miller had good reason for making the changes for the book.

Some of the things Miller changed to get the reader to side with the people on trial. Abigail Williams' and John Proctor's ages were changed. "...Abigail Williams' age to 17 even though the real girl was only 11, but he never mentioned that John Proctor was 60..."( Burns 2) He changed the ages so people would not think Proctor was so bad even though he did have an affair. Elizabeth was 41 and was not John's first wife. "...Elizabeth, 41, was his third wife."( 2) "Living with them was their daughter aged 15, their son who was 17, and John's 33-year-old son from his first marriage."( 2) These facts were left out to let the reader think John Proctor was a generally good person who had made a mistake. He again did not want Proctor to look bad because he was looked at as the good guy, or underdog, of the book.

Miller changed some things so it looked more absurd and incredible that these people were being convicted of witchcraft. He w

Another thing about The Crucible is it shows how one person, Abigail Williams, can manipulate an entire town. She wanted John Proctor and in order to get him she needed to get rid of his wife Elizabeth. She started accusing people of witchcraft and accused Elizabeth but Proctor would not have her. "... a lovelorn teenager is spurned by the married man she loves, and in her revenge, she fans a whole community into a blood-lust frenzy"( Burns 1).

Miller changed many things about the real witch trials in his play so the readers would side with the people on trial and show more animosity towards the towns' people, which condemned these people. He wrote the play about the so-called "witch trials" of his time as a protest against them. The play was about a love-scorned teenaged girl getting revenge on her former love.

Margo Burns. "Arthur Miller's The Crucible: Fact & Fiction (or Picky, Picky, Picky...)" December 1999. www.ogram.org December 16, 1999 4:24 p.m.

Hill, Philip G. "The Crucible a structural view" Modern Drama December 1967: 312-17

Some common words found in the essay are:
John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Harry Truman, George Jacobs, Ruth Putnam, Ann Putnam, Sarah Bibber, Red Scare, Witch Trials, Reverend Hale, john proctor, ann putnam, witch trials, miller changed, ruth putnam, george jacobs accused, people trial, people persecuted, abigail williams, betty parris, wife elizabeth, reverend hale signed, book miller changed, 2 ruth putnam,
Approximate Word count = 1016
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)