The Crucible

A NOTE ON THE HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF THIS PLAY 

 This play is not history in the sense in which the word is used by the academic 
historian. Dramatic purposes have sometimes required many characters to be fused into 
one; the number of girls involved in the “crying-out” has been reduced; Abigail’s age 
has been raised; while there were several judges of almost equal authority, I have 
symbolized them all in Hathorne and Danforth. 

However, I believe that the reader will 
discover here the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in 
human history. 

The fate of each character is exactly that of his historical model, and 
there is no one in the drama who did not play a similar - and in some cases exactly the 
same - role in history. 

As for the characters of the persons, little is known about most of them excepting 
what may be surmised from a few letters, the trial record, certain broadsides written at 
the time, and references to their conduct in sources of varying reliability. 

They may 
therefore be taken as creations of my own, drawn to the best of my ability in conformity 
with their known behaviour, except as indicated in the commentary I have written for this 
text. [ ...Don’t Sue. ]

SOLVE ET COAGULA : Myth is What Remains After When History Meets Narrative

Women are Circular, 

Men are Linear;


Women are more interested in PEOPLE,

Men are more interested by THINGS


This is a study of the Malignant Narcissism, lust and desire to for vengeance of a single individual (a young, non-virginal woman) seizing complete control over the Female Gossip-Gestalt of an entire Society.


This is a pertinent passage felt the need to share from from Arthur Miller’s preface to his original play (w. my Emphasises) :


“The FATE of each character is EXACTLY that of his historical model, and there is no one in the drama who did not play a similar - and in some cases EXACTLY THE SAME - role in history. 


As for the characters of the PERSONS, little is known about most of them excepting what may be surmised from a few letters, the trial record, certain broadsides written at the time, and references to their conduct in sources of varying reliability. 


They may therefore be taken as creations of MY OWN, drawn to the best of my ability in conformity with their known behaviour, except as indicated in the commentary I have written for this text. [e.d.  “Don’t Sue.” ] “