The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Entry by Blake Heaton (Lauryn's husband)

The Crucible is by far one of the best works I have ever had the privelege to read.  It takes place in Salem Massachusetts at the height of the Purtian era.  It is written as a play, which makes it that much more amazing.  

It begins in the home of Reverend Parris, whose daughter, Betty, appears to be very sick.  In truth, the Reverend had caught Betty and her friends dancing naked in the woods the day before.  It turns out that the other girls who participated in the dancing are also ill.  The town quickly assumes that the disease is unnatural, and possibly supernatural.  Parris sends for Reverend Hale, a man who has been recognized as a professional in the exorcist art.  

Meanwhile the reader is introduced to a few other characters including Giles Corey, and Rebecca Nurse.  Rebecca is an elderly woman who is known for her righteous devotion to the church.  Abigail, one of Betty's friends, warns the other girls not to tell about how they were casting spells in the woods.  

Abigail had been living with a man named John Proctor.  They had an affair, after which, Proctor kicked her out.  Abigail became resentful thinking that she should be married to John Proctor.  She had been casting spells in the woods with her friends in an attempt to kill Proctor's wife when Betty fainted.  When she and her friends are confronted by Reverend Hales for the truth, their story quickly aggravates to consume others who had no part in it.  

Proctor tells Abigail that she must stop, but she refuses.  Abigail and her friends continue with their lie, until people start to be thrown into jail.  Townspeople begin to use the excuse of witchcraft to condemn their neighbors, and satsify personal grievances (a fellow named Putnam does this as well as Abigail and her friends).  Proctor finally becomes fed up with the whole thing, and believing that he can dispell all counts of witchcraft with his confession, tells of his relations with Abigail.  The town authorities question his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, to try and confirm his confession, but to no avail.  

John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Elizabeth (John's wife who is pregnant) are all imprisoned for witchcraft.  They are scheduled to be hanged.  They are told that they may have their freedom if they just confess to the charge of witchcraft. They all refuse.  In what seems a moment of weakness, John Proctor signs the confession, but immediately after rips it up.  The play ends with John Proctor being taken to be hanged.

I have not done this play justice.  It deals with many themes such as vengeance, truth, love, infatuation, honor, and responsibility.  I loved every second of it.  I find it amazing that Miller was able to write such a work in the form of a play.  Everyone needs to read this play.