Comparing Vinegar Tom C. Churchill and The Crucible A. Miller

The Crucible is a naturalistic play by Arthur Miller set in a town called Salem and based on true events. The play inspired by the Salem witch trials shows Miller’s personal views and many popular views on McCarthyism. The naturalistic style of the play evokes the audiences emotions and allows the audience to sympathise with the characters. The play also has a sense of realism, illustrating the social and domestic problems of everyday life. The main character John Proctor was said to be a reflection on the situation Arthur Miller saw himself in and portrays many of the emotions he had the time from the McCarthy trials. The crucible focuses on the problems caused by mass hysteria. Similarly, Vinegar Tom a feminist play written by Caryl Churchill written in 1976, also focuses on witchcraft. The play is a non-naturalistic style and is shown using features of Bertolt Brecht’s epic theatre, for example the use of song and choral movement. The play was inspired by the women’s rights acts of the 1970’s. There are many similarities between the two plays, the first being the plot of the two plays both being about witchcraft and although different styles of theatre are used the same views are shown.

There are many evident differences between the two plays. Firstly, the time period and location in which they are set. The Crucible set in the 17th century town called Salem in America, however Vinegar Tom was set in London, England. The set of the play is important as Salem was a puritan town meaning religion was strict and disciplined. The word of God “the bible” is your authority. There would be no dancing, theatre or entertainment. Sin is a crime and crime is a sin. And most importantly to the play you would believe in witchcraft and the...

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... are carrying a child suggests that the character of Daforth and Packer may be sympathetic towards the women. In The Crucible Danforth is sympathetic and believes the likeable character of Elizabeth Proctor, however Packer in Vinegar Tom does not bleive Joan and therefore showing how the character has no emotional impact.

To conclude there are many differences yet also similarities between the two plays. The similarities being the plot, and the situations the characters are in. However, the differences being the culture the playwrite lived in and the effects these cultures had on the plays. Each play was written for a different purpose, to impact a different audience and create different emotions. I preffered the play The Crucible because the journey the characters went on was more interesting and as an audience I prefer to be able to relate to the cha

racter.