Examples Of Oppression In The Crucible

Analyzing The Crucible: Modern Oppression with a Historical Perspective In our modern, in-the-moment society, it is easy to forget the timelessness of human struggles. One such example is feminism; while feminists struggle even today for equal rights compared to men, this struggle is nothing new to gender roles. Take Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, for instance; despite its Colonial American setting, the root of all conflict is found in the way women are treated. As such, close analysis of The Crucible through a feminist lens offers a deeper level of understanding and critical thinking in regards to gender struggles. Major revelations come to light when one thinks of such examples as Miller’s portrayal of women, the differences in The Crucible

The Crucible tells the tale of the famed Salem Witch Trials of Salem, Massachusetts; though Miller himself admitted that many parts of the story, such as an ill-fated romance crucial to the plot, are fictionalized, most plot points are true to a modern understanding of historical fact (qtd. in Burns). The driving force in Miller’s work is accusations of witchcraft stemming from an incident where young girls danced in the woods nude. Generally, this would not be seen as a major problem; however, one scared girl faking unconsciousness leaves all of Salem to believe the group of clothesless cavorters “trafficked with spirits in the forest” and took part in “some obscene practice” (Miller 1093). In an effort to avoid retribution, more girls begin faking afflictions; soon after, the entire town goes on a literal witch hunt against whomever the girls choose to accuse. This conflict ultimately stems from an overarching theme throughout the entirety of The Crucible: oppression of rights. Due to the societal stigma against enjoying themselves, the partying girls feel forced to invent lies to be spared from the male-dominated society’s anger. It is this that ultimately leads to the conflict of the witch