A review by ethan_libra
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
2.0
The Crucible isn't a bad novel. It has a compelling plot, an interesting setting, and I didn't entirely mind the exposition dump at the beginning as much as some of my classmates. In a normal review, I might call it a perfectly serviceable 3-star novel, which is what I believe The Crucible is at heart. However, there is just one question I have for Arthur Miller, a question regarding one detail that rubs me the wrong way now, and that will likely continue to rub me the wrong way when we discuss this in class...
WHY WAS ABIGAIL WILLIAMS AGED UP?
I know, this may seem like a nitpick, but there is literally no point in Miller changing the age of an 11 or 12-year-old girl to make a likely fictional affair with the main character seem more viable. In fact, the whole affair subplot feels like it has no place in the novel. Not to mention, we're supposed to vilify Abigail for this affair, despite the fact that Proctor was the married man with children, you know, an adult. (Reminder: the rest of the novel basically paints Proctor as a saint.) Needless to say, The Crucible has not aged well in this regard.
WHY WAS ABIGAIL WILLIAMS AGED UP?
I know, this may seem like a nitpick, but there is literally no point in Miller changing the age of an 11 or 12-year-old girl to make a likely fictional affair with the main character seem more viable. In fact, the whole affair subplot feels like it has no place in the novel. Not to mention, we're supposed to vilify Abigail for this affair, despite the fact that Proctor was the married man with children, you know, an adult. (Reminder: the rest of the novel basically paints Proctor as a saint.) Needless to say, The Crucible has not aged well in this regard.