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Historical Interpretation Of The Crucible

Decent Essays

The Crucible (1996) is a movie that retells the events of the Salem Witch Trials, which occurred in 1692. The film is based off of Arthur Miller’s play of the same name. This movie should be considered a valid and useful historical interpretation to a limited extent because while it does have some elements which match the real life story, there are many details and parts that are not accurate to the Salem Witch Trials. Even the miniscule details that are altered from the true story create the largest impact in the movie. Some parts of the movie that show The Crucible is a valid historical source are the influence of the girls such as Abigail and her friends, how their power affects others such as Tituba, and how the confessions and court system of 1692 occurred. Even though these components are factual, the validity of The Crucible is limited by the details that are altered by Arthur Miller’s interpretations. For example, the dancing ritual at the beginning of the movie never actually occurred, the details of Abigail and John Proctor’s relationship were modified, and basically the retold story was altered to add more romance and drama, leaving out details that shaped the plot. Even if The Crucible should only be considered as a valid historical interpretation to a limited extent, the film does have various factual scenes and parts. These events and details in the movie stay true to the actual Salem Witch Trials, showing how at least some of The Crucible is reliable. A part

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