The Crucible: The Book vs. the Screenplay
The Crucible: The Book vs. the Screenplay
The Crucible is a story of witchcraft set in a time when vain enjoyment is forbidden and the length people will go to clear their name.
This essay will compare the play to the screenplay, it will find how the screenplay has interpreted the original play and whether it was successful in doing so.
The first act of the play, 'The Crucible', takes part in Reverend Parris' house where we are immediately presented with the beginnings of fears surrounding witchcraft. Parris, who leads his parishioners in a rigid lifestyle, is fearful that the actions of his daughter Betty and niece Abigail will have repercussions on him. During this act we are introduced to the disputes over land and dissatisfaction with Reverend Parris by his community. "Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it." The dancing that took place prior to the scene is used throughout the act as a main focus. The play uses the dance to uncover revenge and petty quarrel amongst the characters.
The opening scene of the screenplay begins with a group of girls dancing naked in the woods, they are chanting and asking for their 'crushes' to love them. The original play beginning after this event only refers to it in the dialogue. This scene in the woods proves to have serious repercussions. This is because their behaviour is not what would be expected. What makes it even more serious is that they are seen Reverend Parris "And what shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?" The dance in the play is described in two totally different ways, as sport by Abigail "It were sport, uncle!" and heathen dancing by Reverend Parris. Abigail is then questioned by Parris in a way that makes Abigail's story match with his idea of how it happened.
When the Putnam's arrive at Parris' house and find his daughter ill, they jump at the reason behind this as witchcraft because they want revenge and soon try to fabricate the truth "How high did she fly" "Why, it's sure she did. Mr. Collins saw her goin' over Ingersoll's barn, and come down light as bird, he says!" However the...