Crucible Reflection -Ben Griffith

Ben Griffith 1/2 Hour

11/27/15

Crucible Reflection

Harry Potter, better in the book or the movie? The Fault in Our Stars, better in the book or the movie? Whatever the answer may be what do most books that are turned into movies have in common? The commonality is that characteristics and plot elements are manipulated in some way to entertain the audience and ultimately make a profit for the film. I found when watching The Crucible that this still holds true. From minuscule insignificant details to prominent plot changes The Crucible is a prime example of how Hollywood alters real life events for the pleasure of the viewer.

The most obvious use of theatrics displayed in Nicholas Hytner’s The Crucible was in the portrayal of the Salem witches. Aspects of the witches in the film included gatherings in wooded areas and using a cauldron and potions in efforts to receive love from the man of their choosing, all taking place during a night with a full moon. Compared to the historically accurate article we read, “The Devil in Salem”, it stated that many of the accused witches of the time period were women who sometimes brought too much attention to themselves and/or they were in the profession of healing or nursing. These characteristics would stick out because women of the time were not supposed to speak out or have a say in public life. This made it extremely easy to accuse them of witchcraft because in society it knocked them back down a step or back to where the standards for them were set in a quick and easy manner. Another example of reel versus real elements of the film was the characterization of the true life main characters. Tituba in the film was portrayed as a gloomy, mysterious, satan-worshipper because she had led the Sabbath in the woods and was the “head chef” in the making of the potion. While stated in our “Devil in Salem” handout Tituba was an indentured servant from the island of Barbados who had a passion for caring for children and was known for being in the kitchen. She ended up becoming accused because of her simple palm readings and kitchen magic tricks to entertain the children who later became afflicted.

Next, another reel aspect of the movie was the depiction of the afflicted girls. It demonstrated that when awakened for the first time after becoming bewitched, Betty had what seemed to be a satanic outburst. She screamed for her mother and with abnormally fluid motion moved around the room and her bed, similar to the way exorcisms are demonstrated in more modern movies nowadays. Also the most major symptom she had was not being able to wake up, comparable to a coma. She also tries to jump out the window with intent to draw crowds out of the the nearby church to view her outburst. Yet, in our reading, “The Devil in Salem”, it says that Betty Parris had simply jerking body motions as symptoms, not nearly to the extent shown in the movie. The article we read when taking the pop quiz this week states that Betty’s mother during the time was well and alive. Her memorable, luciferic words mentioning her mother demonstrate how intense tack-ons and edits on the facts can get, which drew the movie further and further away from the true events. Another difference is created when Nicholas Hytner chose to have Betty reveal to the townspeople she was afflicted through her hysterical fits. This made people in the movie so very blatantly concerned because their characters saw a more prominent terror. The actual history contrasted this because the affliction of the girls was revealed to the town by passage of the tight-knit network of small town gossip.

As a genre Historical Fiction highlights parts of not only our American history but world history too, but as implied it encompasses fiction as well. The Crucible molded real life people into more theatrical roles, exaggerated actions of characters and, placed symbolic meaning throughout. Without learning about the history of Salem, Massachusetts in class in the past few weeks I probably would’ve never have been able to differentiate the reel from the real. After grasping this new knowledge and comparing elements of fact and fiction, I ask myself: is this bit of history better left in a textbook or more well represented in a motion picture? The Crucible, better in the book or movie?