Viewing The Crucible with a Feminist Lens

To be seen and not heard; a quality shared by the inanimate object, and the conventional woman. Society has conformed women into accessories, and therefore, literature has followed suit. Inherent in this ideology, are many base traits attributed to women. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible exploits these traditional feminine characteristics to aid the female character in her role of complimenting the male.

When observing something from an alternate perspective it can take on a whole new meaning. Studying novels from different lenses can seem as if you are reading a different work than the author intended. A feminist lens allows the reader to look past obvious themes in the novel for the implicit or concealed misogyny within. This lens “examines, interprets, and seeks to redress the marginalization of women through a critical response to literature, within the larger context of a male-dominated literary establishment.”(Boswell OL) When examining a work through a feminist lens a variety of components must be taken into account. The main objective is, of course, to analyze the portrayal of women. To do so adequately, however, one must explore gender roles, and therefore look into relations between male and female characters to see if they are equal. (Boswell OL) The purpose of feminist criticism is to reveal the patriarchal dogma of literature.

Arthur Miller’s experiences with women are depicted through their roles in his plays. He is quoted as saying “I like the company of women. Life is boring without them”. This is fitting because he married one of the most interesting women in American history. Marilyn Monroe is a notorious sex symbol because she was objectified during her time as an actress. Her blond hair and pretty face easil...

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...e Crucible, New Edition, Bloom's guides. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 3 May. 2012.

Boswell, Marshall. "Feminist Literary Criticism." In Boswell, Marshall, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Contemporary World, 1946 to the Present, vol. 4, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 10 May. 2012.

Marlow, Stuart. "Interrogating The Crucible: Revisiting the Biographical, Historical and Political Sources of Arthur Miller's Play" In Bloom, Harold, ed. The Crucible, New Edition, Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 10 May. 2012.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Books,1976.