Why Is The Crucible Still Relevant Today

The Crucible is one of the most famous American plays, written by Arthur Miller in the 1950s as an attack on McCarthyism. The play takes place in the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s, but was created as an allegory for the 1950s McCarthyism campaign. This campaign was similar to a witch hunt, in the way that it ruined people’s lives through accusations with no background. However, even the allegory of the story is something that happened more than half a century ago. The story needs to be updated so it is both more culturally relevant and more easily understood by this generation.

To update The Crucible for today’s society, I would suggest changing the plot to be about the reported “fake news” epidemic in today’s society. Like McCarthyism, the fake news epidemic is caused by a concern in society that has been blown out of proportion. McCarthyism was the witch hunt of the 1950s, and “fake news” scandals

are today’s witch hunt. While fake news seldom exists, especially at a level to cause public distress, many are quick to point fingers at anything they distrust. Additionally, repercussions can be severe and cause loss of jobs and credibility. While this would not be the “burn the witch” type deaths as seen in the Crucible, it would be more accurate for the modern world.
For the book to translate into a twenty-first century version, some details and plot points would have to be adjusted.

Firstly, the children present in The Crucible would have to be replaced with adults. However, the message of children as reckless and irresponsible would be instead made into adults who have no experience with fake news yet are quick to point fingers and blame others. Secondly, the setting of the book would have to change from a small, rural town to the entirety of present-day America. Because so much communication occurs through the internet and television, the issue of fake news transpires on a much larger scale. Lastly, the use of technology would need to be considered for the recreation of The Crucible. As stated earlier, the internet and other electronic new sources will make everything happen on a larger scale. Interactions will likely be less physical, but more online and over platforms like social media. Also, the court scenes will have to be rewritten as a metaphorical court, in which all observers are the judge, jury, and

executioner.
The impacts of rewriting The Crucible for a modern audience are plentiful. The most important would likely be improving the cultural significance and relatability, so that today’s generation can feel connected to the message that the book is trying to send. This message could also slightly differ, as modern day “witch-hunts” have become so much more complex. Lastly, the entire mood of The Crucible could be affected. While the Salem Witch Trials were serious, solemn, and chaotic, there is some element of comedy to the fake news crisis. Overall, a modern adaptation is beneficial to increasing the modern value of The Crucible.