Works of literature often presents many socio-political issues of legal consequence and often reflects the nature of law and legal practice of the times they represent. Hence, an analytical study of works of literature assumes significance in the study of the development of the discipline of law and legal procedure. Such a study also helps in understanding and appreciating both law and literature better. The paper presents such an analysis – and analysis from the perspective of a law—of Arthur Miller’ play “The Crucible.”

Set in 17th century Massachusetts, Arthur Miller’s fictionalized play “The Crucible” is based on the incidences of 1692 Salem witchcraft. The play centers on the accusations of witchcraft by a few girls, following which, a mad hunt for non-existent witches, is undertaken as more than a dozen people are executed. Presenting a powerful, terrifying exploration of mob psychology and paranoia, Miller brings out the absurdity of the incident, based on the premise of truth and justice.  Written in the 1950s the play is considered as an allegory for the 1950s Macarthyite era in America, when the communist sympathizers were targeted, as in a witch-hunt.

A historical play with immense social-political significance, the play presents many legal issues related to the accusation of guilt due to association, the legitimacy of false allegations, apart from the crucial questions of the difference between the truth of religion and the truth of law and the crucial relationship between the two. Abigail Williams and a group of Salem girls, in order to cover up their guilt of whipping, cook up an account of witchcraft, accusing slave Tituba of forcing them into satanic rites. Fearful of execution, Tituba begins naming others as the girls reaffirm adding credibility to the story. Central to the play is Abigail’s plot against accusing Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of her former lover, as being a witch so that she could win her lover back. [Miller, 1959]

The Salem village and its inhabitants, under the severe influence of the religion and theocracy, base the truth of witchcraft, on nothing but the words of the young girls resulting in the arrest of about fourteen people. It is only when Reverent Hale ventures to explore the truth behind the allegations, that the private vengeance of Abigail becomes evident. However, the Court and justice system represented by Judge Danforth, while warning that witchcraft is ipso facto by the nature of it, an easy allegation to make, but difficult to disprove, fails to accept the truth as innocent lives are executed. Miller’s play exposes how the law of a state is based on the truth of religious dogma.

The blindness and indifference of law to truth is another crucial issue raised by the play. Reverend Hale, who is convinced of the real truth behind the allegations, fails to convince the court, denounces the court proceedings and pleads the arrested innocents to make false confessions in order to save their lives. Judge Danforth who is expected to be the fair arbiter of religious and civil truth, by judging between the accusations and defenses that are made, is afraid to reveal the legal truth to the religiously hysteric mob and acts more to uphold the reputation of the court rather than for legal truth and justice.  The play presents the inevitable relationship between law and religion, exposing the hypocrisy of both religious and legal truth.