book review

Miller once wrote about the issue of the handing over of conscience as the central and informing theme of the time.
conscience in the crucible is ,decidedly ,the central issue posited by arthur miller.he tells about the tragic story that happened in salem ,massachussets in 1692 wherein the whole community was thrown into a hysteria caused by rumours of the devil's existence .Every single deviation from the norm is interpreted as an abomination. indeed ,this puritan community regards the authority of the Bible as binding.So conscience is no longer a private concern ,it is ,rather, enforced by authrity.Arthur Miller delineates the abuse of power and corruption perpetrated by high officials.For instance Reverend Parris says "a minister is the Lord's man in the parish,a minister is not to be slighty crossed or contradicted".After the witch-hunt spree is set in motion the cunning Abigail Williams capitalizes on the gullibility of the community so as to take revenge on  the saint-like Elizabeth Proctor.The latter caused sent abigail away from her house after she discovered her affair with her husband John Procter.In fact,Abigail accuses  Elizabeth of comuning with the devil,and sends her into jail.thus the whole hysteria is nothing more than a settling of accounts.after a bizzare turn of events John procter is put into a severe dilemma between making a false confession into conniving with the devil,or preserving his good name and going to the gallows.Faced with this critical condition John Proctor makes the bold step and acts as his conscience dictates,and boldly says to members of the court"I have given you my soul ,leave me my name".eventually he sees"a shred of goodness"in himself.By chosing this tragic end ,Arthur Miller subtly suggests that conscience is no longer enforced by law and authority,it is,rather,part and parcel of the human being.By so doing ,hefrankly proves his opposition to massive interrogations people had faced during McCartheism under the banner of wiping america of intrguing Communists.