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The Crucible is a story of witchcraft set in a time when vain enjoyment is forbidden and the length people will go to clear their name. This essay will compare the play to the screenplay, it will find how the screenplay has interpreted the original play and whether it was successful in doing so. The first act of the play, 'The Crucible', takes part in Reverend Parris' house where we are immediately presented with the beginnings of fears surrounding witchcraft. Parris, who leads his parishioners in a rigid lifestyle, is fearful that the actions of his daughter Betty and niece Abigail will have repercussions on him. During this act we are introduced to the disputes over land and dissatisfaction with Reverend Parris by his community. "Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it. " The dancing that took place prior to the scene is used throughout the act as a main focus.
The play uses the dance to uncover revenge and petty quarrel amongst the characters. The opening scene of the screenplay begins with a group of girls dancing naked in the woods, they are chanting and asking for their 'crushes' to love them. The original play beginning after this event only refers to it in the dialogue. This scene in the woods proves to have serious repercussions. This is because their behaviour is not what would be expected. What makes it even more serious is that they are seen Reverend Parris "And what shall I say to them?
That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?" The dance in the play is described in two totally different ways, as sport by Abigail "It were sport, uncle!" and heathen dancing by Reverend Parris. Abigail is then questioned by Parris in a way that makes Abigail's story match with his idea of how it happened. When the Putnam's arrive at Parris' house and find his daughter ill, they jump at the reason behind this as witchcraft because they want revenge and soon try to fabricate the truth "How high did she fly"Why, it's sure she did. Mr. Collins saw her goin' over Ingersoll's barn, and come down light as bird, he says!" However the adaptation to screenplay changes the Putnam's character, as there is no exchange between him and Parris where revenge is noticeable. The play allows the reader more background knowledge of the main characters. "A word about Thomas Putnam.
He was a man with many grievances... " .".. Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and the honour of his family had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he could. " In the screenplay Putnam is not vindictive he is a victim. In contrast the screenplay has portrayed Proctor in the same way as the play as a down to earth farmer who has had an affair with Abigail. When Reverend Hale arrives in order to use his knowledge to find out if witchcraft is indeed active within this village and looks for signs.
In the book he questions Abigail in such a way to suggest that she may not be to and introduces someone for her to lay the blame on. However the screenplay shows Hale questioning all of the girls. Here one of the girls points to Abigail as being the ringleader. In both text and screenplay the outcome is the same and Tituba is blamed. In both portrayals Hale intimidates in such a way as to make the girl / girls fearful of him. Hale talks to Tituba and asks her of her involvement.
This concludes with Abigail and Tituba placing the blame on each other. In the book Hale questions Tituba and she denies everything to do with the devil. Parris threatens to whip her every time she denies something. In both portrayals Hale then allows Tituba to pass the blame on and it is at this moment that 1 st Abigail then the rest of the girls shift the blame by naming everybody they have a grudge against as being seen with the devil. On screen this has a great impact and shows a building up of hysteria. Whereas in the book Act 1 takes place in the house of Parris the screenplay allows more freedom of movement and actions take place in the village showing village life.
When the play was adapted for the screen there were many scene changes for this act allowing a greater understanding of the nature of the settlement. The screenplay has successfully adapted his play to screenplay without loosing the plot. The adaptations of characters have taken little away from the main story line. However his characters in the book have a greater depth giving us a greater understanding of them.
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