Michelle Su

12/12/16
The Impact of Social Media and Public Communication on The Crucible
Could you believe a village of people accusing each other of witchcrafts and many people
were condemned and hanged because of it? Yes, it is true, this is what happened in Salem, MA in
1962, and the crazy event is called The Salem Witch Trial. The book The Crucible by Arthur
Miller brought the spotlight to the trial and many people were shocked by the insanity and the
lack of rationality behind the witch hunt. However, if social media and public communication
were available in The Crucible, then the outcome of the entire event would be changed because
fewer people will die since more voices would be heard and the trials would last longer.
If people in Salem could use social media, then people could be more divided since more
voices could be heard. Throughout the whole event, Abigail Williams was the leader, and she
manipulated the entire town. In order keep her power, she threatened other girls who knew the
truth and prevented them from exposing her. Abigail: Let either of you breathe a word, or the
edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night,
and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. (Act 1) Betty knew what happened and
Abigail threatened her that she would kill her if she tells anyone. But if the social media were
available, it would be a game changer to the whole event. Since social media could help people
to communicate and exchange information faster, easier and more private. Betty could send a
Facebook message to the judge of the court about what she knew, and Abigail would not be able
to find out. With the aid of social media and public communication, people are more likely to
voice their opinions and know that other people support them. As a result, there wouldn't be only
Abigail's voice that the judges could hear but also other people's, therefore the town would be
divided.

The Salem Witch Trials would be more dramatic because it will last longer if social
media were available. Mostly the trials only involved people who were in Salem which was a
closed town. If the information could spread faster, nearby towns can also be involved, and the
entire trials will be more heated. Moreover, more people means a bigger possibility to recognize
the lack of rationality behind the trials. John Proctor was one of the rational people in the book,
and he questioned Hale: If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or
Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? (Act 2) Proctor questioned the credibility of the
accusers, and if more people asked that, it might change the mind of the judges. As a result,., The
trials would last longer, but fewer people would be hanged because it is more controversial due
to the increased oppositions.
Moreover, fewer people in the trials would die because social media and public
communication would allow people to have proof. In the book, although many people knew that
Abigail is a fraud none of them could successfully prove that. John Proctor wanted to expose
Abigail but failed because he didn't have any proof. Abigail, with a bitter anger: Oh, I marvel
how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be (Act 3) this is what Abigail said to John
and it showed her jealousy towards John's wife-Elizabeth. So if John had social media such as
snapchat or messenger, he could be able to use the communication between Abigail and him as
proof because Abigail was very obsessed with him and must send him some messages that were
denouncing his wife or trying to get him back. Therefore, John would be able to expose Abigail
which could end the crazy trials.
As a conclusion, the outcome of the Salem Witch Trial would be different if people
would use social media and public communication. Social media and public communication
allow people to voice their opinion which could split the people between Salem. Since the

information would travel faster by using social media and public communication, more towns
would be involved, and the trials would last longer. Most importantly, social media and public
communication allow John to expose Abigail and end the trials which prevents people's deaths.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts. New York: Viking, 1953. Print.

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