I disagree with the premise that Arthur Miller's
The Crucible is a tragic comedy. While it does contain a few--a
very few--comic elements, it could not be considered in any way a
comedy, in my opinion. The only real comic character is Giles Corey, and only then
because he's old and sincere and he does some curmudgeonly things which are sometimes
laughable (such as his use of the word "fart" and his sometimes outrageous reactions
when he has heard something wrong and taken offense). Aside from that, there is little
worth laughing at. Parris's spoiled-brat tantrums would be laughable if he weren't
determined to lie and save his own reputation at the expense of others. Mrs. Putnam's
belief that Tituba could somehow help her communicate with her dead infants could make
one smile, except she is deadly serious and is quick to assign guilt to others for her
losses. The idea of the "sly," "fat" Mercy Lewis dancing naked in the forest and being
seen by Rev. Parris is a little amusing, except that she lies so outrageously in court
to avoid punishment for such silliness. Any other examples are the same--perhaps a
little funny or amusing, but generally only tragic because people lose their lives
because of it. Like almost everything in life, the audience may find a little something
to laugh at even in those horrible moments. Overall, though, this is, it seems to me, a
tragic play, not a tragic comedy.
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