7 Tenets of Sociology of Literature: A Sociological Perspective of Miller’s The Crucible

Abstract

There is a dialectical relationship between literature and society. This qualitative study is rooted in the sociology of literature especially in its three tenets i.e. reflection, social control and the influence theory and will attempt to explore these three tenets in Miller’s play The Crucible, which reflects the social, religious, political, and legal institutions of the Puritan community of seventeenth century Salem, Massachusetts. The ‘influence theory’ has been explored in this play since it impacts people through developing critical thinking among them. Miller produces the sense of ‘within’— arousing emotions of pity and fear and ‘without’—producing critical thinking among the audience. The objective of this research is to highlight the dialectical relationship between the circumstances and literature especially The Crucible.