Salem, 1692. When rumours of young girls practicing witchcraft in Salem arise, the town is engulfed in paranoia, hysteria and irrationality. The four act play follows several key characters as their lives are unravelled in the face of these rumours. 
 Written in 1952, the play was also meant to serve as an allegory for the McCarthy trials of that era, where many Hollywood directors, writers and others were questioned for their possible communist leanings - a witch-hunt of another kind. Interestingly, Arthur Miller was indicted in the same trials for refusing to name suspected communists - a decision later reversed. 
 On the surface it may appear to be a simple story, but there are far larger themes that range from theocracy, abuse of power, paranoia, hypocrisy, good versus evil, religious fervour, amongst many others. Upon reflection, I found it to be a disturbing and engaging play that is still relatable to modern day society. I'm also aware that was a prescribed text for many American high school students - that met with mixed reviews! It's very globally relevant themes make it a must read for everyone. #MustRead