Arthur Miller - censoring himself?

I found that the first fifty pages of The Crucible were most interesting in regards to the notes that (I believe) Arthur Miller incorporates. I was especially interested in the reasoning for these notes as I wonder how much they add or detract from his play as it stands alone. For instance, the additional facts about Mr. Putnam on page three states that he “was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them” and yet, his concern for Betty slightly contrasts with this statement. Albeit there are ulterior motives for his wanting to cure Betty (fear of scandal/soiled name), I feel that Putnam is not devoid of all feeling. One notices that he refuses to blame Betty for anything that she might have done, but rather lays all blame onto Abigail (despite being related). “I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character” (Miller, 11). It’s interesting to note that in trying to censor the town against accusations of witchcraft (similar to the Blacklist) Putnam calls more attention to the matter by calling for a doctor who has a ‘degree’ or knowledge in such matters i.e. Dr. Hale.

Going back to my original point, what is the effect of coloring/giving background to these characters have on ‘censoring’ the motivations of each character as they stand alone? Why can’t the actor/director etc. come away with their own interpretation of the issues and relationships as they play out in the play? In a sense Arthur Miller is censoring himself and the possibilities of the message that go along with his play. I guess what I’m questioning is what/how this added information enlightens the reader. For instance, what do we make of the fact that, historically based, Abigail is actually younger than how she appears in the play? Is this not a type of censor in itself? By questioning this one detail, the reader comes to question every detail about the play and wonder about what the author actually intended the purpose of the play to be. How does Arthur Miller color the Salem Witch trials - even though he based this play on historical findings?