the crucible summary essay

The Crucible

By arthur miller, the crucible study guide.

The Crucible is a fictional retelling of events in American history surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of the seventeenth century. Yet, is as much a product of the time in which Arthur Miller wrote it - the early 1950s - as it is description of Puritan society. The Salem witch trials took place from June through September of 1692, during which time nineteen men and women were hanged at Gallows Hill near Salem, while another man, Giles Corey , was stoned to death for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft charges. Hundreds of other persons faced accusations of witchcraft and dozens more languished in jail without trials. As the play describes, the witchcraft trials began because of the illness of Betty Parris , the daughter of the Salem minister, Reverend Samuel Parris , a former merchant in Barbados. Before Betty Parris fell ill, Cotton Mather had published "Memorable Providences," describing the suspected witchcraft of an Irish washerwoman in Boston, and Betty Parris' hysteria mirrored those of the suspected Irish witch. Other girls, including Ruth Putnam and Mercy Lewis also exhibited similar symptoms. However, actual events diverge from the narrative of the play. The Parris' slave, Tituba (who was likely a South American Arawak Indian and not African), immediately came under suspicion. As a form of counter-magic, Tituba was ordered to bake a rye cake with the urine of the afflicted victim and to feed the cake to a dog. This added to suspicions of witchcraft by Tituba, and led to the slave becoming one of the first women accused, along with Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn. Although most of the women first accused of witchcraft were considered disreputable, several reputable members of the community were soon executed, including Rebecca Nurse (featured in the play), and in the most controversial execution, George Burroughs, the former minister in Salem. One of the most flamboyant of the women executed was Bridget Bishop, a woman who had been married several times and was known as the mistress of two Salem taverns and had a reputation for dressing more 'artistically' than the women of the village.

Sir William Phips, the Governor of Massachusetts, created a new court to oversee the witchcraft cases. The Chief Justice of this court was William Stoughton, an avid witch-hunter who permitted many questionable deviations from normal courtroom procedure including the admission of spectral evidence (testimony by afflicted persons that they had been visited by a suspect's specter) and private conversations between accusers and judges.

By the early autumn of 1692, the cries of witchcraft began to ebb and doubts began to develop concerning the validity of the charges. Soon, the educated elite of the colony began efforts to end the witch-hunting hysteria that had enveloped Salem. Increase Mather, the father of Cotton, published "Cases of Conscience," which argued that it "were better that ten suspected witches should escape than one innocent person should be condemned." Mather urged the court to exclude spectral evidence. A period of atonement soon occurred in which Samuel Sewall, one of the judges, issued a public confession of guilt and apology, and Reverend Parris admitted errors in judgment. He did, however, attempt to shift the blame to others. (Governor Phips, for instance, shifted the blame to Stoughton, who nevertheless became the next Governor of Massachusetts.)

However, Miller wrote The Crucible not simply as a straight historical play detailing the Salem witch trials. Indeed, a good deal of the information in the play misrepresents the literal events of the trial: John Proctor was not a farmer, not a tavern owner, and during the time of the trials he was sixty years old and Abigail Williams only eleven. Rather, the play has as much significance as a product of the early Cold War era during which Miller wrote the play. Indeed, the play is a parable for the McCarthy era, in which similar 'witch hunts' occurred targeting citizens as communists rather than disciples of Satan.

Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy was an undistinguished member of the Senate until February 1950, when he made the public charge that 205 Communists had infiltrated the State department. Upon subsequent testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, McCarthy proved unable to produce the name of any "card-carrying" communists, but he gained increasing popular support for his campaign of accusations. Although he was later denounced, he promoted unfounded accusations and suspicions of communism in many quarters, and is best known for his investigation of communists in the United States Army.

The House Committee on Un-American Activities (generally known as HUAC) also investigated communism within Hollywood, calling a number of playwrights, directors and actors known for left-wing views to testify. Although some of these, including film director Elia Kazan, testified for the committee to avoid prison sentences, the Hollywood Ten, a group of entertainers, refused to testify and were convicted of contempt and sentenced to up to one year in prison. Over three hundred other entertainers were placed on a blacklist for possible communist views and were thus forbidden to work for major Hollywood studios (many of these were writers who worked under pseudonyms at the time, including Dalton Trumbo and Michael Wilson). Arthur Miller was one of these blacklisted. The blacklist prevented these men from receiving screen credit during this time, until actor Kirk Douglas pushed for Trumbo to receive screen credit for his adaptation of Spartacus for Stanley Kubrick in 1960.

The Crucible Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Crucible is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The Crucible, Act 2

1) Proctor believe the girls to be liars and tells Hale how Abigail said Parris discovered the girls sporting in the woods. Hale claims that it is nonsense, as so many have confessed, but Proctor says that anyone would confess if they will be...

As the act opens, who is being interrogated, and on what charge?

In the beginning of Act III, Martha Corey is being interrogated on charges of witchcraft.

why does reverend parris send for reverend hale?

Because Reverend Hale is an intelligent man who has studied witchcraft extensively.

Study Guide for The Crucible

The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller. The Crucible study guide contains a biography of Arthur Miller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Crucible
• The Crucible Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Crucible

The Crucible essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

• Conformity, Imbalance of Power, and Social Injustice
• Sins and Ambitions
• The Stream of Conscience in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
• The Crucible as an Allegory
• Contemporary Events Leading to The Crucible

Lesson Plan for The Crucible

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Crucible
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Crucible Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Crucible

• Introduction
• Characters (in order of appearance)
• Notable casts
• Originality

Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible': Plot Summary

The Salem Witch Trials Come to Life on Stage

• M.A., Literature, California State University - Northridge
• B.A., Creative Writing, California State University - Northridge

Written in the early 1950s, Arthur Miller’s play "The Crucible" takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, during the 1692  Salem witch trials . This was a time when paranoia, hysteria, and deceit gripped the Puritan towns of New England. Miller captured the events in a riveting story that is now considered a modern classic in the theater. He wrote it during the "Red Scare" of the 1950s and used the Salem witch trials as a metaphor for the "witch hunts" of communists in America. 

"The Crucible" has been adapted for the screen twice. The first film was in 1957, directed by Raymond Rouleau and the second was in 1996, starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis.

As we look at a summary of each of the four acts in "The Crucible," notice how Miller adds plot twists with a complex array of characters. It is historical fiction, based on documentation of the famous trials and is a compelling production for any actor or theatergoer. 

"The Crucible": Act One

The initial scenes take place in the home of Reverend Parris , the town’s spiritual leader. His ten-year-old daughter, Betty, lies in bed, unresponsive. She and the other local girls spent the previous evening performing a ritual while dancing in the wilderness. Abigail , Parris’ seventeen-year-old niece, is the "wicked" leader of the girls.

Mr. and Mrs. Putnam, loyal followers of Parris, are very concerned for their own sickly daughter. The Putnams are the first to openly suggest that witchcraft is plaguing the town. They insist that Parris root out the witches within the community. Not surprisingly, they suspect anyone who despises Reverend Parris, or any member who fails to attend church on a regular basis.

Halfway through Act One, the play's tragic hero, John Proctor , enters the Parris household to check on the still comatose Betty. He seems uncomfortable to be alone with Abigail.

Through dialogue, we learn that young Abigail used to work in the Proctors' home, and the seemingly humble farmer Proctor had an affair with her seven months ago. When John Proctor's wife found out, she sent Abigail away from their home. Since then, Abigail has been scheming to remove Elizabeth Proctor so that she can claim John to herself.

Reverend Hale , a self-proclaimed specialist in the art of detecting witches, enters the Parris household. John Proctor is quite skeptical of Hale’s purpose and soon leaves for home.

Hale confronts Tituba, Reverend Parris' enslaved woman from Barbados, pressuring her to admit her association with the Devil. Tituba believes that the only way to avoid being executed is to lie, so she begins to invent stories about being in league with the Devil.

Abigail then sees her chance to stir up an enormous amount of mayhem. She behaves as though she is bewitched. When the curtain draws on Act One, the audience realizes that every person mentioned by the girls is in severe danger.

"The Crucible": Act Two

Set in Proctor’s home, the act begins by showing the daily life of John and Elizabeth. The protagonist has returned from seeding his farmland. Here, their dialogue reveals that the couple is still coping with tension and frustration relative to John's affair with Abigail. Elizabeth cannot yet trust her husband. Likewise, John has not yet forgiven himself.

Their marital problems shift, however, when Reverend Hale appears at their door. We learn that many women, including the saintly Rebecca Nurse, have been arrested on the charge of witchcraft. Hale is suspicious of the Proctor family because they don’t go to church every Sunday.

Moments later, officials from Salem arrive. Much to Hale’s surprise, they arrest Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail has accused her of witchcraft and attempted murder via black magic and voodoo dolls. John Proctor promises to free her, but he is enraged by the injustice of the situation.

"The Crucible": Act Three

John Proctor convinces one of the "spellbound" girls, his servant Mary Warren, to admit that they were only pretending during all of their demonic fits. The court is overseen by Judge Hawthorne and Judge Danforth, two very serious men who self-righteously believe that they can never be fooled.

John Proctor brings forth Mary Warren who very timidly explains that she and the girls have never seen any spirits or devils. Judge Danforth does not want to believe this.

Abigail and the other girls enter the courtroom. They defy the truth that Mary Warren tries to reveal. This charade angers John Proctor and, in a violent outburst, he calls Abigail a harlot. He reveals their affair. Abigail vehemently denies it. John swears that his wife can confirm the affair. He emphasizes that his wife never lies.

To determine the truth, Judge Danforth summons Elizabeth into the courtroom. Hoping to save her husband, Elizabeth denies that her husband had ever been with Abigail. Unfortunately, this dooms John Proctor.

Abigail leads the girls in a make-believe fit of possession. Judge Danforth is convinced that Mary Warren has gained a supernatural hold upon the girls. Frightened for her life, Mary Warren claims that she too is possessed and that John Proctor is "the Devil’s man." Danforth places John under arrest.

"The Crucible": Act Four

Three months later, John Proctor is chained in a dungeon. Twelve members of the community have been executed for witchcraft. Many others, including Tituba and Rebecca Nurse, sit in jail, awaiting hanging. Elizabeth is still incarcerated, but since she is pregnant she won’t be executed for at least another year.

The scene reveals a very distraught Reverend Parris. Several nights ago, Abigail ran away from home, stealing his life savings in the process.

He now realizes that if well-loved townspeople such as Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are executed, the citizens might retaliate with sudden and extreme violence. Therefore, he and Hale have been trying to solicit confessions from the prisoners in order to spare them from the hangman’s noose.

Rebecca Nurse and the other prisoners choose not to lie, even at the cost of their lives. John Proctor, however, does not want to die like a martyr. He wants to live.

Judge Danforth states that if John Proctor signs a written confession his life will be saved. John reluctantly agrees. They also pressure him to implicate others, but John is unwilling to do this.

Once he signs the document, he refuses to hand over the confession. He doesn’t want his name to be posted to the door of the church. He declares, “How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Judge Danforth demands the confession. John Proctor rips it to pieces.

The judge condemns Proctor to hang. He and Rebecca Nurse are taken to the gallows. Hale and Parris are both devastated. They urge Elizabeth to plead with John and the judge so that he might be spared. However, Elizabeth, on the verge of collapse, says, “He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”

The curtains close with the eerie sound of drums rattling. The audience knows that John Proctor and the others are moments away from execution.

• 'The Crucible' Characters
• The Crucible Overview
• Abigail Williams of the Salem Witch Trials
• The Crucible Themes
• Biography of Elizabeth Proctor
• Salem Witch Trials Timeline
• 'Crucible' Character Study: Elizabeth Proctor
• Biography of Elizabeth Parris, Accuser in the Salem Witch Trials
• Abigail (Dane) Faulkner
• "The Crucible" Character Study: Reverend John Hale
• 'The Crucible' Character Study: John Proctor
• 'The Crucible' Quotes
• Character Study of Reverend Parris of 'The Crucible'
• 'The Crucible' Character Study: Judge Danforth
• 'The Crucible' Character Study: Rebecca Nurse
• Abigail Johnson

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Book Guides

If you need to refresh your memory on the plot of The Crucible or just want some clarification on exactly what's happening in each act of the play as you read, you've come to the right place. I've written a full plot summary, divided by act, so you can better understand and recall the events of the play. As a bonus, this article also includes short descriptions of the main characters and a list of major themes that crop up throughout the narrative.  

The Crucible  Summary

Reverend Samuel Parris is praying next to the sick bed of his 10-year-old daughter, Betty Parris. The night before, Parris caught her dancing in the woods with a group of girls, including his teenage niece, Abigail Williams, and his slave, Tituba. Since then, Betty has been in a deep sleep and will not respond to any efforts to wake her. Rumors have spread around town that witchcraft is the cause of Betty’s illness , and people are now gathered in the parlor of the Parris household. Parris, concerned about his reputation, interrogates Abigail about what happened, but Abigail says they were just dancing.

A woman named Ann Putnam says that her daughter, Ruth, who was with the group of girls, is also afflicted with a strange illness. Ann claims that she sent Ruth to see Tituba so that Tituba could facilitate communication with Ann’s other children who died as infants. Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were, in fact, conjuring spirits in the woods.

Abigail and two other girls named Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren, who were also part of the group in the woods, are left alone with Betty. When they try to wake her up, she blurts out that Abigail drank chicken blood to cast a spell that would kill Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail threatens Betty and the others with violence if they don’t keep quiet about this.

A farmer named John Proctor (Elizabeth Proctor’s husband) then enters the room. The other girls leave, and he speaks with Abigail alone. John and Abigail had an affair when Abigail worked as a servant in his house, and Abigail wants it to continue. John rejects her because he has recommitted himself to his wife.  

Reverend Hale arrives from the town of Beverley to investigate Betty’s situation, and Abigail confesses that Tituba called the Devil after more details about the night in the woods come to light. When Tituba is threatened with hanging, she confesses that she’s been forced to work for the Devil. Abigail and Betty then confess their coerced involvement in witchcraft and name several other people who they claim to have seen with the Devil.

Act 2 opens with John and Elizabeth Proctor discussing the witch trials in Salem. Elizabeth tells John he has to go into town and inform them that Abigail is a liar. John’s reluctance to do so leads to an argument where he accuses Elizabeth of being too judgmental and she accuses him of still harboring feelings for Abigail.

Mary Warren, who went to Salem to testify against the Proctors’ wishes, returns to the house and gives Elizabeth a doll she made in court. Mary reveals that Elizabeth was among the accused. Elizabeth knows that Abigail is accusing her because she hopes to take her place as John’s wife. Elizabeth urges John to tell Abigail directly that there’s no possibility of them ever reinstating a romantic relationship.

Reverend Hale arrives and questions the Proctors about their religious devotion because of the accusations against Elizabeth. John tells him that the girls are frauds, and Hale starts to believe him. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to the house and reveal that both of their wives (Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse) have been arrested for witchcraft. Then, Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive with a warrant for Elizabeth’s arrest. They find the doll that Mary gave Elizabeth and notice that it has a needle stuck in it. This matches up with an “attack” on Abigail that was allegedly perpetrated by Elizabeth’s spirit.

Proctor gets Mary to tell them that she made the doll in court and stuck the needle in herself with Abigail sitting right next to her. Hale, Cheever, and Herrick are still not convinced Abigail is lying. Proctor tears up the arrest warrant in frustration, but Elizabeth agrees to go with the officials. Proctor tells Mary that she must testify on Elizabeth’s behalf in court. Mary is terrified to do so because she fears that Abigail will turn the court against her. Proctor expresses his feelings that he and all the other hypocrites are finally being punished for their sins.

At the start of Act 3, the audience hears Judge Hathorne questioning Martha Corey aggressively off-stage. Giles Corey interrupts the proceedings to defend his wife and is dragged into a room off of the court (on stage) by Marshal Herrick. They are accompanied by Judge Hathorne, Governor Danforth, Reverends Parris and Hale, Francis Nurse, and Ezekiel Cheever.

After a short discussion where the truth of the accusers’ claims is disputed by Francis Nurse and Giles Corey , Mary Warren and John Proctor enter the room. Mary admits to Danforth that she and the other girls were faking the whole time. Danforth is not convinced that this is the truth based on all the supernatural events he’s witnessed in court (including people ostensibly being choked by spirits and slashed by daggers, which he describes on page 84).

Proctor presents a petition signed by 91 people who are willing to vouch for the good character of Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey. Danforth orders warrants to be drawn up for all the people who signed the petition. Proctor then presents a statement from Giles Corey where Corey testifies that Thomas Putnam encouraged his daughter Ruth to make accusations against George Jacobs so Putnam could snatch up his land. However, Giles refuses to reveal his source, so this evidence is discredited, and he is arrested for contempt of court.

Finally, Proctor gives Danforth Mary Warren’s statement where she admits in writing that she and the other girls were faking. The other girls are brought in from the courtroom for questioning, and Abigail denies Mary’s accusations. Mary is asked to pretend to faint if it was so easy for her before, but she is unable to act under pressure. Abigail and the other girls feign symptoms of witchcraft to turn the court against Mary.  Proctor is enraged and calls Abigail a whore. He admits that they had an affair so she will be discredited (although it also means destroying his own reputation). Danforth brings Elizabeth Proctor in for questioning on this issue, but she covers up the affair to protect her husband because she doesn’t realize that he has already confessed. John’s charges against Abigail are dismissed.

Abigail claims to see a bird on the rafters above her that she insists is Mary Warren’s familiar spirit poised to attack her. Mary breaks down under the pressure of these accusations and "confesses" that Proctor has forced her to work for the Devil. Proctor and Corey are arrested , and Hale quits the court in disgust at this blatant display of irrationality.  

The fourth act opens with Herrick removing Tituba and Sarah Good from a jail cell so the court officials can hold a meeting there. Both Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris are currently praying with the condemned prisoners, which is unsettling to Danforth and Hathorne. When Parris arrives at the meeting, he explains that Hale is actually trying to get the prisoners to confess to their crimes  to avoid execution. He also reveals that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have run away, and Abigail stole his life’s savings.

The authorities then discuss the state of social unrest that has emerged in Salem after the jailing of so many citizens. Hathorne denies that there is any possibility of rebellion, but Parris is very concerned about what will happen if they hang people like Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor , who are still well-respected. He advises that they postpone the hangings and continue pushing for confessions, but Danforth refuses because it would make him look bad.

Hale arrives and says that he hasn’t gotten confessions out of anyone. The one prisoner who he hasn’t talked to is John Proctor. The officials decide that they will bring in Elizabeth Proctor to speak with him and convince him to confess. When they are left alone, Elizabeth informs John of Giles Corey’s death, and John begs her to tell him whether or not he should confess. He’s leaning towards confessing because he feels his soul is already beyond redemption. He asks for Elizabeth’s forgiveness, but she says her forgiveness doesn’t mean anything if he won’t forgive himself. She tells him that only he can decide whether or not to confess.

John tentatively agrees to confess, but he refuses to implicate anyone else and then is reluctant to sign the confession. He decides he can’t go through the rest of his life after signing his name into disgrace in this permanent way. He snatches the confession away at the last minute and rips it to shreds, thus sealing his fate. The others beg Elizabeth to convince him to reconsider, but she refuses to deprive him of this choice when it’s the only way he’s finally been able to break free from his self-hatred and see some good within himself. Herrick leads John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse off to the gallows.

Other Ways to Study the Plot of The Crucible

If you want more details about the plot in each act, you can read individual summaries at the following links:

Each article includes short and long summaries along with key quotes and brief thematic analyses. 

List of Major Characters in  The Crucible

Here's a quick rundown of the ten most prominent characters in the play, including short descriptions of their most important traits. This section should give you a better idea of who these people are and how they relate to one another.

John Proctor  

John is a farmer in his mid-30s who is outwardly strong and confident but inwardly tormented by guilt. His self-hatred stems from an affair he had with a teenage servant girl, Abigail Williams, which was a betrayal of his own morals and his wife’s trust. John is not easily manipulated by others. He is disliked by foolish and insecure people in positions of power because he sees right through them. He also has a volatile temper and is terrible at expressing his feelings in a constructive way.

• Abigail Williams

Abigail  is a 17-year-old orphan girl raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris after her parents were murdered by Native Americans. Abigail is a clever, rebellious, selfish, and somewhat disturbed teenager who is willing to take drastic measures to get what she wants. She is smitten with John Proctor after their affair, and she dreams of replacing his wife. She’s the ringleader of the accusers and skillfully manipulates men who are older and supposedly wiser than her into believing her stories of witchcraft.

Elizabeth Proctor  

Elizabeth is a sickly woman who is married to John Proctor. Despite her physical weaknesses, Elizabeth has a certain internal strength that John is lacking. She is very steadfast in her beliefs and will not compromise on what she thinks to please others. However, she also has some insecurities about her worthiness which she feels have made her doubt her husband’s devotion to her and may have helped to push him away.

Reverend John Hale  

Reverend Hale is a minister from the town of Beverley who is supposedly an expert on witchcraft. Hale is an arrogant intellectual who perceives himself as a savior of the ignorant. He is responsible for setting off many of the terrible events in the play, but he is ultimately cursed with enough self-awareness and critical thinking ability to realize that he was wrong. He is emotionally destroyed by guilt over his mistakes.   

Reverend Samuel Parris

Parris is an unpopular, paranoid, and greedy minister who presides over the town of Salem. He is power-hungry but has weak convictions and a shallow, materialistic outlook that enables him to bend his views whichever way will give him the biggest boost in public opinion. As a petty and whiny narcissist, Parris only cares about the events of the play if they affect him directly. His main concerns are preserving his reputation and personal wealth.

Tituba  

Tituba is Reverend Parris’ middle-aged slave from Barbados. As someone with very little power in this society, she is used throughout the play as a scapegoat for the actions of other characters. Tituba confesses to witchcraft out of self-preservation while hinting at a strong dislike for Parris and a desire to return to her homeland with its less draconian culture.    

Deputy Governor Danforth  

Danforth is a somewhat pedantic man experienced in legal matters who takes his position of authority very seriously. Partially because he is so concerned with preserving the integrity of the court, he is prone to letting paranoia get the best of him and is entirely inflexible in his decisions. He believes he is conducting a methodical investigation, but he ultimately makes decisions that are based on bias and fear of damage to his reputation.  

Mary Warren  

Mary is a teenage girl who is employed as a servant by the Proctors. Mary is timid and impressionable. She is easily influenced by peer pressure and approval or disapproval from authority figures. Mary has a weak sense of her identity and convictions, so she is constantly pulled in different directions by other characters. She allows fear to rule most of her decisions.  

Giles Corey  

Giles is an outspoken elderly man who is arguably the most fearless character in the play. He refuses to let anyone push him around. While not formally educated, he's intelligent and legally savvy in his own way. Having been embroiled in a slew of legal battles in the past, he is one of the few who understands that many accusations of witchcraft are politically motivated.

Rebecca Nurse  

Rebecca is a gentle old woman who is extremely well-respected in Salem and portrayed as a nearly saintly figure. Although she is highly devout, she has accumulated enough practical wisdom to be skeptical of the accusations of witchcraft. She becomes a victim of the town’s hysteria because of a political dispute between her family and the Putnams (the Nurses prevented Thomas Putnam's chosen candidate for the Salem ministry from taking office).

Other Ways to Study Crucible Characters

We've also written articles that focus specifically on certain characters and their significance in the play. Check out these links for more information on the following characters:

• John Proctor
• Mary Warren
• Giles Corey
• Rebecca Nurse

The Crucible : List of Major Themes

In this section, I'll list the six most prominent themes that are found throughout The Crucible along with some important discussion questions. For more details on how the role these ideas play in the story, check out our complete guide to  The Crucible themes.

Irony  

The Crucible is filled with moments of irony that can make it seem almost like a work of satire. How is irony used to show the hypocrisy of the society portrayed in the play? How does it help us better understand the characters?

Hysteria  

This play is one of the most influential portrayals of mass hysteria in popular culture. Why does mass hysteria grow out of one small incident, and how are the fires of hysteria stoked throughout the play? What does this tell us about human nature? 

Reputation  

There is a continuous thread of concern for one's reputation that runs throughout The Crucible . Why is reputation so important in this society? Which characters value their reputations the most, and how does this impact their actions and the course of the play as a whole?

Power/Authority  

Characters in The Crucible are always looking to gain power over others or maintain a high status that gives them control within their community. How do the power dynamics between characters shift as the play progresses? How does a desire to obtain or preserve power and authority impact different characters’ actions? Why does power seem to correspond with irrationality and rigidity?

Almost everything that happens in The Crucible is a result of lies in one form or another. What are some critical points in the play where telling the truth could have changed the course of events? Why do different characters lie? Why are people in the play seemingly so easily deceived?

John Proctor, in particular, struggles with guilt throughout The Crucible , although in the final act other characters also express these feelings. How does the society portrayed in the play encourage guilt and shame? Does John really overcome his guilt at the end? Who should feel most guilty for what happened?

Other Ways to Study Crucible Themes

For more elaboration on these themes and how they are expressed throughout the play, read my more in-depth article on the main themes in The Crucible . You can also read my article on McCarthyism and The Red Scare as they relate to the play to get more information on the context in which The Crucible was written and why its themes remain relevant throughout history. 

The Bottom Line

Now that you've read the complete  The Crucible  summary, be sure to explore the other parts of our guide for additional insight into the play. Whether you're looking for summaries of individual acts, analyses of main characters, or a breakdown of the play's major themes, you should be able to find the information you need to answer all of your English teacher's most confusing questions. Protip: If all else fails, just pretend you can't answer the question because you're being attacked by the familiar spirit of the most annoying kid in your class.  

What's Next?

There are a couple of common questions that come up about the plot of The Crucible that we've answered directly in short articles. Take a look at our answers as to why Elizabeth asks John to go to Salem in Act 2 and why Reverend Hale returns to Salem in Act 4. 

Need some quotes for that killer essay you're writing? This article goes through the most important quotes in the play accompanied with explanations of their significance. 

I gave a short list of characters in this article, but if you want a full rundown of everyone who shows up in the play, check out our complete character list . 

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Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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The Crucible

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Themes and Analysis

The crucible, by arthur miller.

Through 'The Crucible,' Miller explores several important themes, such as the power of fear and superstition and the dangers of religious extremism.

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

Arthur Miller’s ‘ The Crucible ‘ is one of the most powerful and poignant plays ever written . Set in the Puritan town of Salem during the 1690s, the play focuses on a series of trials that ultimately reveal the dangers of fear and ignorance. The play is filled with important symbols and themes that drive the narrative, many of which are highly relatable, even today.

The Corruption of Power

In the story of ‘ The Crucible ,’ power corrupts absolutely. In the village of Salem, the court proceedings are directed by those in authority, such as Reverend Parris and Deputy Governor Danforth. They misuse their power to further their own personal agendas, leading to false accusations and wrongful executions. The corruption of power serves as a warning against allowing authority figures to control everyday life without consequence.

The Dangers of Hysteria

‘ The Crucible ‘ demonstrates how quickly hysteria can spread and affect a community. With the accusations of witchcraft, fear and paranoia spread like wildfire among the citizens of Salem. This leads to even more accusations and further isolation of those thought to be guilty. The play warns readers against succumbing to hysteria and shows the real danger it can pose when left unchecked; this relates directly to McCarthyism in the 1950s in the United States.

Ignorance and Intolerance

Many of the characters in ‘ The Crucible ‘ are ignorant and intolerant of others, especially those they view as outsiders. This is demonstrated through the character of Reverend Parris, who is deeply suspicious of anyone who is different or opposes him. Similarly, intolerance is shown when those accused of witchcraft are assumed to be guilty despite a lack of evidence. The play emphasizes the need for tolerance and understanding in order to prevent further strife.

Key Moments

• Reverend Parris discovers his daughter and niece dancing in the woods with Tituba, his slave, and other girls from the village. Betty falls into a coma.
• Parris questions the girls about witchcraft.
• It’s revealed that Abigail had an affair with her former employer John Proctor. She still wants to be with him.
• Betty wakes up screaming.
• Tituba confesses to witchcraft. Abigail joins her.
• Abigail and the other girls begin to accuse various citizens of Salem of witchcraft.
• Mary Warren, now a court official, testifies against John Proctor in court. 
• Elizabeth urges John to go to town and convince them that Abigail is not telling the truth. She is suspicious of their relationship.
• Mary gives Elizabeth a poppet.
• John is questioned by Reverend Hale.
• The town marshal arrests Elizabeth and finds the poppet, which has a needle in it.
• Mary admits she made the poppet in court, and Elizabeth claims she’s pregnant.
• The girls start screaming in court, saying that Mary is sending her spirit to them.
• Elizabeth convinces John to admit to witchcraft.
• John Proctor signs a confession but then rips it up before it can be used as evidence against him. 
• John Proctor is put to death after refusing to lie about being a witch.

Tone and Style

The tone of Arthur Miller’s ‘ The Crucible ‘ is serious and intense due to the subject matter of the Salem Witch Trials. Miller captures a sense of urgency and fear that pervaded the small town of Salem at the time, which amplifies the drama and tension between the characters. This serves as a reminder of the underlying paranoia that can quickly infect a community.

The writing style of Miller’s play is direct and succinct. Miller deliberately focuses on dialogue and action, allowing for a natural flow to the story as it unfolds. He also uses strong language to draw attention to the ways in which fear and paranoia can lead to injustice. Through this approach, Miller effectively conveys the consequences of these events. In part, this is due to the format of the story. It’s a drama, meaning that it is almost entirely composed of only dialogue.

Witchcraft is the most obvious symbol in ‘ The Crucible ‘, representing the fear and paranoia of the characters during the Salem Witch Trials. Miller uses it to reflect the rampant hysteria of the time and how quickly false accusations spread throughout Salem. Witchcraft can also be seen as a metaphor for the powerlessness of individuals in the face of a repressive and superstitious society. 

Proctor’s House

John Proctor’s house serves as a symbol of both the struggles and the strength of his marriage to Elizabeth. It is not only a physical representation of their relationship but also an example of their commitment to one another. As their relationship unravels, so does their home, until it is eventually burned down by the townspeople. This symbolizes the breakdown of their marriage and the ultimate downfall of their relationship. 

The forest is a symbol of freedom in ‘ The Crucible .’ It represents the escape from repression, control, and oppression in Salem. By venturing out into the woods, characters like Tituba, Abigail, and Parris are able to reject societal norms and restrictions, allowing them to find their own paths. It is also a sign of hope for those who are struggling against the unjust and oppressive nature of Salem society.

What is the most important theme in The Crucible by Arthur Miller?

The most important theme in “The Crucible” is the power of public opinion and hysteria. It demonstrates how an environment of fear and superstition can be manipulated to create a situation of paranoia and distrust. 

Why is The Crucible by Arthur Miller important?

‘ The Crucible ‘ is important because it explores themes of morality, justice, and personal responsibility. It also examines the effects of unchecked hysteria and paranoia on individuals and society as a whole.

Why did Arthur Miller write The Crucible ?

Arthur Miller wrote ‘ The Crucible ‘ as a metaphor for McCarthyism, which was a period of intense anti-communist sentiment in the United States during the 1950s. He wanted to illustrate how similar events could happen again if unchecked fear and paranoia were allowed to spread.

Who are some of the main characters in The Crucible ?

Some of the main characters in The Crucible include John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Parris, Reverend Hale, and Judge Danforth.

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About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

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