The Crucible Essay Topic Choices
If you would like to write an essay over The Crucible for your project, choose one of the
following topics or talk to me if you have a different topic you would like to discuss.
Character Analysis
Since this play is an allegory, the different characters not only represent traditional ideas
like “protagonist” and “antagonist;” they can also be said to represent types of people (rebels,
greedy jerks, people with power who are insecure about losing it, innocent victims hurt by the
depravity of others, people who are completely self-centered and self-absorbed, etc.).
Choose a character who you think represents a certain “type” of people. In your essay,
argue what type of person this character represents. Use various methods of characterization (see
your terms packet) to support your claim about what type of person your chosen character is. Be
sure to explain why Miller has chosen to have this character represent that type of person (i.e.
talk about the author’s purpose/theme). You should include documented textual evidence and a
works cited page.
Comparison to Good Night, and Good Luck
Write a paper that compares The Crucible to that of the movie Good Night, and Good Luck. In
your essay, use point by point materials** (ask me for a handout) to compare the two. You can
compare either characters or development of theme. Your paper should contain textual evidence
(documented) from the play and specific examples (documented) from the movie. Be sure to
include a works cited page.
The Crucible Essay Topic Choices
Thematic Synthesis Essay
Choose either one theme developed in the play or three themes developed in the play (one per
paragraph) that you see in real life. In your essay, explain how the theme is developed in the play
and in real life. Provide documented textual evidence from the play and textual evidence from
our society. You may choose how to organize your essay, but it might help to consider point by
point materials** (ask me for a handout) format as you compare the ideas in the play to the ideas
in real life.
Allegory Essay
Using your notes from our background activities and additional research if you need to, write
about how this play is an allegory, and what the meaning of the allegory is. You will provide
documented textual evidence to support your ideas, and your commentary should clearly explain
what Arthur Miller wanted to say by using allegory. In other words, you will explain HOW it is
an allegory, and also WHAT the allegory means.
** For point-by-point, you should always start a paragraph by discussing the play and how an
idea is developed in the play. Then you give a fact about what you’re comparing it to. Then you
explain why the similarity is important. You are not just listing similarities, you are explaining
why the similarities are important/meaningful. These connections can be to theme, character
development, allegory, etc.