The Crucible
by Arthur Miller
The Crucible
Author: Arthur Miller
Genre: Play
Date set: 1692
Setting: Salem, Massachusetts
Date written: 1953
Century: 20th century
The problems with religious
communities
Mass hysteria
The danger of
holding grudges
How jealousy can
affect others
An imperfect justice
system
Distrust of
women
The power of lies
and deceit
The Allegory of The Crucible
An allegory is a story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning.
Three Terms to Know
In the 1940s and 1950s “The Red
Scare” was the perceived threat posed
by communists in the U.S.
Senator Joseph McCarthy (R –
Wisconsin) was the ringleader of
American officials who used political
power to hunt down communists.
The formal congressional group that
investigated allegations of
communism was known as H.U.A.C. or
the House Un-American Activities
Committee.
A Story of Three Worlds
What is happening in the world of
the story? - 1690s
What is happening in the
world of the author? 1950s
What is happening in the
world of the reader? 2010s
A Story of Three Motifs
Wilderness
Community
Individualism
Symbolism in The Crucible
A symbol is an object in a story that represents an idea.
Crucible: a
container in which
metals may be
melted to very high
temperatures.
The term “crucible”
is used in the title
because it is
symbolic of the
intensity and
pressure that
Salem is subjected
to, and how the
citizens melt under
that pressure.
The forest is symbolic of the
devil’s kingdom, the
unconquered region where
witches live and work.
The red doll/poppet is a
symbol of
misunderstanding and
faulty evidence.
John Proctor – The protagonist
Hates hypocrisy,
and does not like
Reverend Parris.
Has a secret about
his personal life.
He is a local farmer,
living just outside
Salem, and is
married to Elizabeth
Proctor.
Abigail Williams – The ringleader
Seventeenyear old
former servant
of the Proctor
family.
She is beautiful and
a persuasive talker.
Manipulative and
intelligent. She has a
lot of influence
among the girls her
own age.
Elizabeth Proctor – Wife of John
She is a goodwife, a
common title
among the settlers,
similar to our use of
the word Mrs.
This is shortened to
“Goody”.
She is virtuous and
loyal, but rather
cold.
Reverend Parris – Salem’s Puritan minister
Believes his
daughter is
possessed by the
devil and seems to
be very sick.
Concerned about
status and wealth
rather than
spirituality.
Not a popular man
in the community,
despite being the
minister.
Bible verse for The Crucible
“A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays
attention to a destructive tongue. The crucible for
silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests
the heart.”
Proverbs 17: 3-4 (NIV)