The meaning of the title of The Crucible

The title of the play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is extremely appropriate as it refers to a number of critical themes explored throughout the play. A crucible can either be defined as a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures; or a place or occasion of severe test or trial. Both these definitions can be applied to the meaning of the tile of the play, The Crucible. The village of Salem, being a strict puritan community, could be described as the 'container', containing the deeply religious and God fearing people of Salem. Sparked by the the hysteria and associating lies, the community of Salem is finally brought to a "melting point" where they allow themselves to become caught up in the deceit and paranoia of the trials. The accusations of the witch trials could also be described as a severe test. To begin with, social outcasts of society were the only people accused of witchcraft, but as the trials evolved, more respectable members of the community, such as Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor, began to be accused. These characters were put through a test of their faith in God, and in John Proctor's case, faith in himself. By the end of the trials, their faith was beginning to waver as more and more people were executed; however, Proctor in particular was able to endure the test by finally seeing the good in himself, and therefore refusing to sign a false confession. Proctor realises this when he explains his refusal to sign the confession, "... I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor." (p.125). Thus, perhaps the meaning behind the choice of title could be interpreted in a number of different ways, as it both refers the fiery events of the trials as a whole, as well as more personal tests of faith experienced by various characters in the play.

Connections between McCarthyism and the Crucible

In the early 1950s, Arthur Miller composed The Crucible during an era when anti-communism was prevalent and McCarthyism gripped America. Being one of the ‘accused’ in the McCarthy hearings conducted by Joseph McCarthy in attempt to expel communism from America,   Miller wanted to point out the echoes that he found still in existence in the America of his time. In particular, the idea that people, who were often innocent, were accused based on such little evidence, due to the mounting hysteria of the time, is apparent both in The Crucible, and during the McCarthy ‘witch trials’ of the 1950s. In both cases, instigators of hysteria took advantage of the fears of their different societies, causing hysteria to replace the logic of the community (Joseph McCarthy used his nation’s wave of terror against communism – Abigail used the fear of witchcraft in her Puritan society.) As a result, when a source for their problem was suggested, even if it may be false, their new found fear caused everyone to willingly support it. In other words, fear fed fear. This is illustrated in the Crucible when neighbours suddenly turn on each other with accusations of witchcraft, as depicted through the character of Putnam, in particular. Miller intended audiences to see parallels between Putnam and individuals during his era who were accusing various celebrities of communism for equally selfish reasons. After all, hysteria thrives because people benefit from it as it allows them to act out hateful and vengeful urges under the cover of pious righteousness.

John Proctor - a hero, or not?

As the protagonist of the Crucible, John Proctor is an intelligent and honorable man, but it is when the source of his downfall is uncovered, that John Proctor becomes a tragic hero. Throughout the play, John's righteous nature seeks out the truth and denounces those who abuse their given power. However, his one fatal flaw appears to be his lust for Abigail Williams, which ultimately led him to committing lechery - a serious crime in the Puritan village of Salem. Although John openly struggles to do good, his final decision of the play is perhaps what allows him to be considered a hero. On the morning of his hanging. John Proctor is offered a way out; if he confesses he would be pardoned, however this confession requires a signature that would degrade his dignity. This is exemplified when, in reply to Danforth's question as to why he will not sign, John says, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another!.....How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" John thus knowingly consigns himself to execution. However, his ‘flaw’ is not his sin with Abigail but instead his inability to sacrifice something as seemingly small and insignificant as his name in return for his life and the lives of others. The tragedy lies, then, in the fact that John's good action, his only choice if he is to remain a good man, leads inevitably to his death.

John Proctor's Confession - Crucible Homework

Why does John Proctor decide to confess? Why does he then change his mind? John Proctor decides to confess once he had an honest and meaningful conversation with Elizabeth. John realizes that by confessing, he has an opportunity to start over in his marriage and remain as a father figure to his children. Elizabeth forgives him for his affair with Abigail and also states that she believes it was partly her fault as well, as her distance drove him away. Both John and Elizabeth has many things to live for, and realizing this, John decides to confess. However, John decides to confess for an additional and more significant reason. Owing to the sins he has committed, John feels that he would not be able face execution believing that he has never committed any sins, as saintly members of the society such as Rebecca Nurse are able to do. In his view, it would be hypocritical to do so. John further believes that he is not worthy of equal standing with the likes of Rebecca Nurse as his lies and sins have stripped all goodness from him. John then decides to confess after Judge Danforth questions and asks him to sign a confession. At first, Proctor agrees to confess in order to please Elizabeth. However, after seeing Rebecca Nurse maintain her innocence, he refuses to confess, and consciously consigns himself to execution. He cannot find it in souls to forgive himself for his affair with Abigail, despite receiving Elizabeth's forgiveness. John then wants to at least keep his name and dignity after suffering the loss of his soul through his confession. He therefore decides it is better to die than to lie any further. He has been scornful of the proceedings all along, and does not want to be hypocritical anymore.

Reread the final scene between Elizabeth and John Proctor. Elizabeth refuses to advise her husband but she clearly has a point of view on his situation. In her heart, what does she want him to do? What would she say to him if she could? John Proctor is a proud, and respected man in Salem village, and he wishes to maintain this reputation and his dignity. In Proctor's view, signing a false confession, is worse than dying for a crime one did not commit. Although Elizabeth does not want to be responsible for helping take away his dignity, she still wishes that her husband would confess so that he would be pardoned, and be able to live and continue to be a father to her children. However, Elizabeth realizes that she was cold and distant towards her husband, ultimately driving him away, and causing his affair with Abigail. As a result, Elizabeth feels she cannot judge John. This is indicated when Elizabeth says, "I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery." If Elizabeth was able to say something to John, I think she would tell him that although she is committed to God, she values his life more than avoiding sin. Both herself and her children need John to be a father figure and remain part of the Proctor family. Elizabeth also feels as though it is partly her fault that John committed lechery, so she does not want him to be the sole bearer of the consequences. Finally, she would repeat what Reverend Hale told her prior to her meeting with John, "Quail not before God's judgement in this, for it my well be God damns a liar less than he that throws hi life away for pride."

Elizabeth Proctor's response to Danforth - The Crucible

Danforth has asked Elizabeth to speak to John to try to get him to admit his guilt. Elizabeth does speak to John but she does not reply to Danforth. Construct a response to Danforth. What do you think she might have wanted to say to him in response to his accusation that she is "stone"? Make your response as long as Danforth's speech. "No, Excellency, I am not stone, nor has the devil dried up any tear of pity in me. My husband is a proud, strong man who values his reputation and independence in this village. And I refuse to be responsible for taking that away from him when he has already suffered so much loss. As a good Christian woman, I have to let him make his own decision. If it means that my husband would rather die, than sign a false confession, then that is his choice. Let him keep his dignity excellency, as I am afraid it is one of the few things he has left. I will speak to him, but I promise you nothing."

Arthur Miller's view towards the Devil and evil spirits

In the play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller presents Reverend John Hale as a man who regards himself as an expert in demonology. He is not a narrow-minded fanatic, lacking compassion, and he does say that he is prepared to accept the fact that there may not be witchcraft in Salem. However, Miller does suggest that Hale is restricted in his thinking by his extreme polarization of virtue and vice. For Hale, at this point in the play, humanity is sharply divided: there are beliefs and actions that are morally right and those that are seen as diabolically evil. Hale does change as the play progresses, but, at this stage of the play, his vision is obscured, because it does not allow for human complexity: a mixture of good and evil in all of us. Miller argues that, although the traditional trappings of good and evil (the Devil with his cloven hoofs; a grey-bearded God) may have changed, we still divide the world too rigidly into what is sinful and what is virtuous. Miller writes, 'the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolute.' (p.37). We do not look sufficiently at psychological complexity. Hale is criticized for his Manichean vision of the world that strictly divides into good and evil.

However, Miller still believes that people were, in fact, worshipping the Devil in Salem, and if one was to investigate further, this behavior may have been a regular occurrence. As Miller writes, 'sex, sin and the Devil were early linked.....in Salem,' our polarities are therefore always 'robed in sexual sin' and the fact that our perception of evil is always associated with sex, is what makes the devil both terrifying and alluring.