“Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be… when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am” (Miller, Death of a Salesman). The word crucible has two definitions; a severe test or challenge of a person’s faith, and a container that is used to store metals when they are melted at an extremely high temperature. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses both definitions to help support the major themes. One of the themes that I found most intriguing was that when faced with a choice, people will either protect their reputation or protect their integrity. Another theme I saw in the book was that, in the midst of a conflict, guilt and fear can either hold you back or motivate you to take action.
During the Salem witch trials in The Crucible, people had to decide to either go against society by standing up for what they believe, for protecting their faith, or live a lie just to save themselves and their reputation. One of the things that struck me was that people’s past “actions are as irrelevant during cultural and religious wars as they are in nightmares” (Miller, “Why I Wrote the Crucible” 134). The
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people of Salem had to either “confess” to being a witch or of having signed their soul to the devil, or they would die. It would not matter if someone was well-known and loved by almost everyone; if a girl liked Abigail pointed a finger at that person, they would be taken to trial and practically threatened to confess. There were a few people in The Crucible who went against the tide when faced with the test of their personal beliefs. For example, Giles Corey; instead of just confessing to a crime he never committed and naming others, he simply said, “more weight” (Miller, The Crucible 125). Corey would rather be crushed by heavy stones until his dying breath than live a lie and watch as his friends die. Proctor was the same way: in the moment of truth when he was at the fork in the road, he chose to do what he saw as right: “Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang… show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it” (Miller, The Crucible 133). Proctor’s last wish was to save his integrity, and he died knowing that he was able to get out the truth. The village of Salem can be seen as a crucible; the people of the village are the metal while the tension and chaos from the witch hunt is the extremely high temperature.
In The Crucible, Miller shows how the guilt that people feel affects them: in the beginning of Act 2, guilt and fear is what keeps John Proctor from going to court. Meanwhile, in the end, guilt is what motivates Proctor to tell the truth, rip up his testimony and “confession,” and accept his punishment from the court. The source of the flame is the “human sacrifice to the furies of fanaticism and paranoia” (Miller, “Why I Wrote the Crucible” 134). Which occurs during the witch hunt, the melting metal being the ones who were hanged. Miller took action for what he believed was right when faced with fear instead of complying with what the court had wanted him to
do In the 1950s, Miller wrote The Crucible as social commentary for the McCarthyism that was occurring at the time; nevertheless, the play’s message on the issue can be seen through the ages up to present day. Today in America, Muslims are being treated similarly to how the communists were, how the so-called witches were treated. The conflict with Muslims in America is like the test of faith for us, but we must choose how we want to see it. Are we going to be like the court of Salem, or are we going to Proctor or Giles – minus the hanging. Miller uses the definitions of crucible in his play to support the major themes of The Crucible by showing how the Salem witch trials tested the villagers’ personal beliefs and faith. He also uses the conflict between the characters as a metaphor for heat and the people as the metal, like the saying “the situation is getting heated.”
A crucible refers to a harsh test, and in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, each person is challenged in a severe test of his or her character or morals. Many more people fail than pass, but three notable characters stand out. Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor all significantly change over the course of the play.
A crucible is an extremely difficult experience or situation in which different social forces cause a change in a person. With this in mind, Arthur Miller uses this term to title one of his most famous novels The Crucible. The Crucible portrays events and change in people during The 1692 Salem Witch trials. Essentially, fear motivates the characters to change or become dynamic in order to protect themselves. Dynamic characters influenced by events in The Crucible include John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend Hale.
Arthur Miller’s political allegory of McCarthyism, in the form of The Crucible, has been adapted into a faithful companion to the play that is able to incorporate the emotions and atmosphere that may not have been available to some in the play. Miller’s screenplay is very faithful to the book, having many of the same lines and situations the character in the play experience. Because of this, we are able to make an active connection to the play, thus expanding our understanding of the play. Lead by Daniel Day-Lewis, The Crucible’s plot is portrayed by a solid cast, who, for the most part, are able to engross the viewer into the story. The film contains many captivating scenes that exemplify hysteria meant to be depicted in the play, that demands the viewers attention while also immersing them in emotions. The film adaptation of The Crucible is a well produced version of the play that not only serves as a companion to the play, but an entertaining and though provoking experience.
Crucible- a severe test, a hard trial or also could be define as a pot for melting metals. A severe trail could be as other then a physical it also could be mentally a severe trial like person verses self. In The Crucible, Miller reflects the theme that pressure can force people from there can force their morals. The characters in The Crucible have morals that they must up hold to be accepted into the town and church. It is a struggle to keep these values when there are moral hazards like desires, greed, hate, and obsession.
Great events, whether they are beneficial or tragic ones, bring change in a person. These scenarios can give one an entirely new perspective on life, and turn around his way of thinking. Events such as the Salem Witch Trials show the people involved what they could not see before. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Hale, and John Proctor gain valuable insight into themselves, as well as others.
Throughout the play there are many instances that show these themes. The Crucible is a great way to show God’s power and people’s will to go against him. Like Abigail, the antagonist, she continues to start lie after leaned in the end she only hurts herself. This shows, as one follows the rules like Elisabeth Proctor, she's accused of witchcraft has lost multiple children and continues to follow the Lord’s path; one who walks with the Lord is more just than one who walks alone. The Crucible is a great play to learn the value of morals and what can happen if you don't obey
Life as a human is dictated by an inborn hunger or purpose, and people, in general, will act on this hunger for their own personal gain in their individual ways. This hunger, be it for wealth, land, love, power, revenge, or pride, can, and will be the undoing or failing of all mankind as Miller so clearly points out in his play 'The Crucible';. This essay will explore the motives of characters within the play and even the motives of Arthur Miller himself and therefore show how conflict stems from certain recognisable human failings including those mentioned above, fear, and hysteria.
The play “The Crucible” is an allegory for the McCarthyism hysteria that occurred in the late 1940’s to the late 1950’s. Arthur Miller’s play “the crucible” and the McCarthyism era demonstrates how fear can begin conflict. The term McCarthyism has come to mean “the practice of making accusations of disloyalty”, which is the basis of the Salem witch trials presented in Arthur Miller’s play. The fear that the trials generate leads to the internal and external conflicts that some of the characters are faced with, in the play. The town’s people fear the consequences of admitting their displeasure of the trials and the character of John Proctor faces the same external conflict, but also his own internal conflict. The trials begin due to Abigail and her friends fearing the consequences of their defiance of Salem’s puritan society.
The title of the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller is appropriate because it refers to various themes that are critically explored throughout the play. A crucible by definition, is a metal or ceramic container or pot in which substances or objects may be melted in. Also, a second definition of a crucible is severe tests or trials. Both these definitions can be applied to the title, The Crucible. The title has a metaphorical meaning which connects it to the play’s conflicts. Some conflicts that are in the play is, witchcraft, hysteria, theocracy, land disputes, blackmailing, and the dangers of scapegoating.
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a play that discusses many issues and spurs contemplation within the reader. While reading this play, because of the controversy of many issues detailed within, it is difficult for one not to take a look at one’s own morals and determine what one would do if placed in a similar situation. The key issues discussed within this play, the effects of hysteria, marital betrayal, and the murderous powers of lies, are portrayed intriguingly and effectively. The lessons that can be learned from The Crucible are still quite applicable today.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller raises many thought provoking issues throughout the play, including the importance of personal integrity, injustice in society and the rights of the community versus the rights of the individual.
Explore Miller’s dramatic presentation and development of the theme of power and authority. Even though The Crucible is not historically correct, nor is it a perfect allegory for anti-Communism, or as a faithful account of the Salem trials, it still stands out as a powerful and timeless depiction of how intolerance, hysteria, power and authority is able to tear a community apart. The most important of these is the nature of power, authority and its costly, and overwhelming results. “But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or against it,” says Danforth conceitedly. With this antithesis, Miller sums up the attitude of the authorities towards the witch trials that if one goes against the judgement of the court
The Crucible is a play which brings to our attention many timeless issues. The nature of good and evil, power and its corruption, honour and integrity and our tendency to create scapegoats for all manner of problems are all brought up through the course of the play - sometimes in very dramatic fashion.
The Crucible is a famous play written by Arthur Miller in the Early 1950’s. It was written during the “Red scare, when McCarthyism was established. Many anti-communists wanted to prevent communism from spreading just like in The Crucible many wanted to get rid of witchcraft. Many would accuse others of witchcraft in order to not be accused just like many would accuse people of communism. In The Crucible witchcraft would be punishable by death. Many were scared to be accused; therefore many would admit practicing witchcraft in order to save their lives. The Crucible is considered a good play because it is based on real life events during the Salem witch Trials and shows how fear played a role in the individual’s life just like during the “Red” scare.
Arthur Miller cleverly picked the title "The Crucible" for his play about the Salem witch hunts of the 1660's because of the word's many meanings. Throughout the play, Miller has characters face severe tests that make them question their own self. A crucible is also an earthen pot that is used for melting metals. In a way the town of Salem was a crucible as people were brought before the court and blasted with allegations from others as being witches. They were either forced to give in and live a lie or be hanged.