The Crucible by Arthur Miller
"The Crucible" is a play written by Arthur Miller that explores the events surrounding the Salem witch trials of the late 17th century. Set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts, the narrative begins with Reverend Samuel Parris discovering his daughter Betty and several other girls engaged in forbidden practices in the woods. This incident ignites a wave of hysteria as accusations of witchcraft begin to spread, fueled by personal grievances and social tensions within the community.
Key characters include Abigail Williams, who manipulates the situation to her advantage, and John Proctor, a local farmer who becomes embroiled in the chaos as he seeks to protect his wife Elizabeth from false accusations. The play delves into themes of mass paranoia, the consequences of deceit, and the conflict between individual conscience and societal pressure. As the hysteria escalates, many innocent people are accused, leading to tragic outcomes and moral dilemmas. Miller's work serves as an allegory for the McCarthy-era witch hunts of the 1950s, highlighting the dangers of extremism and the fragility of truth in a society gripped by fear. "The Crucible" remains a powerful examination of justice, reputation, and the human condition.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
First produced: 1953; first published, 1953
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Historical
Time of plot: 1692
Locale: Salem, Massachusetts
Principal Characters
The Reverend Samuel Parris , Salem’s ministerBetty Parris , his daughterTituba , the Parris family’s household slaveJohn Proctor , a respected farmerElizabeth Proctor , his wifeMary Warren , their servantAbigail Williams , Parris’s niece and former servant to the Proctor familyDeputy Governor Danforth , chief magistrateJudge Hathorne , his assistantThe Reverend John Hale , scholar of the supernaturalFrancis Nurse , a farmerRebecca Nurse , his wife and a beloved matriarchGiles Corey , an old but vigorous farmer
The Story
The Reverend Samuel Parris prays over his daughter, who lies stricken with a nameless malady. As he prays, he is angered by the interruption of his African slave, Tituba, whom he brought with him from the island of Barbados. Parris is frightened and furious, for he discovered his daughter Betty, Tituba, and some of the village girls dancing in the woods. Now two of the girls, Betty and Ruth Putnam, are ill, and witchcraft is rumored about the village. His daughter Betty and his ward and niece, Abigail Williams, had been participants in a secret and sinful act. Parris feels his position as minister to the community of Salem is threatened. Moreover, he suspects that more than dancing took place.
The frightened Parris sends for the Reverend John Hale, a reputed scholar familiar with the manifestations of witchcraft. While waiting for Hale to arrive, the parishioners reveal the petty grievances and jealousies hidden beneath the veneer of piety of the Puritan community. Parris feels that the community failed to meet its financial obligations to him. He suspects John Proctor, a respected farmer, of undermining his authority. Proctor resents Parris for preaching of nothing but hellfire and the money owed to the parish. Thomas Putnam, a grasping landholder, disputes the boundaries of his neighbors’ farms. Ann Putnam lost seven babies at childbirth, and she suspects witchcraft of mothers with large families, most especially Rebecca Nurse, who has eleven healthy children.
Amid this discontent, the learned Hale arrives with his books of weighty wisdom. Under Hale’s close questioning concerning the girls’ illicit activities in the woods, Abigail turns the blame away from herself by accusing Tituba of witchcraft. Terrified by the threat of hanging, Tituba confesses to conjuring up the devil. Putnam asks Tituba if she saw the old beggar Sarah Good or Goodwife Osborne with the devil. Sensing her survival at stake, Tituba names both women as companions of the devil. Abigail picks up the accusations and adds the names of other villagers. Soon the rest of the girls begin hysterically chanting out the names of village men and women seen in company with the devil.
At the Proctor farm, Proctor tells Elizabeth that Abigail revealed that the dancing in the woods was only “sport.” When Proctor hesitates to go to the authorities with this information, Elizabeth quietly reminds her husband of his past infidelities with Abigail. Their argument is interrupted by the arrival of Hale, who comes to inquire into the sanctity of the Proctor home. Elizabeth suspects that Abigail means to destroy her so that she might become Proctor’s wife. Mary Warren, another of the afflicted girls and the Proctors’ servant, returns from court where she gave testimony. She gives Elizabeth a rag doll that she made in court.
At this point, officers of the court arrive at the Proctor farm with an arrest warrant for Elizabeth on the charge of witchcraft. They search the house for poppets (dolls) and find the one Mary gave to Elizabeth. They discover a pin in its stomach and take it for proof that Abigail’s stomach pains are the result of Elizabeth’s witchcraft. Elizabeth is taken away in chains. Proctor confronts Mary, demanding that she tell the court the truth. At the court of Deputy Governor Danforth, Giles Corey, Francis Nurse, and John Proctor present evidence to save their wives from the charge of witchcraft. Danforth confiscates the list of names brought by Francis, which testify to Rebecca Nurse’s good character, and marks the petitioners for arrest. Giles refuses to name the people who back him, so the deputy governor has him arrested. When Proctor brings Mary to court to recant, Abigail pretends to be possessed by the evil spirits brought by Mary. Proctor accuses the girls of lying and confesses to committing adultery with Abigail. Danforth refuses to believe that Abigail can be guilty of so great a sin, but Proctor swears that Abigail was dismissed as the Proctors’ servant by Elizabeth because she knew of the affair. Danforth brings Elizabeth to the court and questions her regarding Proctor’s adultery with Abigail. Elizabeth lies to Danforth to save Proctor’s name and ironically condemns him as a perjurer.
In the Salem jail, Parris and Hale beg Rebecca and Proctor to confess to witchcraft in order to save their lives. Hale and Parris realize too late that the accused were victims of the girls’ hysteria and the townspeople’s private grievances. Rebecca remains firm in her convictions, refusing to confess, but Proctor wavers. Proctor thinks that in lying to the court, he will be only adding a lie to the sin of adultery. Full of self-contempt, Proctor confesses to witchcraft. Having confessed, he refuses to let the court keep his signed confession. He recants his confession and goes to the gallows to save his name.
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