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"The Crucible" Literary Analysis

Table of contents, introduction, character development and conflict, symbolism and allegory, dramatic techniques, works cited.

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87 The Crucible Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for The Crucible essay examples? Arthur Miller’s play is worth writing about!

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The Crucible is a play by famous American playwright Arthur Miller that premiered in 1953 in NYC. It is based on a true story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the late 17th century.

In your The Crucible essay, you might want to make a literary analysis of the play. Another option is to focus on one of the themes or symbols used by Miller. Whether you need to write a short 5-paragraph essay or a longer argumentative paper on the play, this article will be helpful. It contains catchy titles, research questions, and essay topics for The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Free essay examples are added to inspire you even more.

• A. Miller’s “The Crucible” Play: Who Is to Blame? The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller in 1953, is a play focusing on the topic of the Salem witch of the last decade of the 1600s in Massachusetts.
• Salem’s Puritans in “The Crucible” Play by Arthur Miller Parris is described as a man in his forties and the author adds that there is “very little good to be said for him”. The land is not very fertile and the town is surrounded […]
• Analysis of the Movie The Crucible Arthur Miller’s play and movie was a reflection of what used to happen in the United States of America. It was a situation where reason was not used in the judicial system and people were […]
• Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Miller’s “The Crucible” The villains in both “Othello” and “The Crucible” are unique in their proficiency in the use of language for manipulating others and their ability to use the current setting for achieving their goals; Abigail is […]
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller The plays interweaves Christ’s crucifixion with the picture of a bubbling crucible in it a man and a society: the predicament of arriving to the right choice of morality and the inevitability of attaining redemption […]
• Arthur Miller: Hypocrisy, Guilt, Authority, and Hysteria in “The Crucible” The cruel persecution of minorities and the interference of the state in the individual’s conscience became the key concerns of Miller’s criticism of this people’s actions and beliefs.
• Witches Against Corruption in Miller’s The Crucible Play Through their portrayal in the play, the accused witches have become powerful symbols of strength and resistance for women who want to take a stand against corruption and injustice.
• Goodness as a Central Theme of “The Crucible” In the play “The Crucible”, Artur Miller raises the topic of Salem witch accusations taking place in Massachusetts during the end of the seventeenth century.
• “The Crucible” by Arthur Williams John may be considered the protagonist of the play, however, the interrelation of the two main female characters of the play are, certainly, of great use for the development of the action and realization of […]
• “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller Answer: Hale comes to Salem with the intention of finding concrete proof of witchcraft and using it to condemn the people guilty of the crime.
• John Hale’s Image in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller The book is concerned with the topic of witch trials taking place in the city of Salem, the Province of Massachusetts Bay, 1692-1693; it features a number of characters, some of whom depict the real […]
• “The Crucible” a Play by Arthur Miller In both cases, it can clearly be seen that it is fear that allows unreasonable and unlawful actions to continue under the guise of lawful actions that are for the common good.
• Literature as a Protest: The Lottery and The Crucible Thus, in the case of “the lottery” it can be seen that it is a form of protest against the practice of blindly following “tradition” without taking into consideration the full logic of the actions […]
• The Salem Witch Trials in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller Though Miller has made a range of changes to the original, the alterations did not prevent from understanding the case better; instead, these changes allowed for updating the story so that it would be interesting […]
• “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller: Play Analysis The scenario calls for the need to investigate the villagers on issues pertaining to witchcraft, a take that finds many of them victims of the evil doing ready to be judged. First, the plot of […]
• The Crucible (1996) by Nicholas Hytner Although Miller has never consented to the historical accuracy of the story, most of the events in the story match up with the occurrences in Salem, Massachusetts during the seventeenth century.
• Informative Synthesis on Movie: The Crucible The writer of the play version of the film, Arthur Miller, takes charge of the screenplay while Nicholas Hytner is the director.
• The Madness of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Theme of Sacrifice in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller and “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorn
• The Society and the Individual in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• The Social Breakdown That Allowed the Witch Hunt Paranoia in Salem in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• The Victory of Morality Over Cowardice in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• Values and Morality in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Valuable Reasons of Abigail Williams in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Significance and Role of Abigail Williams and Tituba in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Witch Hearings in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Influence of the McCarthy Hearings of the 1950’s in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Use of Rhetorical Devices to Reveal Negative Correlation Between Power Truth, Justice, and Emotions in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Traits and Characteristics of John Proctor in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Unfair and Unkind Treatment of Women in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• The Internal Battles of Mary Warren, John Proctor and Reverend Hale in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Symbolism of the Crucible as a Test for Salem in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The True Meaning of Tragedy in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Presentation of Abigail Williams in Act I of “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Tragic Fate of John Proctor in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Reasons Why People Stand Up for Justice in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
• The Sinful Confessions in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• The Motivation of Abigail Williams to Protect Her Image and Interest in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Unreasonable Discrimination in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Theme of Justice Versus Retribution and Revenge in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Responibility of the Salem Community for the Tragedy in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• Weakness, Jealousy, and Manipulation in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• Vengeance and Malevolent Intent in a Corrupt World in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Materialistic and Controlling Characteristics of Reverend Parris in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Themes of Fear, Revenge and Greed, and Courage in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Sacrifices and Actions of Abigail for Love in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• What Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” Has to Offer to Modern Readers Globally
• The Historical Meaning and Universal Themes of the Love Triangle, Mass Hysteria, and the Judicial System in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Salem Witch Trials as an Outlet for Revenge in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• The Three Stages of John Proctor’s Transformation in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Transformation of Abigail Williams in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Themes of Intolerance, Reputation, and Injustice in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Theme of Courage in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller and “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• John Proctor as a Fair and Noble Character in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Strength of Elizabeth as Shown Through Her Trials in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
• The Key Aspects of a Witch-Hunt in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller and Paradise Lost
• An Analysis of Social Status as a Significant Theme in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
• How Does Fear Motivate the Main Characters in “The Crucible”?
• What Was the Critical and Public Reaction to “The Crucible”?
• What Is the Main Story of “The Crucible”?
• What Were the Changes in John Proctor’s Character Throughout the Play “The Crucible”?
• Why Is “The Crucible” So Famous?
• How Does Arthur Miller Create Tension in the Trial Scene of “The Crucible”?
• What Is the True Meaning of “The Crucible”?
• How Does Miller Present the Character of John Proctor in “The Crucible”?
• How Does John Proctor Contribute to the Effectiveness of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”?
• What Are Some Examples of Mob Mentality in “The Crucible”?
• How Does Miller Create Dramatic Tension in the Four Acts of “The Crucible”?
• Does John Proctor Die in “The Crucible”?
• When Did the Witch Trials Take Place in “The Crucible”?
• How Does Miller Convey His Message Through “The Crucible”?
• Was Jon Proctor From Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” a Good Man?
• How Did Arthur Miller Portray the Relationship Between John and Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller?
• How Are Women Portrayed in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”?
• How Does Arthur Miller Show Abigail’s Character in “The Crucible”?
• Does Arthur Miller’s Play “The Crucible” End in Hope?
• How Easily People Can Be Fooled as Portrayed in Arthur Miller’s Play “The Crucible”?
• How Does Miller Present Social Status in “The Crucible”?
• Why Was John Proctor Convicted of Witchcraft in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”?
• How Miller Creates Conflict in “The Crucible”?
• How Does Arthur Miller Explore Social Injustice in His Play “The Crucible”?
• How Arthur Miller Effectively Illustrates the Strength of John Proctor in His Play “The Crucible”?
• How Arthur Miller Makes Act Three of “The Crucible” a Dramatic Scene?
• Why “The Crucible” Remains Important Today?
• What Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” Has to Offer to Modern Readers Globally?
• How Does Miller Present the Character of Abigail in “The Crucible”?
• How Does Miller Use Reverend Hale in “The Crucible”?
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The Crucible Themes

‘ Theme ’ is a universal idea presented in a literary piece of work. There are many themes in the masterpiece of Arthur Miller, The Crucible. Themes of this play not only shows the problem of witchcraft during the late 19th and early 20th centuries but also exposes the dark sides of human nature. Some of the major themes have been discussed below.

Themes in The Crucible

Reputation is one of the major themes in the play, The Crucible. Most of the characters of the story strive hard to maintain their reputations. The prominent example is John Proctor, who hides his affair with Abigail. He fears it will harm his reputation in the society. Even in the court after confessing his crime, he tries to save his name. Judges of Salem are also biased, as they uphold a false reputation to honor the church. They believe that they make the right decisions and hesitate to accept any evidence which could have set innocents free. It is evident from John Proctor’s case, as the delay in his confession makes him a liar in the court.

Hysteria also upholds thematic significance in the play because the society in Salem is engulfed in the accusations of witchcraft. The rapid growth of hysteria in Salem destroys the impact of rational thinking. Act 1 of the play starts giving clues of hysteria when Abigail tries to escape from the harsh judgment blaming Tituba of witchcraft. The existence of evil plot creates tension in the town, as the people do not find any fault in punishing the accusers. Hence, they believe that women were truly guilty of witchcraft and chose to punish them without an inquiry. Often mass hysteria numbs people’s mind and makes them vulnerable.

Power and Authority

The desire to attain power serves as blood for the people of Salem. The pillars of traditional power, the church, and the court worked in unison. The judges exercise their absolute power by rejecting Proctor’s rational explanation and punishing him and acquitting the girls, who are guilty. Progress in Abigail’s character , from an orphan teenager to the witness of a sinister plot, highlights the theme of power in the play. From a helpless girl, she becomes crafty and capable of destroying innocent lives through such accusations.

The theme of guilt is related to the progress in John Proctor’s character in the play. He is ashamed of the infidelity committed in the past and wants to bury it deep in the heart as if it never existed. He fails to relegate his guilt to the background. In reaction to this, he turns against Elizabeth, accusing her of being judgmental. In reality, his sin is responsible for his mental confusion. Hale also becomes the victim of his guilt, as he once believed people engaged in witchcraft are sinners. However, as the play progresses, he considers them innocent and tries to save them. Thus, the theme of guilt plays an important role in shaping and reshaping the characters in the play.

Portrayal of Women

The women’s portrayal in the play is not of a typical Victorian era. They are not portrayed as servants to men, mothers or wives. Miller presents them keeping in mind the attitude of the society toward women in 1950s when writing The Crucible. The most prominent character, Abigail, portrayed as a promiscuous young woman, represents a few women during that period. She is selfish and becomes extremely revengeful when John leaves her. On the contrary, there were many women like Rebecca, a nurse, who chooses to sacrifice herself over a false statement. Again, a few women held false standards of feminity like Elizabeth, John Proctor’s wife, in the society of that time.

Deception and lies present another important theme that runs throughout the play. It does not include myths related to black magic or witchcraft. It includes lies that people tell to save their false reputations in society. The girls of the town tell lies in the court thinking they can continue this by deceiving others. Putnam deceives the innocents to take control of their lands. Proctor deceives Elizabeth and himself by keeping the secret of his adultery in his heart to secure his false reputation. Therefore, deception and lies in Salem serve as a tool to achieve what is desirable.

Goodness also serves as a major theme of The Crucible despite the deception. People in Salem intend to look genuine in the eyes of society. Proctor suppresses his guilt and does not reveal the truth before the girls just because he wants to be a good person. Abigail, when tries to confess about witchcraft following Tituba’s example, lies to prove herself good. Elizabeth is also portrayed as a good character, but toward the end, the acceptance of an affair reveals the truth about her nature. Therefore, the concept of goodness plays a vital role in the play.

Another major theme in the play is judgment. It is seen through the characters of Danforth and Hale. Danforth, a deputy Governor, sits for judgment against the accusers of witchcraft. Although he knows that most of the prisoners like Martha Corey, Elizabeth, and Rebecca Nurse are not witches, he believes his decisions are absolute and refuses to change his mind even after having proof of their innocence. Hale, on the other hand, does not care about the rules. In fact, he intends to save people. These incidents happen when people consider themselves the custodians of justice and fair play.

Another important theme seen through the character of Abigail is jealousy. She plots the whole blame to rekindle the affair with John Proctor. While Proctor does not want to continue the life of sin and leaves it behind as the forgotten tale, she exacts revenge from Salem and despises Elizabeth Proctor. She also threatens the girls that if they are going to disclose her secret of witchcraft, she will murder them on a dark night . Hence, jealousy gives birth to hatred and consequential evil deeds against others.

Intolerance

During the play, various characters face false judgment and intolerance. The play shows prejudice of the characters for others such as in the court and at the time when someone is accused of witchcraft. Second, The Crucible also presents a theocratic society where the Church and state are one, and no one can go against this system. The beginning of the play foreshadows intolerance in Salem when some outcast women are accused of witchcraft. Everyone turns against them without any proof. The situation becomes complex when reputed persons of the town are caught for the same guilt. Ironically, they also receive the same treatment as outcasts.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Character — The Crucible Giles Corey Character Analysis

The Crucible Giles Corey Character Analysis

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