Study Guide for The Crucible by Arthur Miller

John Proctor

Protagonist; farmer symbolizing resistance against witch trials.

Abigail Williams

Antagonist; manipulative girl igniting witch trials.

Elizabeth Proctor

John's wife; accused of witchcraft, embodies integrity.

Reverend Parris

Minister; prioritizes reputation over community welfare.

Judge Danforth

Deputy Governor; symbolizes abuse of judicial power.

Mary Warren

Proctor's servant; struggles with peer pressure during trials.

Rebecca Nurse

Victim; respected elder, voice of reason in Salem.

Giles Corey

Old farmer; symbolizes resistance, refuses to plead.

Mercy Lewis

Accuser; impressionable girl contributing to Salem hysteria.

Thomas Putnam

Wealthy landowner; exploits witch trials for personal gain.

Tituba

Enslaved woman; first accused, scapegoat for witchcraft.

Salem Witch Trials

Historical events fueled by fear and hysteria.

Internal Conflict

Proctor's moral dilemma regarding his affair.

Manipulation

Abigail's deceit drives the trials' escalation.

Fear Atmosphere

Parris' paranoia fosters community distrust and panic.

Judicial Process

Danforth's rigid adherence leads to tragic outcomes.

Community Tensions

Economic struggles exacerbate witchcraft accusations.

Accusation Dynamics

Power struggles influence who gets accused.

Stoicism

Elizabeth's calmness contrasts with Salem's chaos.

Resistance

Giles and Proctor oppose the court's injustices.

Hysteria

Collective panic leading to irrational accusations.

Vengeance

Abigail's motives stem from jealousy and desire.

Integrity

Explored through Proctor and Elizabeth's character arcs.

Girls' Dancing in the Woods

Initiates accusations, driven by fear and manipulation.

Mass Hysteria

Rapid spread of fear leading to irrational behavior.

Elizabeth Proctor's Arrest

Intensifies John Proctor's moral conflict and stakes.

Trial of Rebecca Nurse

Demonstrates injustice and arbitrary accusations during trials.

John Proctor's Confession

Climactic moment revealing internal marital tensions.

Consequences of Intolerance

Divides community, leading to severe repercussions for innocents.

Individual Integrity

Characters face moral dilemmas and societal pressure.

Abuse of Power

Critiques authority figures' unchecked power in trials.

Societal Allegory

Reflects McCarthyism's political persecution and censorship.

Complex Guilt and Redemption

Proctor's journey highlights guilt and quest for redemption.

The Crucible Symbolism

Represents intense tests faced by characters.

The Crucible Allegory

Metaphor for McCarthyism's societal cleansing.

The Forest Symbolism

Embodies fear and the unknown in the narrative.

The Forest Allegory

Mirrors secretive meetings fueling McCarthyist accusations.

The Poppet (Doll)

Key evidence against Elizabeth Proctor in trials.

Parris' Role

Embodies societal fear and initiates witch trials.

Collective Paranoia

Community's shared fear drives baseless witchcraft claims.

Judge Danforth

Represents authority misused in the legal process.

Reverend Parris

Symbolizes religious authority contributing to hysteria.

Arthur Miller's Intent

Uses trials to critique political climate of 1950s.

Historical Context

Explores impact of actual Salem witch trials.

Political Allegory

Links Salem trials to 1950s anti-communist sentiments.

Moral Choices

Highlights resistance against societal conformity pressures.

McCarthyism

1950s anti-communist movement led by Senator McCarthy.

The Crucible

Play by Arthur Miller, allegorical to McCarthyism.

Fear and Hysteria

Widespread fear leading to false accusations.

Political Repression

Consequences for accused individuals included imprisonment.

Social Repression

Loss of employment and damaged reputations for accused.

Betrayal

Accusations made by friends or family for personal reasons.

Authority Figures

Judge Danforth and Reverend Parris wield significant power.

Allegory

The Crucible critiques McCarthyism through historical parallels.

Integrity

Importance of individual integrity in the face of persecution.

Abuse of Power

Destructive impact of authority misuse on society.

Symbolism of the Poppet

Represents manipulation and false evidence in the trials.

Social Commentary

Miller highlights dangers of fear-mongering and conformity.

Civil Liberties

Erosion of rights during McCarthyism and Salem trials.

False Accusations

Accusations made without substantial evidence leading to persecution.

Community Breakdown

Fear leads to mistrust and destruction of relationships.

Historical Context

The play reflects the political climate of the 1950s.

Character of Abigail Williams

Symbolizes manipulation and deceit for personal gain.

Judge Danforth

Represents authority and the judicial system's flaws.

Reverend Parris

Embodies self-interest and moral hypocrisy in Salem.

John Proctor

His internal conflict illustrates themes of guilt and redemption.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

Government body enforcing anti-communist sentiments.

Consequences of Conformity

Pressure to conform leads to loss of individual freedoms.

Timeless Relevance

The Crucible remains relevant to modern societal issues.