What is the significance of the title and what is the crucible in the play? How does it reveal an individual’s true character?
During times of adversity a person’s true character is revealed. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, conveys this idea. A crucible is defined as a severe test. Its use as the title foreshadows the general idea of the text. Set in a theocratic and speculative society, fear and hysteria are omnipresent. Characters are subjected to unjustified persecution, which symbolises the crucible. Subsequently, actions reveal individuals true natures to the reader. Capitalism, Martyrdom, Manipulation, Morality, and Theocracy are dominant themes in the text. John Proctor, Abigail Williams, and other characters exhibit the role and effect of the crucible.
‘Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together... prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material and ideological enemies.’
; Miller gives the impression of a tight-knit community. Religion and social standards are omnipotent- going as far as to have a patrol taking notice of persons not attending church. Miller depicts an Amish community during the 16th century. He states: ‘minding other people’s business was time-honoured among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness’.
This suspicious nature fuels the crucible that the society experiences. Miller explains: ‘Long-held hatreds of neighbours could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken...suspicions and the envy of the miserable towards the happy could and did burst out in the general revenge’.
The crucible in this community is arbitrary persecuting. Accusations of witchery arise and are treated critically in this theocratic domain. These claims cause the victimisation of certain characters. Others however, take advantage of the situation- fabricating lies for self-gain. This tumultuous setting reveals the nature of characters.
John and Elizabeth Proctor are victimised characters in the text.
It is apparent that McCarthyism is the crucible in the text. This crucible ties in all the characters in the text and displays their different motives. ‘The Crucible’ as a title encapsulates the general idea of the text: it suggests to the reader the presence of a test/dramatic event.
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