"Crucible" - Themes

Purification

A crucible is a container in which metals and other materials are heated so as to seperate the pure metals from waste and impurities. The crucible in the title is a metaphor for the town of Salem and the period of the witch-hunt hysteria. In this "fire", some victims survive the temptations and fears and emerge as better and stronger people.

Tyranny

The Crucible shows a group of people reacting within a state of tyranny, in this case tyranny exerted by religious bigots, who manipulate a situation for their own purposes and choose to misinterpret events for their own momentum and veer out of control.

Bigotry

Throughout the events in Salem we wee the effects of religious zeal, fear of heresy, intolerance and superstition. Reverand Hale is so proud of his knowledge of witchcraft that he is quick to accept the girls' confessions as prook of this skill. Others are more than willing to accept supernatural reasons or "unnatural causes" for their problems. There is so much insecurity in the young colony that anyone who questions the authorities, either religious or state, is seen to be launching an attack on the whole foundations of society.

Conflict

The coflict between the security of the community and "individual freedom" is one theme which runs through the play. Salem was a community which felt under seige, threatened by the dangers of the wilderness, the possible corrupting influences of other Christian sects, and a genuine fear of the Devil. The play has obvious parallels with the McCarthy investigations, which were proceeding when it was first produced. The Crucible has been seen as a simple allegory of the abuse of state power by those who persucuted and denounced people who were thought to be undermining the American way of life. Just as in Salem, any who opposed McCarthy's investigations were treated as enemeies of the state.

Integrity

Honesty and personal integrity are important themes. the most admirable characters who retain their dignity are those who will not subscribe to lies. Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor are shining examples: both insist on the truth, regardless of the consequences for themselves. John Proctor is finally at peace with himself when he decides to die rather than give up his good name. He is purified in the "crucible" of the stresses and temptations he is subjected to. On the other hand, Reverend Hale (who at the end begs Proctor to lie, admit to witchcraft and save his life) is miserable, mentally tortured and morally bankrupt.

Loyalty

Loyalty is a theme which is illustarted in the behaviour of John Proctor towrdas his friends. He is temoted to withdraw his charges against Abigail and her group when he is told that his wife is pregnant and is not in immediate danger of hanging, but he goes ahead to support his friends whose wives have also been accused. Elizabeth, although she has been badly hurt by her husband's affair with abigail, is too loyal to shame him in court and denies knowledge of it. Ironically her loyalty destroy's John's case against Abigail.

Courage

We are shown courage in the behaviour of the accused, particularly Rebecca Nurse. As she goes to be hanged she tells John to "fear nothing!" as another judgement awaits them. John tells his wife to defy the authorities and to show them no tears. We hear of Giles Corey's stubborn courage in refusing to answer the charges so that his sons may inherit his farm. His last defiant words, as he was being crushed to death, were "More weight".