Structure in "The Crucible"

The Crucible follows a fairly striaghtforward structure. Events on the stage reflect the time that would be spent in real life. This realistic drama concentrates on the important epiodes and fills in what happens between acts as unobtrusively as possible.

This internal structure is slightly more complicated. Miller employs a different pattern of pace and climax in each Act, and unifies all four by interweaving John Proctor's personal history with the fate of Salem. Act 1 is "an overture". The main characters introduec themselves as neighbours invading Mr Parris's house to ask about the rumours of witchcraft. Their rapid entrances and exits creat an atmosphere between John and Abigail alerts us to another storyline, but the topic of witchcraft remains dominant.

Act 2, in contrast, opens quietly, and explores at length a different situaion: the relationship between John and his wife. These two perspectives are brought togethr when the court officials burst in to arrest Elizabeth.

Structurally, Act 3 is the most complicated section of the wholeplay. Miller does not place his trial scene in the courtroom itself. We briefly overhear what is happening there, and then, by a natural sequence of events, judges and defendeants remove themselves to an anteroom on stage. Thus Miller can bring into play the cut and thrust of legal drama, but in a much freer setting. In this act, there is also a striking example of what he calls the holding back of climax.

After the uproar of the court, comes the chilly isolation of Salem jail. In Act 4, the witchcraft theme gives way entirely to the resolution of John Proctor's personal crisis. It is a proof of Miller's dramatic skill in blending the public and personal themes of his play that the transition seems entirely natural.