Theme of Community!

The Crucible
Community


In this play, the people of the town were always aware of everyone else’s business. No secrets were kept in the community. So, when people started to talk about witchcraft and accusing others of it, everyone knew very quickly.
Everyone and everything belonged to God or the Devil.

These villagers believed in witches and the infallibility of the bible.
Anyone, in the community that doubted any evidence given against an accused person, would be questioning God’s will.
The tensions caused in the community because of the witch trials, led to a confrontations between characters.

Key Characters
Although all characters are linked to the community, Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale are the key ones.

Reverend Parris
Although Parris is meant to be the leader of the town, he changes through the duration of the play. He separates himself from the town and his own family, resulting in the breakdown
of the entire community. He also divides the community by claiming that he doesn’t get enough money and demanding possessions, such as the house that he lives in. This starts arguments between the characters
He shows more concern over his own reputation than his own daughter’s welfare at the beginning. His concerns over his reputation develop throughout the play.

Stage Description
The smallness of the room in Parris’ house symbolises the narrow-mindedness of the community.

Reverend Hale
Hale arrives in the town to question people, as an expert on witchcraft. He investigates who goes to church and who works on Sundays, to see who should be under the suspicion of witchcraft
At first he is arrogant, but his confidence erodes when he realises that the girls may be lying in the court. He finds himself caught up in the hysteria of the community.

McCarthyism
The McCarthy hearings were when people were put under suspicion of being a communist because they were involved in Anti-American activities.
The play has a strong link with the McCarthy hearings of the late 50’s and early 60’s in America. The witch trials symbolise McCarthyism and the community represents the American society of that period.