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This novel is centered around what actually occurred in the 16th century in Salem, Massachusetts. While this setting is described in the book, Miller wrote this novel around a time where Communism was rising. The fear of Communism spreading into the US, many individuals started accusing each other. Paranoia and hysteria can lead to serious actions taking place without justification. Miller emphasizes throughout the novel that not everything is what it seems to be and that understanding is the key to life it self.

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Concerning ideologies, many individuals fear others based on past situations or misunderstandings. This is seen when it comes to other religions such as Islam where past events have raised fear or paranoia in Americans. By judging an entire religion on the actions of a few people, there is the perception of this religion specifically being considered dangerous. Without understanding fully the situation, a person cannot judge or make any assumptions. Presumptions lead to wrong ideas that can have serious consequences.

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Theme: Not everything is what it seems to be.

This novel showed how individuals can fear another ideology interfering with the norms of society. The fear and hysteria that arose in the plot all came from one night where the actions of a few people were mistaken to be of witchcraft. While it begins with this incident, other things start to happening which causes paranoia in the Salem town that witchcraft is affecting more people than they originally thought. The initial reactions of the characters, such as Reverend Parris, showed how they believed the "Devil" was among them. His reaction led to many conspiracies about what was happening despite him not knowing what was actually going on.

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Metaphor
"I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you."

The relationship between John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth, has been full of tension. After the affair John Proctor had with Abigail Williams, he continues to hate on himself and believes he will never be forgiven. However, his wife tries to tell him that she has already forgiven his mistake but that he will never forgive himself. His Christian believes goes against his guilty actions. This provides drama to the story since the witch trials are happening as an event like this occurs.

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Hyperbole
"Abominations are done in the forest strike out against the Devil one child left of eight- and now she shrivels!"

The Devil is seen as a very negative figure in Christianity. Those who are believed to praise or follow him are considered abominations. By dealing with those who are believed to commit devilish acts, follows of Christianity believe it will take away from the Devil's power. This leads to innocent people being killed or seriously hurt because of such accusations. The heavy believes of Christianity want "evil" ones to be taken care of as quick as possible.

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Parallelism
"A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!"

During this time, Christianity was the only accepted religion. Any fear that there was of people practicing or believing other religions, led to dramatic accusations just like during the Red Scare. McCarthyism led to many Americans being accused of being communists and were deemed guilty without proper evidence of such acts. By having the similarities to these different events, it allows connections to be made so that the play is more enjoyable to read.

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Irony
"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!"

An affair that John Proctor had with someone else goes against the Christian faith. He committed an act of adultery which is against one of the Ten Commandments. At one point, his wife asks him to repeat the Ten Commandments. He repeats one commandment and does not mention the one about adultery which provides irony to the situation.

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Symbolism
"It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it . . ..it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride."

While the Crucible talks about a real period of time during the Salem witch trials, it also represents the fear of Communism that was happening in America when Miller wrote this drama. The fear of different and potentially dangerous ideologies spreading into the minds of American citizens was a big concern. Paranoia and hysteria was rampant in the 1950s.

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"Good Good Father"- Chris Tomlin

"A wide opinion’s running in the parish that the Devil may be among us, and I would satisfy them that they are wrong."

Reverend Parris believes that a witch with evil spirits is among them. He wants to expose those who he believes have evil spirits. However, the audience knows that the situation is a misunderstanding from the beginning but Reverend Parris doesn't know that. This song represents that the word of the Lord can help all of those despite their situation. It can bring them back from the evil to the good.

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"Amazing Grace"- Chris Tomlin
"Rebecca, Rebecca, go to her, we’re lost. She suddenly cannot bear to hear the Lord’s -"

The Lord's word has power over people. Reverend Parris believes that he can change those who have been traumatized by the evil spirits. He believes that power of the Lord can change people from their old ways. This song represents how the Lord can help you change your ways and your mindset despite what is going around you.

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Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

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"Live Your Life"- T.I.

"What’ll we do? The village is out! I just come from the farm; the whole country’s talkin’ witchcraft! They’ll be callin’ us witches, Abby!"

The victims of Reverend Parris' accusations, fear for their lives. They understand that by them being accused of being witches, it means that they will lose their lives. Their lives are in the hands of Reverend Parris who will decide their fate. This song represents how you must continue to live your life despite what is going on around you.

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"Secrets"- One Republic

"A precaution only. He has much experience in all demonic-arts, and I -"

Reverend Parris will try to defeat any evil spirit that contradicts with his belief. His position of reverend in the Salem town, gives him a high position in society unless he messes it up. Therefore, he will do anything he can to keep his reposition. This song represents how an individual will keep secrets in order to protect their reputation.

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OneRepublic - Secrets (Official Music Video)

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"Lie"- NF

"He say Mr. Parris must be kill! Mr. Parris no goodly man, Mr. Parris mean man and no gentle man, and he bid me rise out of my bed and cut your throat!"

The war on witchcraft in this drama have caused more than enough trouble in the Salem town. It began with Reverend Parris describing what he say and how evil it is. However, it seems to have backfired on Reverend Parris as he is now accused of being an evil man with bad intentions. This song represents how people can tell lies and have others believe them.

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"Mercy"- Shawn Mendes

"No. God forbid. Mercy, run to the doctor! Tell him what’s happened

here!"

The fear from those who are accused, causes them to turn on each other. Reverend Parris and others want the accused to talk and say which one of them is the actual witch. The accusations all stemmed from Reverend Parris' unstoppable power to make everyone believe that they are surrounded by witches. This song represents how people can make mistakes but should still be forgiven.

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Shawn Mendes - Mercy (Official Music Video)

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"Make No Mistake"- Keith Richards

"I’ll lead them in a psalm, but let you say nothing of witchcraft yet. I will not discuss it. The cause is yet unknown. I have had enough contention since I came; I want no more."

Anything to do with evil spirits, especially witchcraft, is forbidden to Reverend Parris. He sees it as the Devil's way of intruding on people's lives and causes mass destruction. Just by Reverend Parris seeing some of his family members dancing in the forest, he automatically accused them of something that wasn't true. This song represents how mistakes can have serious consequences.

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Keith Richards - Make No Mistake - from Talk Is Cheap

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Take Me to Church- Hozier

"Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you - you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house."

Paranoia and fear have completely taken over Reverend Parris' mind. His reputation is the most important thing to him. He begs those around him to not be fooled with witchcraft so that he looks like a better person. This song represents how the church symbolizes purity and innocence. It is believed that people can go to churches and "fix" themselves from evil spirits.

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"I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I'll not conceal it."

John Proctor sees the truth in people's actions. He is weary of individuals such as Reverend Parris because he understands who he is. He wants to protect his family from those who can cause harm or those he doesn't approve of. I can relate to this character because he will do anything he has to in order to protect the ones he loves. He cares more about the people in his life and he is not afraid to tell a situation how it is.

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"I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!"

Reverend Parris is one of the main characters in the drama. He has built his reputation as the minister of Salem. He suffers from paranoia that somebody wants to take over his position and he is willing to do anything to keep it. Reverend's attitude and uncontrollable anger makes him an unlikeable person. He does not thoroughly think of what to do. Personally, I would not be friends with this individual since his paranoia controls him so much to the point where he thinks about putting his daughter and his niece in danger in order to save his reputation.

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"I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!"

Reverend Parris is faced with a difficult decision. He is torn between speaking the truth of what he has seen his family doing or keeping it a secret. By revealing this information, it can be deadly and have serious consequences. This book uses mixed narration since it is originally a play. By having each character talk as themselves, it provides more character development since the characters can talk as themselves.

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"I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more."

The story takes place in a town in Salem, Massachusetts. This site is very well known for their witch trials back in 1692 where innocent individuals were tried as witches. The setting is symbolic of fear since Miller wrote the drama during a time of hysteria in America over views of Communism spreading. The mood created is paranoia and despair through the fear of ideologies spreading. I would want to visit since it was a fearful time period where misunderstandings caused accusations of evil acts.

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Arthur Miller became one of my favorite writers after reading his drama, All My Sons. He has a great ability of advancing the plot with dramatic events while providing depth to the main characters.

Also, this book takes place in a time where the Salem Witch Trial occurred. The possibility and fear of witches living in Puritan towns gave rise to hunts of every woman that was suspected of being a witch. It caused many innocent women to lose their lives over speculation and outright fear.

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Setting: Salem, Massachusetts
Time period: 1692
Main characters: John Proctor, Reverend Parris, Reverend Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail Williams, Thomas Putnam, Giles Corey, Francis Nurse, Deputy Governor Danforth
Situation: Town minister, Reverend Parris, finds his daughter, niece, and other women performing a dance in a forest with his slave. These girls claim they have been bewitched and a witch hunt begins.

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“The Crucible” was an act of desperation. Much of my desperation branched out, I suppose, from a typical Depression-era trauma—the blow struck on the mind by the rise of European Fascism and the brutal anti-Semitism it had brought to power."

"The play stumbled into history, and today, I am told, it is one of the most heavily demanded trade-fiction paperbacks in this country; the Bantam and Penguin editions have sold more than six million copies."

Link: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1996/10/21/why-i-wrote-the-crucible

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Arthur Miller was born on October 17, 1915 in New York. Miller's career began when he attended the University of Michigan where he started writing his plays. One of Miller's most popular plays was All My Sons where he won many awards for his work. He was mostly inspired by the Great Depression which is the time period that he lived in.

Link: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arthur-Miller-American-playwright