The CrucibleThe Crucible

ThemesThemes

Structure Structure

CharactersCharacters

What is a theme?What is a theme?

A fundamental and often universal A fundamental and often universal idea explored in a literary work. idea explored in a literary work.

It’s what lets us identify with the It’s what lets us identify with the story, even if it takes place in a story, even if it takes place in a setting we are unfamiliar with. setting we are unfamiliar with.

Theme 1: IntoleranceTheme 1: Intolerance

What is it? What is it? Unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or Unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or

respect contrary opinions or beliefs, respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or persons of different races or backgrounds, etc. backgrounds, etc.

Seeing your way as right no matter Seeing your way as right no matter what; won’t even consider that other what; won’t even consider that other ways could be valid. ways could be valid.

Theme 1: IntoleranceTheme 1: Intolerance

The Crucible is set in a theocratic The Crucible is set in a theocratic society (the church and state are society (the church and state are one).one).

In Salem, everything is either good or In Salem, everything is either good or evil, right or wrong, of God or of evil, right or wrong, of God or of Satan. There is no “gray area” or “in Satan. There is no “gray area” or “in between.”between.”

Anyone who doesn’t follow the Anyone who doesn’t follow the religious rules is considered a threat.religious rules is considered a threat.

Theme 1: IntoleranceTheme 1: Intolerance

Disobeying God’s laws isn’t just Disobeying God’s laws isn’t just unlawful, it’s considered Satanic / evil. unlawful, it’s considered Satanic / evil.

The witch trials are the ultimate The witch trials are the ultimate expression of intolerance. Social expression of intolerance. Social deviants (those who don’t go along deviants (those who don’t go along with all of Salem’s rules and beliefs) with all of Salem’s rules and beliefs) are braded “witches” and “devil-are braded “witches” and “devil-worshipers” and are cast out of the worshipers” and are cast out of the good Christian community. good Christian community.

Did you get it?Did you get it?

What is intolerance?What is intolerance?How is Salem an “intolerant” society? How is Salem an “intolerant” society? In Salem, what kinds of people are In Salem, what kinds of people are

“good” and what kinds are “evil?”“good” and what kinds are “evil?”Which characters are intolerant and Which characters are intolerant and

why?why?

Theme 2: HysteriaTheme 2: Hysteria

What is it?What is it?An uncontrollable rush emotion or fear, An uncontrollable rush emotion or fear,

often characterized by irrationalityoften characterized by irrationalityPeople freaking out because other People freaking out because other

people are freaking out and then making people are freaking out and then making bad decisions based on inaccurate (and bad decisions based on inaccurate (and often imaginary) information.often imaginary) information.

Theme 2: HysteriaTheme 2: Hysteria

Hysteria overrules logic and enables Hysteria overrules logic and enables people in Salem to believe their people in Salem to believe their neighbors are committing absurd and neighbors are committing absurd and unbelievable crimes. unbelievable crimes.

The townspeople accept the witch The townspeople accept the witch hunt hysteria not because they love hunt hysteria not because they love God or genuinely care about God or genuinely care about conquering evil, but because it allows conquering evil, but because it allows them to act on long-held grudges. them to act on long-held grudges.

Theme 2: HysteriaTheme 2: Hysteria

Examples of people who benefit from Examples of people who benefit from the hysteria:the hysteria:Abigail: uses the situation to accuse Abigail: uses the situation to accuse

Elizabeth and have her sent to jailElizabeth and have her sent to jailParris: strengthens his shaky position in Parris: strengthens his shaky position in

the village by putting blame on people the village by putting blame on people like Proctor who question his authoritylike Proctor who question his authority

Thomas Putnam: gains revenge on Thomas Putnam: gains revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca accused of murdering his wife’s babies accused of murdering his wife’s babies

Theme 2: HysteriaTheme 2: Hysteria

Hysteria only thrives in Salem Hysteria only thrives in Salem because people benefit from it. because people benefit from it.

Hysteria suspends the rules of daily Hysteria suspends the rules of daily life and allows the acting out of every life and allows the acting out of every dark desire and hateful urge.dark desire and hateful urge.

It allows people to feel justified when It allows people to feel justified when they hurt others and act selfishly. they hurt others and act selfishly.

Did you get it?Did you get it?

What is hysteria?What is hysteria?What does hysteria allow the What does hysteria allow the

townspeople to do that they wouldn’t townspeople to do that they wouldn’t normally have been able to do? normally have been able to do?

Why does the hysteria continue to Why does the hysteria continue to grow? grow?

Who benefits from hysteria and how?Who benefits from hysteria and how?

Theme 3: ReputationTheme 3: Reputation

What is it?What is it?The way other people view you.The way other people view you.

Reputation is very important in Salem, Reputation is very important in Salem, because the way you behave in public because the way you behave in public says everything about your says everything about your “Christian” character. “Christian” character.

Various characters base their actions Various characters base their actions on the desire to protect their on the desire to protect their reputations.reputations.

Theme 3: ReputationTheme 3: Reputation

Parris: fears that Abigail’s Parris: fears that Abigail’s questionable actions will cost him questionable actions will cost him respect and maybe even his jobrespect and maybe even his job

Proctor: could have stopped the girls’ Proctor: could have stopped the girls’ accusations early in the play, but accusations early in the play, but hesitated because he was afraid of hesitated because he was afraid of hurting his reputation. In the end, his hurting his reputation. In the end, his desire to keep his good name and go desire to keep his good name and go to his death innocent redeems his to his death innocent redeems his earlier bad choice. earlier bad choice.

Did you get it?Did you get it?

What is reputation?What is reputation?Why is it particularly important in Why is it particularly important in

Salem?Salem?Which characters are worried about Which characters are worried about

their reputations? What actions do their reputations? What actions do they take to protect their they take to protect their reputations? reputations?

Theme 4: EmpowermentTheme 4: Empowerment

What is it?What is it? To give power or authority to; authorize, esp. To give power or authority to; authorize, esp.

by legal or official meansby legal or official means The witch trials empower those who were The witch trials empower those who were

previously powerless. previously powerless. In Salem, women occupy a low social rung, In Salem, women occupy a low social rung,

being dominated by men (only men can being dominated by men (only men can lead in the church and the church controls lead in the church and the church controls the society). They have few options in life the society). They have few options in life (mother or servant).(mother or servant).

Theme 4: EmpowermentTheme 4: Empowerment

The trials allows the single servant girls to The trials allows the single servant girls to become powerful. People see them as “saints” become powerful. People see them as “saints” and overlook their sins, taking their word to and overlook their sins, taking their word to be an expression of “God’s will.” They can be an expression of “God’s will.” They can now control and manipulate even the most now control and manipulate even the most powerful men in town (ex: Abigail threatens powerful men in town (ex: Abigail threatens that Danforth will be accused next if he that Danforth will be accused next if he doubts her). doubts her).

Even lower in Salem society than women are Even lower in Salem society than women are African slaves. The trials enable Tituba to get African slaves. The trials enable Tituba to get out of trouble (at first) by accusing others. out of trouble (at first) by accusing others.

Did you get it?Did you get it?

What is empowerment?What is empowerment?Who is empowered by the trials and Who is empowered by the trials and

how?how?Why was Salem the perfect place for Why was Salem the perfect place for

the witch trials to happen? What the witch trials to happen? What conditions needed to exist for all the conditions needed to exist for all the craziness to take place? craziness to take place?

StructureStructure

The CrucibleThe Crucible has the structure of a has the structure of a classical tragedy.classical tragedy.

Classical tragedy originated in Classical tragedy originated in Ancient Greece. Ancient Greece.

It has 3 major components:It has 3 major components:HamartiaHamartiaHubrisHubrisCatharsisCatharsis

Structure: HamartiaStructure: Hamartia

A fatal flawA fatal flawGreek for “missing the mark”Greek for “missing the mark”A tragic mistake made by the main A tragic mistake made by the main

character; an error in judgment character; an error in judgment

Structure: HubrisStructure: Hubris

Overweening prideOverweening prideGreek for “ruin, folly, delusion”Greek for “ruin, folly, delusion”The main character’s hubris leads to The main character’s hubris leads to

his/her downfall or death his/her downfall or death

Structure: CatharsisStructure: Catharsis

An emotional climax that results in a An emotional climax that results in a revelation revelation

Greek for “purification or cleansing”Greek for “purification or cleansing”Catharsis involves feelings of great Catharsis involves feelings of great

sorrow, pity, regret, etc. that lead to sorrow, pity, regret, etc. that lead to the main character’s restoration or the main character’s restoration or renewalrenewal

Characters: John ProctorCharacters: John Proctor

The CrucibleThe Crucible is structured as a is structured as a classical tragedy, with Proctor as the classical tragedy, with Proctor as the play’s tragic hero. play’s tragic hero.

He is basically a good person: He is basically a good person: honest, upright, blunt, and honest, upright, blunt, and remorseful of his mistakes. remorseful of his mistakes.

He has a secret, fatal flaw: his lust He has a secret, fatal flaw: his lust for Abigail. for Abigail.

Characters: John ProctorCharacters: John Proctor

Proctor is worried his reputation will be Proctor is worried his reputation will be ruined if he tells the court Abigail is lying. ruined if he tells the court Abigail is lying. His hubris prevents him from stopping the His hubris prevents him from stopping the girls’ hysteria in the beginning and girls’ hysteria in the beginning and everything quickly snowballs out of everything quickly snowballs out of control. control.

When he finally realizes how bad things When he finally realizes how bad things have gotten, he redeems himself by have gotten, he redeems himself by refusing to admit to witchcraft, even refusing to admit to witchcraft, even though it means he will hang. though it means he will hang.

Characters: John ProctorCharacters: John Proctor

Proctor almost wavers in his resolve to do Proctor almost wavers in his resolve to do the right thing (he signs the confession), the right thing (he signs the confession), but has a cathartic moment when he rips it but has a cathartic moment when he rips it up.up.

Elizabeth confirms his redemption by Elizabeth confirms his redemption by saying, “He have his goodness now. God saying, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.” forbid I take it from him.”

In the end, Proctor is more concerned with In the end, Proctor is more concerned with doing what’s right than with having a good doing what’s right than with having a good reputation in Salem. reputation in Salem.

Characters: Abigail WilliamsCharacters: Abigail Williams

Orphan who lives with her uncle, Parris. Orphan who lives with her uncle, Parris. The villain of the play. The villain of the play. Kills innocent people to a) get out of trouble Kills innocent people to a) get out of trouble

for dancing and b) kill Elizabeth so she can be for dancing and b) kill Elizabeth so she can be with John. with John.

She is motivated by JEALOUSY and a desire to She is motivated by JEALOUSY and a desire to get REVENGE on Elizabeth Proctor for firing get REVENGE on Elizabeth Proctor for firing her.her.

She is character modeled after the Biblical She is character modeled after the Biblical archetype of Jezebel: a wicked woman archetype of Jezebel: a wicked woman motivated by sexual desire and a lust for motivated by sexual desire and a lust for power. power.

Characters: Reverend HaleCharacters: Reverend Hale

Intellectual, naïve witch-hunter from Intellectual, naïve witch-hunter from neighboring town of Beverly.neighboring town of Beverly.

Called in to assess the situation when Called in to assess the situation when Betty falls ill after getting caught dancing Betty falls ill after getting caught dancing in the woods. in the woods.

In the beginning, he is the force behind In the beginning, he is the force behind the witch trials, probing for confessions the witch trials, probing for confessions and encouraging people to testify. and encouraging people to testify.

He transforms over the course of the play He transforms over the course of the play (more than any other character) and (more than any other character) and eventually denounces the trials. eventually denounces the trials.

Characters: Reverend HaleCharacters: Reverend Hale

His catharsis comes too late, though, and His catharsis comes too late, though, and his faith in God and in the law are broken. his faith in God and in the law are broken. He begs the accused to lie and save He begs the accused to lie and save themselves rather than die innocent. themselves rather than die innocent.

He gains the audience’s sympathy but not He gains the audience’s sympathy but not its respect, since he is weak (unlike its respect, since he is weak (unlike characters like Rebecca Nurse, Giles characters like Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, and Proctor). He surrenders to evil Corey, and Proctor). He surrenders to evil instead of defying it. He insists that instead of defying it. He insists that survival is the highest good, even if it survival is the highest good, even if it means accommodating injustice – means accommodating injustice – something truly heroic characters can something truly heroic characters can never accept.never accept.