... as a metal container used for melting and purifying substances at high temperature or a place or occasion of severe test or trial. The definitions of the word refer to the critical themes of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. The play depicts the witch trials, sparked by the lies and hysteria of the God-fearing Puritans, in the village of Salem. Their sanity and ... fear bring the entire community to a melting point, where they are caught up in the deceit and paranoia, and put it through a severe test during the trials. In Act IV ... other people. As Rebecca prays for Proctor, he gains...

• Word Count: 1588
• Approx Pages: 6

... moved to take heroic action. He would not normally be considered a saintly individual, and he has no great eagerness to be a martyr. Yet when put to the final test, the meaning here of "crucible," he will go to his death rather than irrevocably compromise his integrity. His human frailty is established early in the play. Although normally a good husband and father, he ... -load of learned volumes, he is in the best of spirits. He knows that whatever problems may have arisen to disturb these worthy but uninformed villagers, he has all the answers. He may have to investigate carefully and ...

• Word Count: 1581
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School