Arthur millers " the crucible" presents an uncharacteristic tragic playwright that holds underlying meaning, which could be related to any society. Due to its verbosity It is effective in all of its three contexts- The Salem Witch Trials of spring 1692, The McCarthy "witch hunts" of the 1950's (at which time the Miller wrote the play) and to present day issues of prejudice and bigotry, due to factors such as terrorism - all of which could be identified as acts of extremism. The chosen form of drama is effective as it carries a sense of immediacy and provides a tangible link between the actor and audience. .
The oxford dictionary defines a crucible as "A pot which metals are put at high heat for melting and ridding of impurities." Salem was obsessed with the devil. That he had come into their religious community through human agency appalled the citizens. These witches had to be tracked down and "purified" or destroyed. Thus the pot is the court and the metals the accused citizens. The high heat includes the accusations, the badgering and the torture. Was the result the ridding if impurities? Millers play hardly suggests so. The title is succinct, colourful and ironic.
The crucible conveys pivitol points in the plays messages with key moments of dramatic action, namly silence and stillness, which with careful direction highlight the issues.
In the opening moments of the play the audience witnesses Parris "kneeling beside the bed" as he "weeps" and "prays", his daughter betty lies motionless. We are confronted by his sence of confusion. Tituba the frightened black slave enters. This opening is highly dramatic and introduces the image of the "black and white" situation that echoes throughout the play. The fear and confusion that are to follow are here foreshadowed, as we unknowingly witness the result of an unchallengeable theocracy asserting itself. .
It is here that a pattern is set for a second significant image.
