The Play

The Crucible is an imaginative reconstruction of events in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692- Miller saw in the Salem witch trials a parallel with the Communist "witch-hunts" of Senator McCarthy and the House Committee on Un-American Activities in the 1940s and early 1950s. He saw the hysteria generated by fear, and the effects that fear and fanaticism can have on people, individually and collectively. When Miller was called before the Committee in 1956 he admitted to attending meetings of Communist writers many years before but refused to name any of those present and was fined for contempt. The theme of personal integrity: the responsibility of the individual to be true to his own ideals, as well as being a responsible member of his society, is one of the major of themes in The Crucible.

The author himself has written A Note On the Historical Accuracy of This Play which is printed as a preface to the published play. One of the changes made by the author is of particular significance. The Abigail Williams who played a leading part in the original witchcraft trials was only about twelve years old at the time. By making her older in the play the author has made more credible her personal involvement with John Proctor and her animosity towards his wife, Elizabeth. It also allows her to be a more substantial and powerful actor in the drama: a motivating force driving the frenzied girls in any direction she chooses.

In his Introduction to Collected Plays (Cresset Press, London, 1958) Miller says that one single fact prompted him to write The Crucible. In looking through the records of the trials he came upon the odd fact that Abigail Williams, the leader of the girls responsible for the witchcraft hysteria in Salem, accused her former employer, Elizabeth Proctor, of witchcraft, but refused to implicate John Proctor, Elizabeth's husband, despite the urgings of the prosecution. Miller wondered why. The reason he has invented, Abigail's love or lust for John Proctor, is made possible by making the Abigail in the play older than the historical character.

The reasons for John Proctor being ultimately prosecuted and hanged could not be found, but the record does show that John Proctor was unusually liberal in his views. "He was one of the few who not only refused to admit consorting with evil spirits, but who persisted in calling the entire business a ruse and a fake." (Arthur Miller, p42, Introduction, op. cit.) This independence of thought called into question the legitimacy of the court and would be seen by the authorities as a threat to their power.

The play obviously works best as drama when presented on the stage, but for those studying the text of the play for examination purposes the author's commentaries and stage directions are of particular importance.