The Crucible

The Crucible is a play written and published by Arthur Miller in 1953. It describes the witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, an event that Miller used as an allegory for McCarthyism in the USA of the 1950s. Miller was himself questioned by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956.

The play was first performed on January 22, 1953 on Broadway, New York. The reviews of the first production were hostile, but a year later a new production succeeded and the play became a classic.

Cinematic versions of the play were produced in 1957 (Les Sorcières de Salem) and 1996.

Important Characters

John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Parris

References

Arthur Miller, Why I Wrote 'The Crucible': An artist's answer to politics, published in October 21 & 28th issue of The New Yorker, pages 158-164.

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The Crucible is a theatre in Sheffield, England; see Crucible Theatre.