Eric Mitchell III

2/1/16
1st Period
Crucible Research Project
1. Authorial Background
"Arthur Miller Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 01
Feb. 2016.

Arthur Miller attended school at the University of Michigan, where he wrote for
the student paper and took classes with playwright Kenneth Rowe. He then became a
playwright, writing the hit The Death of a Salesman. Miller would later be very
displeased with the McCarthyism proceedings at the time and wrote The Crucible, which
described the Salem Witch Trials as an allusion to McCarthyism, since both were unfairly
convicting people under the pretense of mass hysteria.
2. Literary Period and Country
"Arthur Miller Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 01
Feb. 2016.

The Crucible was written in the 1950s, during the McCarthyism era. During this
time, Joseph McCarthy accused many individuals who did not conform to his standards
as being Communist, and brought these people up on false charges and had them arrested.
3. Setting
The book takes place in colonial America in the city of Salem, spring of 1692.
The city is essentially a theocracy with very involved members of the town who all have
power and land struggles between each other.
4. Major Characters
John Proctor is a major land owner and farmer in Salem. He speaks rather simply but is
extremely intelligent. Proctor had an affair with Abigail and indirectly brought upon the witch
trials. He is a man of pride and was very reluctant to bury his pride for the sake of others, even
his wife. He ultimately went very far to try and rescue his wife, but ended up jailed and then
hanged.
Damn the Deputy Governor! Out of my house! (Act II, Pg. 77)

I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my

good name you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she
knew a whore when she saw one! (Act III, Page 111)

You came to save my soul, did you not? Here! I have confessed myself; it is
enough! (Act IV, Pg. 142)
Samuel Parris is the reverend in Salem at the time of the witch trials. He is very greedy
and self-centered, sacrificing and doing whatever necessary to protect his position. He also
seems very fearful, worrying constantly of his life being threatened.
 Eric Mitchell III
2/1/16
1st Period
Crucible Research Project
Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft, I know that you you
least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We
cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my
house. (Act I, Pg. 14)
We are here, Your Honor, precisely to discover what no one has ever seen.
(Act III, Pg. 104)
Not long after the fever died, Parris was voted from office, and was never
heard of again. (Miller, Epilogue, Pg. 146)
Abigail Williams is the niece of Samuel Parris and the once-lover of John Proctor.
She was extremely spiteful of Elizabeth Proctor and attempted to cast spells to kill her. She was
highly manipulative and intelligent, orchestrating the witch trials through lying and acting to
avoid trouble.
She made me do it! She made Betty do it! (Act I, Pg. 43)
pointing upward: The wings! Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, dont,
dont! (Act III, Pg. 117)
The legend has it that Abigail turned up later as a prostitute in Boston.
(Miller, Epilogue, Pg. 146)
John Hale is the reverend called to investigate the possibility of witchcraft in
Salem. He is a man of moral judgment, attempting to find the good in people and not consumed
with the pursuit and maintenance of pride and reputation.
I cannot tell. If she truly is truly in the Devils grip we may have to rip and
tear to get her free. (Act I, Page 39)
Abigail were stabbed tonight; a needle were found stuck into her belly
(Act II, Pg. 76)
Man, you will hang! You cannot! (Act IV, Pg. 144)

5. Theme
The theme of the play was the sin of pride and reputation. In this play, several
characters overall actions and consequences are derived from the great desire to protect
their pride and maintain their reputation. John Proctor faces many complications by his
initial reluctance to confess his affair, then his reluctance to confess to the charges, then
his final reluctance and eventual refusal to fully commit to the signing of the confession.
This problem is similarly seen in Reverend Parris and Judge Danforth, who both convict
innocent people to protect their own reputation.
6. Plot Summary
 Eric Mitchell III
2/1/16
1st Period
Crucible Research Project
In Act I, the scene opens to find Tituba and Parris in a frantic over the Parris
passed out daughter Betty. Parris discovered earlier Betty, Abigail -his niece- and, other
girls dancing in the woods with Tituba performing some sort of spell. The Putnams
arrive, survey Betty, and speak of the possibility of witchcraft. Betty awakens in fervor
and tells Abigail and another girl, Mercy Warren, how Abigail drank blood in an attempt
to perform a ritual to kill John Proctors wife. John Proctor arrives and Abigail attempts
to rekindle her affair with him is instead rejected by him. She confesses her actions to
him but only succeeds in turning him farther away. The Putnams, Parris, Giles Corey, and
Rebecca Nurse reenter, Nurse has a healing effect upon Betty. The Putnams, Nurse,
Corey, and Proctor argue over the possibility of witchcraft and land disputes. Reverend
Hale- an expert on witchcraft- arrives and questions everyone about the current situation
and their backgrounds. Abigail is nearly exposed but she and Parris quickly shift all
blame to Tituba, who then confesses to devil worshipping to escape hanging. Abigail and
Betty then start to accuse many other women of having been with the devil.
Act II opens in the Proctors household. John and Elizabeth are attempting to
normally interact with each other but there is an obvious strain between them. Mary
Warren returns from court, sickly, and gives Elizabeth a puppet. Mary says that
Elizabeths name was mentioned in court. Reverend Hale appears at the household, and
question the Proctors to gain a better understanding of them. Giles Corey, Cheever, and
Herrick arrive saying the court has a warrant for them searching the house. They discover
the puppet and link it with Abigail as a voodoo doll. They then proceed to arrest Elizabeth
and take her away. John makes up his mind to go to court with Mary Warren and have her
tell the truth about Abigail so Elizabeth will be freed.
Act III opens in the middle of court proceedings. Giles and John rush in to get the
court to free their wives. Judge Danforth proceeds to question Proctor in an attempt to
gleam his loyalties. Proctor points out Mary Warrens willingness to swear against
Abigail. As Danforth begins to be swayed, Abigail, and the other teen girls, pretend to see
visions and be under the control of Mary Warrens witchcraft. This causes Mary Warren
to go to Abigails side. In a last ditch effort, Proctor confesses to his affair with Abigail.
To confirm this, Danforth calls in Elizabeth who lies about the affair try to protect John,
not aware he already confessed. John and Elizabeth are both sent to prison.
Act IV opens with Tituba and Sarah Good continuing to pretend to have been
devil worshippers. Parris meets with Danforth and tells him that Abigail has stolen all his
money and ran away. They find Hale, who has been praying with each inmate. Danforth
desperately wants Proctor to confess to protect his reputation and to so this attempt to get
Elizabeth to convince him. As Elizabeth and John meet alone, they have a warm embrace
and apologize to each other for all their mistakes. As John contemplates whether or not to
confess, Elizabeth refuses to give an opinion. Coming to the conclusion that since all the
good-natured pure individuals are not confessing, he should confess because he is not on
the same standards as them. As he confesses, Danforth asks for a written confession, not
 Eric Mitchell III
2/1/16
1st Period
Crucible Research Project
verbal. Proctor refuses, tearing the paper, not wanting to sully his name. The play ends
with John facing his death.
7. Unique Literary Devices
There is extensive use of irony in the play. Act II and Act III exhibit irony in great
detail. In Act II, dramatic irony is used when John Proctor says to Elizabeth, Pray now
for a fair summer (pg. 50). Another example of irony is in the form of situational irony
also in Act II, where- while reciting the ten commandments- John Proctor was only able
to recite nine, forgetting the one commandment he has greatly broken, adultery (pg. 67).
The play also uses the characters as an allegory to McCarthyism. John Proctor is
seen as the common man fighting for against the unjust system placed around him and
accusing him. Judge Danforth is the representation of Joseph McCarthy himself. Judge
Hathorne is the representation of those on McCarthys committee devoted to his cause.
Reverend Hale is the representation of those in the political office who feel guilt for
McCarthys actions. Abigail and Parris are representation of those who used the corrupt
system to further their own agendas.
8. Critical Essay
Greenhaven Press. Readings on Arthur Miller. San Diego, CA 1994: 42-43. Print.

The writer praises Millers incorporation of direct real life references, especially
where he uses direct records from the witch trials for use in the play. He points out
Millers dialogue and language to emphasize and show the atmosphere of the trials. He
goes on to state that this techniques use goes beyond ordinary analyzation.
The critic had a positive overall criticism of Millers depiction of the witch trials.
I found it impressive also with Millers incorporation of real life court records into the
play. I share the writers positive view on Millers language and dialogue usage. I believe
the writers perception of Miller and Crucible is well-deserved.