In his 1953 play The Crucible, playwright Arthur Miller employs a fictionalized account of Massachusetts Bay colonists accused of witchcraft in 1692 as a metaphor for government persecution of suspected communists during the mid-20th century. Explore a character analysis of John Proctor, plot summary, and important quotes.
Summary
Read our full plot summary and analysis of The Crucible, scene by scene breakdowns, and more.
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in The Crucible and in-depth analyses of John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend Hale, and more.
Literary Devices
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in The Crucible, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
Questions & Answers
Explore our selection of frequently asked questions about The Crucible and find the answers you need.
- Why is the play called The Crucible? What is a crucible?
- Did the girls really see the Devil or witches?
- Why did Tituba confess to dancing with the Devil?
- Was John still in love with Abigail?
- Why didn’t more people sign false confessions that they were witches to save their lives?
- What is Reverend Parris’s biggest concern?
- What causes tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor?
- Why is Rebecca Nurse accused of witchcraft?
- Why is Elizabeth Proctor accused of witchcraft?
- Why doesn’t John Proctor attend church often?
- What happens when Mary Warren tells the court the truth about the girls acting bewitched?
- How does John Proctor know that the witchcraft isn’t real?
- Why doesn’t Danforth believe John Proctor’s confession of his infidelity with Abigail Williams?
- Why does Reverend Hale change his mind about the witch trials?
- Why doesn’t John Proctor save himself?
Quotes
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Quick Quizzes
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Essays
Get ready to ace your The Crucible paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, a sample A+ student essay, and more.
Further Study
Go further in your study of The Crucible with background information, movie adaptations, and links to the best resources around the web.
