What is a Crucible?
A crucible is a pot, either made of ceramic or metal, which is used to melt a metal to an extreme temperature so that its impurities can be separated and the metal should be ready to cast. Arthur Miller has implied the crucible as a metaphor of severe test of individuals and theocracy. Almost every major character of the play is subjected to be placed in the crucible metaphorically and faces intense questioning, backlash, anguish and fear from the Salem witch trials. The concept of the crucible is present throughout the play.
Proctor in Crucible
John Proctor is caught in a harsh crucible from the very beginning when he is shown practising his lusty relationship with Abigail Williams. Elizabeth Proctor is his actual wife but his behaviour towards his mistress is somewhat cold. But those witch trials change everything. John realizes his foolishness of having an illicit relationship with Abigail and when Elizabeth is captured, he strives hard to get his wife out of prison at the cost of his own imprisonment. Proctor is asked to sign a confession but he refuses to do so because he wants to secure his name as an honourable citizen. He expresses his views on the Crucible as thus,
A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! …. And we will burn, we will burn together!
Proctor compares the crucible of witch trials to the burning hell in which fire has a close resemblance to the actual crucible [we discussed about in the beginning]
Justice is Crucible
Justice in the name of witch trials is itself a crucible. Many people are blindly put to an extreme test whether they are witches or not. [Spoiler alert: Males who were accused of witchcraft were also termed as witches! 🙃] Many respected persons, including as religious as Rebecca Nurse, were blamed of witchcraft and then sentenced to death when even a minute "religious" laziness was presented as an evidence.
Such historical "justice" is linked to another historical "justice". The Salem witch trials serve as a parallel to the Communist Hunt in which Miller himself was imprisoned in 1950. Joseph McCarthy, a judge, ignited a modern crucible to suppress the alleged communists. Manifestly, justice was a core force behind the crucibles in which John Proctor and Arthur Miller were entrapped.
Other Character's Views on the Crucible
The play is packed with many dialogues expressing a fine description of the situation. Reverend Parris asserts his opinions ironically,
Why, Rebecca, we may open up the boil of all our troubles today because
in the end the witchcraft investigation provokes the burning down and destruction of the community.
The terms "boil" and "burning down" are directly associated to a functioning crucible. In the end, the same destruction is brought to the community which Reverend Parris predicted and stern judge Danforth utters his remarks on the destruction his authority has brought,
We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.
It is only the assumption of Danforth's authority that his fiery justice is removing all the impurities of the devil but in reality, his authority has destroyed the peace of many homes in the town of Salem.
Conclusion
Arthur Miller has used the title of crucible skillfully and precisely in his play to highlight the blind witch hunts of Salem and McCarthy. Every witch hunt is, indeed, a crucible for the common people.
Sources and Suggested Readings
- UKEssays. (November 2018). Examining The Significance Of The Crucible English Literature Essay. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/examining-the-significance-of-the-crucible-english-literature-essay.php?vref=1
- https://sthmsandemanenglish.blogspot.com/2012/06/meaning-of-title-of-crucible.html
- https://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/08/discuss-significance-of-title-of-play.html
- "What is the significance of the title The Crucible as it relates to the major characters and theocracy?" eNotes Editorial, 20 Nov. 2007, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-significance-title-crucible-how-does-relate-12313. Accessed 2 Sep. 2020.
