what is the genre of the crucible

What genre is the last of the Mohicans?

The Last of the Mohicans is a romance, a genre deriving from the British Romantic movement of the early nineteenth century that emphasizes imagination over reason and allows for comedy. Cooper uses history as a frame and fills it with the imaginative movements of the romance plot.

What are the main characters in the Crucible?

• Elizabath Proctar. John's wife.
• John Proctor. A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth's husband.
• Mary Warren. The servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail's group of girls.
• Rev. Hale.
• Giles Corey.
• Francis Nurse.
• Ezekiel Cheever.
• Marshall Herrick.

What is a short summary of the Crucible?

“The Crucible” is about the Salem witch trials in 1692. Several young girls claim to be afflicted by witchcraft, starting with Reverend Paris’s daughter Betty. The afflicted girls accuse people in the town of witchcraft, often choosing victims who they or their families dislike.

Who are the main characters in the Crucible by Arthur Miller?

• Reverend John Hale. A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. ...
• Elizabeth Proctor. John Proctor's wife. ...
• Reverend Parris. The minister of Salem's church. ...
• Rebecca Nurse. Francis Nurse's wife. ...
• Francis Nurse. A wealthy, influential man in Salem. ...
• Judge Danforth. ...
• Giles Corey. ...
• Thomas Putnam. ...
• Ann Putnam. ...
• Ruth Putnam. ...

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What is the genre of The Crucible and why?

Tragedy. The Crucible is a tragedy in that it features a tragic hero whose fatal flaw of adultery results in his downfall, and who only repents his error after it is too late to alter his fate.

Is The Crucible a novel or a play?

The Crucible, a four-act play by Arthur Miller, performed and published in 1953. Set in 1692 during the Salem witch trials, The Crucible is an examination of contemporary events in American politics during the era of fear and desire for conformity brought on by Sen.

What is the theme of The Crucible?

Goodness. In The Crucible, the idea of goodness is a major theme. Almost every character is concerned with the concept of goodness because their religion teaches them that the most important thing in life is how they will be judged by God after they die.

Is The Crucible Gothic literature?

A few articles to discern when assessing gothic literature is the fall of house of usher by Edgar Allen Poe and the Crucible by Arthur Miller, and although both are considered gothic literature, their styles and emotions differ significantly.

Is The Crucible a Greek tragedy?

The Crucible has the outline structure of Greek Tragedy with Proctor as a standardized tragic hero. Procter is an upright, reasonable and honest man, but he has an affair with Abigail, which is a fatal flaw that leads him to death.

Is The Crucible book scary?

Some parents may not want their kids to read about this topic at younger age because it could be scary, while others may not appreciate the religious views and concepts supported.

What are the three themes of The Crucible?

ThemesIntolerance. The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the religion is a strict, austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism. ... Hysteria. ... Reputation. ... Goodness. ... Judgment.

Who is the tragic hero in The Crucible?

In a sense, The Crucible has the structure of a classical tragedy, with John Proctor as the play's tragic hero. Honest, upright, and blunt-spoken, Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, fatal flaw.

What is the story crucible about?

It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the United States government persecuted people accused of being communists.

Is The Crucible a satire?

Ultimately, The Crucible can be understood as a satirical allegory because although the judges in both eras claim they want to expose the truth, they instead manipulate facts and place blame in order to hide their personal agendas for political power.

How is The Crucible a modern tragedy?

The crucible is a modern tragedy written in the Context of a historical incident of Salem's witchcraft (I7th century) but the play highlights the cruelty of McCarthyism and communists trails in America in 20th century. The play contains almost all the spices of a modem tragedy.

What is the tone of The Crucible?

The tone of The Crucible is cautionary and largely unsympathetic, suggesting that the characters actively created the disastrous events of the play, rather being victimized by them.

Is The Crucible based on a book?

What Inspired Arthur Miller to Write The Crucible? Arthur Miller first got the idea to write about the Salem Witch Trials after reading a book titled Salem Witchcraft by Charles W.

How long is The Crucible play?

The running time for The Crucible is approximately three hours and includes one intermission.

Why is The Crucible an appropriate title for the play?

A crucible is a severe test or trial in a place or of an occasion. This term relates to the title because in this play many characters are tested with regards to their faith and are put on trial for witchcraft.

Why is the book called The Crucible?

A "crucible" is a severe test or trial, which is exactly what happens in the play. Miller intended "The Crucible" as an allegory to McCarthyism. The events that took place during the time the play was written were very similar to the Salem witch hunts.

What is the Crucible about?

The Crucible is a tragedy in that it features a tragic hero whose fatal flaw of adultery results in his downfall, and who only repents his error after it is too late to alter his fate. While making notes for the play, Arthur Miller wrote, “here is real Greek tragedy,” and reminded himself that Proctor’s death by hanging at the end of the play “must be ‘tragic’ – ie; must be result of an opportunity not grasped when it should have been, due to ‘flaw.’” Greek tragedies told stories of noble characters whose flaws, or deficits, caused them to compound one bad decision after the other, making their deaths at the end of the plays inevitable. In The Crucible, John Proctor is in most ways an upstanding character, honest and highly moral. But his flaw is his extramarital lust, which has resulted in an affair with his family’s servant, Abigail. Proctor’s guilt over the affair and fear of his secret being revealed causes him to remain silent while Abigail accuses many townspeople of witchcraft. He then compounds this error by falsely confessing to witchcraft himself. He is finally redeemed when he retracts his confession, but it’s too late, the damage has been done, and Proctor, like all tragic heroes, dies.

Is The Crucible a historical fiction?

In using a real-life setting, real people, and historically accurate details to tell a fictional story, The Crucible is also an example of historical fiction. Miller had studied the Salem witch trials in college, and traveled to Salem in 1952 to conduct extensive research at the Salem courthouse while working on the play. Miller writes in the play’s preface that although he took some artistic license, “the fate of each character is exactly that of his historical model, and there is no one in the drama who did not play a similar—and in some cases exactly the same—role in history.” Miller consolidated several historical figures into one or a few characters and, most significantly, raised Abigail’s age and lowered John Proctor’s, so their affair would be plausible. In doing this, he presented a personal motivation for the two main character’s actions: Abigail acts out of jealousy, while John acts, or fails to act, out of guilt. In truth, people’s motivations for accusing each other of witchcraft often remain unknowable, as many people may have been caught up in the hysteria of the moment and believed their accusations were justified. In fictionalizing the plot of the play and making the two protagonists’ motivations specific and clear, Miller ensured their actions would feel relatable to modern audiences.

What is the Crucible about?

"The Crucible is seen as more of a commentary on McCarthyism than on the actual witch trials at Salem. " (http://www.enotes.com/crucible)

Is the Salem Witch Trials accurate?

It is not an accurate history of these events since some of the events in the play did not take place in real life incidents surrounding the stories of witchcraft at Salem. And other occurrences involved with the Salem witch trials are changed around to suit the dramatic elements of the play.

Is the Crucible a play?

It is a play ; it is loosly based on the stories of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. It would be considered historical fiction since it is based on these events. It is also a paradoxycal allegory since the title The Crucible is also a vessel in which metals are heated and refined.

Who wrote the Crucible?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For other uses, see The Crucible (disambiguation). The Crucible is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93.

How old was Abigail Williams in the Crucible?

Abigail Williams' age was increased from 11 or 12 to 17, probably to add credence to the backstory of Proctor's affair with Abigail. John Proctor himself was 60 years old in 1692, but portrayed as much younger in the play, for the same reason.

What is the setting of Act 2 of The Proctors?

The remainder of Act Two is set in the Proctors‘ home. John and Elizabeth are incredulous that nearly forty people have been arrested for witchcraft based on the pronouncements of Abigail and the other girls. John knows their apparent possession and accusations of witchcraft are untrue, as Abigail told him as much when they were alone together in the first act, but is unsure of how to confess without revealing the affair. Elizabeth is disconcerted to learn her husband was alone with Abigail. She believes John still lusts after Abigail and tells him that as long as he does, he will never redeem himself.

What is the setting of the Salem Witch Trials?

Salem witch trials, McCarthyism. Genre. Tragedy. Setting. Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Crucible is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93.

Who played John Proctor in the play?

The play has been presented several times on television. A 1968 production starred George C. Scott as John Proctor, Colleen Dewhurst (Scott's wife at the time) as Elizabeth Proctor, Melvyn Douglas as Thomas Danforth, and Tuesday Weld as Abigail Williams.

What did Cheever find in Elizabeth's table?

Cheever picks up the poppet on Elizabeth's table and finds a needle inside. He informs John that Abigail had a pain-induced fit earlier that evening and a needle was found stuck into her stomach; Abigail claimed that Elizabeth stabbed her with the needle through witchcraft, using a poppet as a conduit.

What year was the Crucible?from en.wikipedia.org

The Crucible. (1996 film) This article is about the film by Nicholas Hytner. For the film by Raymond Rouleau, see The Crucible (1957 film). The Crucible is a 1996 American historical drama film written by Arthur Miller adapting his 1953 play of the same title, inspired by the Salem witchcraft trials. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner and stars ...

Who wrote the Crucible?from en.wikipedia.org

It was adapted as an opera by Robert Ward , which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1962.

What does Parris ask Abigail about the events in the woods?from en.wikipedia.org

Parris questions Abigail about the events in the woods; Betty will not awaken, nor will Thomas and Ann Putnam 's daughter Ruth, who was also dancing. This upsets Mrs. Putnam hard as she previously had seven other children who died at childbirth. Giles Corey, who suspects that the children are just acting out, and John Proctor, with whom Abigail had an affair and whose wife she wants dead, also visit the Parris household. Abigail still loves Proctor, but Proctor has realized his mistake and left her. Believing Betty and Ruth to be demonically possessed, the Putnams and Reverend Parris call Reverend John Hale from nearby Beverly to examine Betty. To save herself and the other girls from punishment, Abigail accuses Tituba of witchcraft. After being whipped, Tituba confesses to seeing the devil and is saved from being hanged. Struck by their new power, the other girls begin naming other women whom they "saw" with the devil.

Where was the Crucible filmed?from en.wikipedia.org

Much of the filming took place on Choate Island in Essex, Massachusetts .

Why does Abigail try to convince the court that Reverend Hale's wife is also a witch?from en.wikipedia.org

Abigail attempts to convince the court that Reverend Hale's wife is also a witch (because Hale was the lone official in the court who doubted her claims); however, this plot backfires as the judges do not believe her , because a minister's wife is considered to be pure.

Why does John confess to having an affair with Abigail?from en.wikipedia.org

To demonstrate that Abigail is not innocent, John confesses to having had an affair with her, claiming that Abigail accused Elizabeth in order to get rid of her so that she could marry him. Abigail denies the accusation to protect her reputation, so Elizabeth is called in to verify the accusation.

What happened in 1692?from en.wikipedia.org

Early one morning in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, a group of young village girls meet in the woods with a Barbadian slave named Tituba, attempting to conjure love spells for certain men in their town. One of the girls, Abigail Williams, kills a chicken and drinks its blood, wishing for John Proctor 's wife Elizabeth to die.

What is the Crucible about?

The Crucible is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller. Written in 1953, it is a dramatized and fictionalized retelling of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692-1693. The majority of the characters are real historical figures, and the play serves as an allegory for McCarthyism .

When was the Crucible based on a book?

Playwright Arthur Miller takes a bow March 7, 2002 during the opening of the play The Crucible at the Virginia Theater in New York City. The play is based on Miller's book. Dennis Clark / Getty Images

What are some interesting facts about the Crucible?

Fast Facts: The Crucible 1 Title: The Crucible 2 Author: Arthur Miller 3 Publisher: Viking 4 Year Published: 1953 5 Genre: Drama 6 Type of Work: Play 7 Original Language: English 8 Themes: Mass hysteria and fear, reputation, conflict with authority, faith vs. knowledge, and unintended consequences 9 Major Characters: John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Proctor, John Hathorne, Jonathan Danforth 10 Notable Adaptations: 1996 movie with a screenplay by Miller himself, starring Winona Ryder as Abigail Williams and Daniel Day Lewis as John Proctor; Ivo van Hove’s 2016 Broadway revival set in a classroom, with Saoirse Ronan as Abigail Williams 11 Fun Fact: Another Salem-themed play was circulating when The Crucible premiered. Jewish-German novelist and U.S. exile Lion Feuchtwanger wrote Wahn, Oder der Teufel in Boston in 1947, and he used the witch trials as an allegory for persecutions against suspected communists. It premiered in Germany in 1949 and in the U.S. in 1953.

How old was Abigail when she was accused of witchcraft?

In 1962, accusations of witchcraft wreak havoc in the isolated and theocratic society of Salem. These rumors are largely encouraged by Abigail, a 17-year-old girl, in order to frame Elizabeth Proctor as a witch, so that she can win over her husband John Proctor.

What are the themes of the movie Mass Hysteria?

Themes: Mass hysteria and fear, reputation, conflict with authority, faith vs. knowledge, and unintended consequences

What is the style of the play "No one can really know what their lives were like"?

The style in which the play is written reflects its historical setting. Even though Miller did not strive for perfect historical accuracy, as, in his words, "No one can really know what their lives were like," he adapted some of the idiosyncratic expressions used by the Puritan community that he found in written records. For example, "Goody" (Mrs); "I'd admire to know" (I'd very much like to know); "open with me" (tell me the truth); "pray" (please). There are also some grammatical uses which are different from modern usage. For example, the verb "to be" is often used differently: "it were" for "it was," and "it be" for "it is." This style establishes clear differentiations between the classes of people. In fact, most of the characters' attitudes are revealed by the way they speak.

What is the conflict with authority in The Crucible?

Conflict With Authority. In The Crucible, individuals are in conflict with other individuals, but this stems from an overarching conflict with authority .

When was The Crucible written?

When Written: 1950-52. When Published: 1953. Literary Period: Realist Drama. Genre: Tragic Drama. Setting: Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, when it was a Puritan colony. Climax: The Crucible has an odd structure, in which each of the four acts ends on a climax. Act I: the girls scream out the names of witches.

What is the historical context of the Crucible?

The Crucible is a fictionalized account of the Salem Witch trials of 1692, in which 19 innocent men and women were killed by hanging and hundreds convicted before the panic subsided. Yet while The Crucible depicts one witch-hunt, it was written during another.

Who was the real Salem Witch Trials?

The Real Salem Witch Trials. In his depiction of the witch trials, Miller took many major departures from fact. For instance, John Proctor was nearly 60 and Abigail Williams only 11 at the time of the witch trials. Any affair between the two is highly unlikely, to say the least.

What was the first movie that Miller made?

Miller had his first real success with All My Sons (1947). Death of a Salesman (1949) made Miller a star. The Crucible opened in 1952, and was considered an attack on the anti-Communist McCarthyism then raging in the United States.

What is the point of view of the Crucible?

Point of view The Crucible is a play , so the audience and reader are entirely outside the action. Falling action The events from John Proctor’s attempt to expose Abigail in Act IV to his decision to die rather than confess at the end of Act IV.

Who did John Proctor tell the Salem court?

Climax John Proctor tells the Salem court that he committed adultery with Abigail Williams.

What is the Crucible about?

Inspired by the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, focuses on the inconsistencies of the Salem witch trials and the extreme behavior that can result from dark desires and hidden agendas. Miller bases the play on the historical account of the Salem witch trials. In particular he focuses on the discovery ...

What is the meaning of the Crucible?

Within the context of the play the term takes on a new meaning: not only is the crucible a test, but a test designed to bring about change or reveal an individual's true character. The witch trials serve as a metaphorical crucible, which burns away the characters' outer shells to reveal their true intentions and character beneath. Throughout the play, Miller carefully peels away the layers of each character so that the audience not only can identify the character's motivation, but also can reevaluate the character through his or her actions. In other words, the audience observes the character as he or she is tested, and the audience ultimately determines if he or she passes the test.

How did Miller change the Salem Witch Trials?

Reading about the Salem witch trials and the paranoid frenzy going on at the time is one thing, but witnessing the trials first hand is quite another experience. Miller permits the audience to do just that by transforming the faceless names from history into living, breathing characters with desires, emotions, and freewill. Miller did make adjustments to the ages, backgrounds, and occupations of several of the individuals mentioned in the historical records, however. For example, he lowers the age gap between John Proctor and Abigail Williams from sixty and eleven, respectively, to thirty-five and seventeen, enabling the plot line of an affair between the two. Proctor and his wife Elizabeth ran an inn as well as a farm, but Miller eliminates this detail. Proctor's friend Giles Corey was actually pressed to death a month after Proctor's execution; however, Miller juxtaposes his death and Proctor's. Finally, Miller chose to omit the fact that Proctor had a son who was also tortured during the witch trials because he refused to confess to witchcraft.

How does the play Abigail affect audiences?

The play continues to affect audiences by allowing them to see how dark desires and hidden agendas can be played out. Abigail is a young woman who seizes an opportunity to reverse fate. She has had an affair with Proctor, who now refuses to continue the affair out of a mixture of guilt and loyalty to his wife.

What was the dark period in American history?

On one hand Miller addresses a particularly dark period in American history — a time in which society believed the Devil walked the streets of Salem and could become manifest in anyone, even a close neighbor or, worse yet, a family member.

How did the Puritans demonstrate their faithfulness, honesty, and integrity?

The Puritans demonstrated their faithfulness, honesty, and integrity through physical labor and strict adherence to religious doctrine. They considered material and physical wants — especially sexual desires — as the Devil's work and a threat to society.

Why does Proctor think he is damned?

Proctor believes he is damned and cannot possibly regain Elizabeth's love and respect, not to mention his own self-respect and moral uprightness. Proctor is tested severely when he goes to the court to defend Elizabeth. In order to save his wife, he must publicly announce his sin and, therefore, lose his good name.

Where is the Crucible?from sparknotes.com

The Crucible. In the Puritan New England town of Salem, Massachusetts, a group of girls goes dancing in the forest with a black slave named Tituba. While dancing, they are caught by the local minister, Reverend Parris. One of the girls, Parris’s daughter Betty, falls into a coma-like state.

What happened in Act 1 of The Crucible?from litcharts.com

Act 1. In the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, the town minister, Reverend Parris, discovers his daughter Betty, niece Abigail, and other girls dancing in the forest with his slave Tituba. Betty faints in fright at being discovered, and will not wake.

Why does Abigail lie to Danforth?from sparknotes.com

Despite her natural honesty, she lies to protect Proctor’s honor, and Danforth denounces Proctor as a liar. Meanwhile, Abigail and the girls again pretend that Mary is bewitching them, and Mary breaks down and accuses Proctor of being a witch. Proctor rages against her and against the court.

What does Hale ask Abigail about?from sparknotes.com

Hale quizzes Abigail about the girls’ activities in the forest, grows suspicious of her behavior, and demands to speak to Tituba. After Parris and Hale interrogate her for a brief time, Tituba confesses to communing with the devil, and she hysterically accuses various townsfolk of consorting with the devil.

What happened to Abigail in the Witch Trials?from sparknotes.com

The witch trials have caused unrest in neighboring towns, and Danforth grows nervous. Abigail has run away, taking all of Parris’s money with her. Hale, who has lost faith in the court, begs the accused witches to confess falsely in order to save their lives, but they refuse.

Why does Elizabeth deny Proctor's affair with Abigail?from litcharts.com

But when asked if Proctor had an affair with Abigail, Elizabeth denies it to protect her husband's honor. Abigail and the other girls seize the moment to pretend Mary is attacking them with her spirit. Mary breaks under the strain and joins them, denouncing Proctor as an ally of the devil.

Who was the farmer who was with Abigail in the movie?from litcharts.com

Parris runs off to calm the crowd, and a local farmer named John Proctor winds up alone with Abigail. While Abigail was a servant in the Proctor household, she and Proctor had an affair.

Overview

The Crucible is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the United States government persecuted people accused of being communists. Miller was questioned by the House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and convicted of contempt of Con…

Synopsis

Characters (in order of appearance)

Originality

Historical accuracy

Adaptations

Editions

See also