The Crucible Themes
What is a theme? A fundamental and often universal idea explored in a literary work. It’s what lets us identify with the story, even if it takes place in a setting we are unfamiliar with.
Theme 1: Intolerance What is it? Unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or backgrounds, etc. Seeing your way as right no matter what; won’t even consider that other ways could be valid.
Theme 1: Intolerance The Crucible is set in a theocratic society (the church and state are one). In Salem, everything is either good or evil, right or wrong, of God or of Satan. There is no “gray area” or “in between.” Anyone who doesn’t follow the religious rules is considered a threat.
Theme 1: Intolerance Disobeying God’s laws isn’t just unlawful, it’s considered Satanic / evil. The witch trials are the ultimate expression of intolerance. Social deviants (those who don’t go along with all of Salem’s rules and beliefs) are braded “witches” and “devil-worshipers” and are cast out of the good Christian community.
Did you get it? What is intolerance? How is Salem an “intolerant” society? In Salem, what kinds of people are “good” and what kinds are “evil?” Which characters are intolerant and why?
Theme 2: Hysteria What is it? An uncontrollable rush emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality People freaking out because other people are freaking out and then making bad decisions based on inaccurate (and often imaginary) information.
Theme 2: Hysteria Hysteria overrules logic and enables people in Salem to believe their neighbors are committing absurd and unbelievable crimes. The townspeople accept the witch hunt hysteria not because they love God or genuinely care about conquering evil, but because it allows them to act on long-held grudges.
Theme 2: Hysteria Examples of people who benefit from the hysteria: Abigail: uses the situation to accuse Elizabeth and have her sent to jail Parris: strengthens his shaky position in the village by putting blame on people like Proctor who question his authority Thomas Putnam: gains revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca accused of murdering his wife’s babies
Theme 2: Hysteria Hysteria only thrives in Salem because people benefit from it. Hysteria suspends the rules of daily life and allows the acting out of every dark desire and hateful urge. It allows people to feel justified when they hurt others and act selfishly.
Did you get it? What is hysteria? What does hysteria allow the townspeople to do that they wouldn’t normally have been able to do? Why does the hysteria continue to grow? Who benefits from hysteria and how?
Theme 3: Reputation What is it? The way other people view you. Reputation is very important in Salem, because the way you behave in public says everything about your “Christian” character. Various characters base their actions on the desire to protect their reputations.
Theme 3: Reputation Parris: fears that Abigail’s questionable actions will cost him respect and maybe even his job Proctor: could have stopped the girls’ accusations early in the play, but hesitated because he was afraid of hurting his reputation. In the end, his desire to keep his good name and go to his death innocent redeems his earlier bad choice.
Did you get it? What is reputation? Why is it particularly important in Salem? Which characters are worried about their reputations? What actions do they take to protect their reputations?
Theme 4: Empowerment What is it? To give power or authority to; authorize, esp. by legal or official means The witch trials empower those who were previously powerless. In Salem, women occupy a low social rung, being dominated by men (only men can lead in the church and the church controls the society). They have few options in life (mother or servant).
Theme 4: Empowerment The trials allows the single servant girls to become powerful. People see them as “saints” and overlook their sins, taking their word to be an expression of “God’s will.” They can now control and manipulate even the most powerful men in town (ex: Abigail threatens that Danforth will be accused next if he doubts her). Even lower in Salem society than women are African slaves. The trials enable Tituba to get out of trouble (at first) by accusing others.
Did you get it? What is empowerment? Who is empowered by the trials and how? Why was Salem the perfect place for the witch trials to happen? What conditions needed to exist for all the craziness to take place?