The CrucibleThe CrucibleArthur Miller
Minister of Salem church; paranoid, power-hungry and self-pitying; many people dislike him.
Reverend ParrisReverend Parris
TitubaTituba
Parris’s slave from Barbados; agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request.
Reverend Parris’s niece; ex-servant of the Proctors; good liar; had an affair with John Proctor.
Abigail WilliamsAbigail Williams
Susanna WalcottSusanna WalcottA younger member of
Abigail’s band, a breathless, apprehensive girl
Ann PutnamAnn Putnam
Gave birth to 8 daughters, but only one survived; convinced they were murdered by the supernatural.
Thomas PutnamThomas Putnam
Wealthy influential citizen; holds grudge against Francis Nurse.
Mercy LewisMercy LewisPutnam’s plump 18-year-old
servant who is a cruel and crafty disciple of Abigail
Mary WarrenMary Warren
John Proctor’s servant and member of Abigail’s group.
Local farmer; stern, harsh-tongued; hates hypocrisy; husband of Elizabeth.
John ProctorJohn Proctor
John’s wife; virtuous and cold; fires Abigail.
Elizabeth ProctorElizabeth Proctor
Rebecca NurseRebecca Nurse
Wise, sensible, and upright; goes crazy after being accused of witchcraft.
Francis NurseFrancis Nurse
Wealthy, influential man in Salem; enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.
Giles CoreyGiles Corey
Feisty farmer of Salem; famous for filing lawsuits.
Reputed to be an expert on witchcraft; hates witchcraft; called to examine people of the town.
Reverend John HaleReverend John Hale
Ezekiel CheeverEzekiel CheeverA blustery but uncertain court
official, who serves warrants and dutifully recalls damaging statements made by men like Proctor in opposing the mass arrests
Marshall HerrickMarshall HerrickAnother official of the court,
in his 30s, a compassionate man, who regretfully obeys the laws and takes Elizabeth and others to jail
Judge DanforthJudge Danforth
Deputy Governor of Massachusetts; honest and thinks he is right by rooting out witchcraft.
Sarah GoodSarah GoodAn old Salem woman,
ragged and confused, who confesses promptly when accused and therefore shares wild visions with Tituba in jail
HopkinsHopkinsA guard at the Salem jail
Ruth PutnamRuth Putnam
Putnams’ lone surviving child; caught dancing in the woods at night.
Betty ParrisBetty Parris
10-years-old; caught dancing with Tituba
Martha CoreyMartha Corey
Corey’s third wife; reading habits lead to her arrest.
Definition of a CrucibleDefinition of a Crucible
A crucible is literally a container used in the process of heating and melting metals. When subjected to great heat while in such a container, the more valuable metals are separated from the baser. When used figuratively, the word “crucible” means a hard test and or a severe trial.
ThemesThemes
Can “normal” people be evil?
Can rumors cause hysteria?
Can the truth come out when some refuse to see it?
Themes continuedThemes continued Can common sense prevail during hysteria?
Can people be too opinionated to see the real truth?
Can people see their own sin as well as sins of others?
Can you live a good life without moral integrity, human dignity or spiritual freedom?