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?