The Crucible
Dictionary Definition:
2)
A place or occasion of
severe test or trial: the crucible of
combat
Best
Definition: “A place or occasion of severe test or trial”
The title of Arthur Millers play, The
Crucible, is a clear representation of the themes within the play. The word
crucible is best defined for the play as, “A place or occasion of severe test or trial.” [New Oxford American Dictionary] This closely relates to a
major theme within the play, loyalty. Whether the play is referring to
the loyalty to God, family or ones inner morals; the salem witch-trials forced all the characters loyalty to be tested. Proctor is a key character
in showing this struggle, for as the audience is shown, his struggle
to stay loyal to his family and inner morals takes a toll on him, both mentally and physically. Though his loyalty to Elizabeth
and God is thoroughly tested by the villagers and Abigail, his greatest
trial takes place at the end of the play when he must decide wither to lie and
survive or refuse to confess and be hanged. It is in the end when he must sign
his name that he regains his morals and does not confess because his loyalty to
his beliefs is so strong that he would rather die than break that loyalty. Once
proctor refused to confess he felt relieved and stated; “I do think I see some
shred of goodness in John Proctor…” (pg 125). Proctors final test was that of
his loyalty to himself and he believed and trusted in his morals, though he died,
he felt like he had won. Within the play, the character of John Proctor demonstrates
the title of the play as he struggles against the severe testing of his loyalty
to Elizabeth, his religion and himself.
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