How is ‘The Crucible’ appropriately titled? The word ‘crucible’ is used by Arthur Miller in his play as a metaphor. The first definition of the word crucible is: a melting pot especially for metals. In the play this is first acknowledged during the first act, as we gradually piece together the information concerning the girls dancing. The ‘kettle’ viewed by Reverend Parris mirrors a crucible. We are told that the girls had made a brew which contained a little frog and blood is therefore viewed by the characters involved as a potent, fearsome mixture and this signifies the beginning of the Salem tragedy. It seems that from this ‘brew’ a more sinister force is released. The dancing and …show more content…

He realises by the end of the play that he has chosen right for he says ‘I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from the dogs’. Secondly the Latin word Crux also has connotations with crucifixion. John is crucified, not in the way that dies on a cross but in the way that he is hung for what he believes in. Many other things are heated to high temperatures in the play such as emotions and values. In fact many of the characters go through changes because of the intensity of the play. Moreover the title of the play, crucible also means severe test of trial. Elizabeth Proctor for example would never normally lie. However when she feels she may save her husband she protects him (or so she thinks) in court by denying the fact that he committed lechery. She lies only because she releases that no matter what she needs to protect her husband. The severe intensity and pressure of the court scenes also represent and connect to the theme of heating things to high temperatures. The tension involved in the court scenes is immense. This is illustrated by the way the judges address the people they are questioning especially when they are trying to make them admit something. The way he uses the language