The Crucible The Crucible is a 1953 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists. Miller himself was questioned by the House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and convicted of "contempt of Congress" for refusing to identify others present at meetings he had attended. It was first performed at the Martin Beck Theater on Broadway on January 22, 1953. Miller felt that this production was too stylized and cold and the reviews for it were largely hostile (although The New York Times noted "a powerful play [in a] driving performance"). Nonetheless, the production won the 1953 "Best Play" Tony Award. A year later a new production succeeded and the play became a classic. Today it is studied in high schools and universities because of its status as a revolutionary work of theatre and for its allegorical relationship to testimony given before the Committee On Un-American Activities during the 1950s. It is a central work in the canon of American drama.Author: Jennifer L. Scheidt, Denis M. Calandra Download "The Crucible" from Google Books The Crucible (Cliffs Notes). The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.CliffsNotes on The Crucible takes you into Arthur Miller's play about good and evil, self-identity and morality.Following the atmosphere and action of the Salem witch trials of the 1600s, this study guide looks into Puritan culture with critical commentaries about each act and scene. Other features that help you figure out this important work includeLife and background of the authorIntroduction to the playCharacter web and in-depth analyses of the major rolesSummaries and glossaries related to each actEssays that explore the author's narrative technique and the play's historical settingA review section that tests your knowledge and suggests essay topics and practice projectsA Resource Center for checking out details on books, publications, and Internet resourcesClassic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides. |
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