Other editions of book The Crucible

A single act of vengeance sets off mass hysteria that engulfs an entire community in Arthur Miller's classic drama about witchcraft fears in 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts. When it was first produced in 1953, America was engaged in its own version of witch-hunting with the McCarthy trials, and the parallels between then-current events and Miller's play were disturbingly close. The Crucible still carries poignant messages about the dangers of rigid moral outlooks and their devastating effects on communities and individuals. Performed with chilling immediacy by The Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center, The Crucible is a disturbing demonstration of humans' potential for collective evil. Listen to a conversation with .