The Crucible

The first 200 words of this essay...

How do events in Salem change Reverend Hale's views?

The Crucible is so named because a crucible is a witch's cauldron, and the events in Salem slowly start to bubble and then boil over as more and more people add things to the pot. The play, written by Arthur Miller, is set in America in the year 1692. However it was written in the 1950s during the McCarthy Era. As Russia and America were at war over political issues, anti-communists Americans led a `witch-hunt' to stop American communists or people leaning towards communism giving away secrets to the Russians. Many were `black-listed' so were unable to find work. Arthur Miller was innocent, but refused to confess; therefore was black-listed. (like Giles Corey in the play)People were given the opportunity to save themselves by accusing other people. In both cases hysteria was evident and is one of the causes of accusation in the play.

One of the main characters in The Crucible, Reverend Hale, who at first is the main believer in witchcraft and by the end is persuading people to lie,(so they aren't hanged), is also one of the most interesting and intricate characters, so I