Crucible, The

In a small tight-knit community gossip and rumour spread like wildfire inflaming personal grievances until no-one is safe from accusation and vengeance. The Crucible is Miller's classic dramatisation of the witch-hunt and trials that besieged the Puritan community of Salem in 1692. Seen as a chilling parallel to the McCarthyism and repressive culture of fear that gripped America in the 1950s, the play's timeless relevance and appeal remains as strong as when the play opened on Broadway in 1953. This Student Edition features an extensive introduction by Susan Abbotson which includes: a chronology of Miller's life and times; a summary of the plot, commentary on the characters, themes, language, context and production history of the play. Together with questions for further study and notes on words and phrases from the text, this is the essential text of the play for students of literature and drama.