Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a searing American classic, first performed in 1953.
Set in 1692, during the Salem witch trials, the play follows a town consumed by fear and suspicion. When young girls are caught dancing in the woods, whispers of witchcraft spread. To save themselves, they accuse others, and hysteria erupts.
At the center is John Proctor, a farmer struggling with guilt and integrity. As the trials spiral out of control, he must choose between protecting his reputation or standing for the truth, even if it costs him his life.
Though rooted in history, Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory for McCarthyism, when Americans were blacklisted for alleged ties to communism.
The play is about fear, power, and conscience, showing how quickly a community can be torn apart when lies are weaponized and truth is silenced.