72 pages • 2 hours read
Arthur MillerThe Crucible
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1953A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Crucible is a Tony Award-winning play by Arthur Miller, dramatizing the Salem witch trials of 1692-1693. The plot follows a Puritan community in Salem, Massachusetts, where paranoia about witchcraft leads to the accusation and trial of many townspeople. Central to the story is the affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams, which fuels Abigail’s vengeful accusations.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is lauded for its intense portrayal of paranoia and hysteria, drawing parallels with McCarthyism. Critics praise its powerful dialogues and complex characters. However, some find its historical liberties and dense, archaic language challenging. Overall, it remains a compelling and thought-provoking drama.
Who Should Read The Crucible?
Readers who enjoy historical drama, moral dilemmas, and intense character studies would appreciate The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Fans of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and Shirley Jackson's The Lottery will find similar themes of societal pressure and personal integrity.
RecommendedReading Age
15-18yearsLexile Level
NPBook Details
Classic Fiction
American Literature
Colonial America