Arthur Millers famous drama The Crucible, a tale of how accusations and lies ruinously impact a whole community, is very aptly titled. By definition, a crucible is asevere test, and the challenges faced by Millers characters are many. The historicalevents dramatized in the play reflect how core human values, including truth, justice andlove, are tested under life and death conditions. The trials of the characters and the valuesthey hold dearly come when their simple, ordered world ceases to be black and white andeasily deciphered, and is turned upside down in the gray shade of ambiguity.A major test in The Crucible is found in how the household of John Proctor responds in situations where hard choices must be made between lies and honor or truthand shame. Early in the drama, it is revealed that Proctor has been unfaithful to his wife,Elizabeth, indulging in an extra-marital affair with a servant girl, Abigail. Suspecting theaffair, Elizabeth dismisses Abigail amid rumor and innuendo, and Proctor confesses to hiswife. The value of truth in their marriage is sorely tested when Elizabeth cannot find itwithin herself to forgive him. As the chain of events surrounding Abigail and the dancinggirls in the forest leads to mounting self-protective lies about their activities, many womenin the community, including Elizabeth, are accused of the practice of witchcraft. When themagistrate comes to arrest Elizabeth, the charges revolve around a doll made by servantgirl Mary Warren and Abigails claim that the doll is Elizabeths devilish instrument oftorture. Mary Warrens awakening to the truth about Abigails lies causes her to questionher experiences and the oddly vaulted place she holds in the community as one of thebewitched. When Mary cannot withstand the pressure of the taunting girls in the face ofher truth, she crumbles. Even though Proctor realizes that coming forth and confessing tohis lechery with Abigail will bring sham...
