Symbolism

The Crucible Crucible: a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures, or severe test or trial. –T–Two definitions Miller had in mind when he wrote the play –C–Crucible is significant within the story –J–Just as metals and other objects are melted in a crucible, the people of Salem believed witches had to be burnt to reveal their allegiance with the devil –T–The crucible represents the church and how they pulled the traitors in and tried to melt down all their honesty by tearing them down. –T–Those accused of witchcraft had to undergo a severe test or trial

This relates mostly to the court, the place that symbolises a ‘Crucible’. Danforth says to Proctor “…it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.” This turns out true for Proctor for it is in the court where he confesses his sin of adultery. In the court, all evil is revealed, but evil lies at the heart of the crucible – the court, rather than in those who are tried and charged under false pretences.

Abigail is the main source of destruction, and she is repeatedly associated with fire, or the ‘hell fire’ as Proctor sees it. “She comes up short, fire in her eyes” (Page 99) this is when she is accused if being a whore, and she is questioned the legitimacy of the accusation. people in power are evil, and have so much power because they are representing a false God, this is emphasised when Proctor says to Danforth: “You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore”, which portrays Abigail as the evil, false God that people give respectful authority to in the court, because those whom they thought they could trust seem to trust her.

Another reason for Proctor being related to a crucible, is that throughout the play, as he is being burned by the heat of the events in the play and stripped bare of all lies in the court, his impurities are gradually burnt away. Like when he “sweated like a stallion” every time Abigail was near, it seems that heat is the noticeable symbol of evil. Proctor says to Danforth: “we will burn, we will burn together!” The final action that is made to finally burn him free of the lies and sin is when he sacrifices himself, to make a stand and prove that those who have died before him were wrongly condemned.

A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! …God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together! John sees the corruption in the court and realizes that both he and the officials have done wrong in order to protect their reputations therefore both deserve to be punished in the only way he sees fit – trial by fire. Proctor and Danforth are at the heart of evil because their sins are responsible for destruction in Salem This represents both definitions of the crucible

The Yellow Bird Yellow signifies light and freedom but instead represents darkness and evil as the girls believe it’s Mary’s spirit Bird is interpreted as the devil and wants to harm the girls instead of protecting them “Why?-why do you come yellow bird? My face? My face?” Used by Abigail to draw attention away from her and turn suspicion back to Mary Warren Yellow bird shows connection between Mary Warren and the spirit world

Image of the yellow bird comes straight from Abigail’s imagination: Yellow bird suggests image of a canary The phrase “to sing like a canary” suggests telling someone everything you know about a situation or crime Yellow -> colour of cowardness The image in Abigail’s mind is so specific because of these reasons

Cattle The cattle wandering the town once belonged to the accused which symbolizes the chaos surrounding the witch trials and the effects they have had on the community “there be so many cows wanderin’ the highroads now their masters are in the jails, and much disagreement who they will belong to now” No one to tend to livestock shows declining economy in Salem and how this has caused conflict in the town

Cattle In the Crucible the cattle are their form of wealth and fortune. “If the crop is good I’ll buy George Jacob’s heifer. How would that please you.” From John to Elizabeth in act two. It suggests that the cattle are the biggest form of wealth in salem. The cattle is like a diamond ring it has connotations of fortune wealth and prosperity. He is also Buying the heifer to show that he wants to support the family more.