1. Themes, Motifs and Symbols

2. Themes The central idea or underlying meaning of a literary work
Typically deals with an abstract concept that is made concrete through representation in character, action, and image.

3. Topics/Themes in The Crucible
Human cruelty in the name of righteousness
The Individual and the Community/society
Godliness vs. Worldliness
Ignorance vs. Wisdom
Power and Authority
Justice vs. Retribution and Revenge
Intolerance
Hysteria
Reputation
Betrayal
Persecution
Order vs. Individual Freedom
Good vs Evil

4. More … Lust and Envy Courage Conflict Faith Morality
Corruption and Lies
Conscience/Integrity
Forgiveness
Evil
Loyalty and Love
Trust
Courage

5. Human Weaknesses Lust - John Proctor
Pride - Reverend Hale, John Proctor
Greed - Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam
Revenge - Mrs. Putnam, Abigail
Ignorance - Giles Corey
Self-indulgence - the girls
Dishonesty - Abigail, the girls, John Proctor

6. Human Strengths Honesty – Elizabeth Proctor
Loyalty – Elizabeth Proctor
Courage – John Proctor
Forgiveness – Elizabeth Proctor
Faith – Rebecca Nurse
Reason – Rebecca Nurse

7. Revenge doesn’t profit many; it is a deadly game.
Abigail gets revenge on John and Elizabeth Proctor
The girls and the accusers were naming people whom they did not like and whom they wanted to harm
Thomas Putnam gains revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca, his wife, convicted of murdering his (and Ann Putnam’s) babies

8. Intolerance Church (moral) and state are the same
can cause injustice, pain, and tragedy.
a theocratic society
Church (moral) and state are the same
Sin and status of an individual’s soul are of public concern
Everyone belongs to either God or the devil
“a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” (Danforth, Act III)

9. Hysteria can divide a community and cause tragedy.
replaces logic and reason
enables people to believe their neighbors are guilty of committing absurd and unbelievable crimes
people become active in the hysterical climate for 2 reasons:
out of genuine religious faithfulness
chance to act on long-held grudges

10. How do these characters thrive on hysteria?
Abigail: uses situation to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft and has her jailed
Reverend Parris: strengthens his position within the village (temporarily) by making scapegoats of those who question authority e.g. John Proctor

11. Reputation It is important to protect one’s reputation [John/Rebecca].
Reputation, which is closely linked to ambition, has been the cause of time and time again for the downfall of not only individuals, but of civilization.
Extremely important in theocratic Salem

12. Guilt by association: their sins will taint your name
Parris fears Abigail’s questionable behavior and hints of witchcraft surrounding Betty will threaten and force him from the pulpit.
Abigail- my name is white
Judge Danforth- concerned for his reputation; won’t change his position
John Proctor - early in the play – has a chance to stop the girl’s accusations but his desire to preserve his reputation keeps him from testifying against Abigail
at the play’s end – desire to keep his good name prevents him from a false confession
“I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Proctor to Danforth in Act IV)

13. Betrayal
A sense of community can be ruined by betrayal. Relationships are broken by betrayal.
The betrayal between a husband and a wife within the sanctity of a conventional marriage.
Abigail betrays her whole community in order to seduce John.
Those who falsely confess to witchcraft betray their relationship with God and their church.

14. Power and Authority
When those in power abuse their authority, individuals must take action to fight injustice. Does this happen in the play??
It is important not to abuse one’s power when given authority.
Bible is the ultimate authority; authority of the Court is absolute
Conflict of authority - Danforth felt the law should be followed exactly, and that anyone who opposed the trials was trying to undermine him and his authority and the church.
The girls and some women are empowered by the trials.

15. Individual Vs Society
One must rise over adversity and injustice and stand for the truth.
The insight to life is not to be so quick to follow the majority, for they are not always right.
We should strive to think for ourselves on an individual basis.
We should not judge others because we all have faults.

16. Truth and Lies Is deception ever justified? Stand for the truth!!
Puritan ethics meant most people abhorred lying.
Abigail lies throughout the play
Elizabeth cannot tell a lie … but does!

17. Motifs
Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

18. Darkness and Dirt Images
Imagery of darkness and dirt represent sin and evil.  Reverend Parris questions Abigail's purity by saying; Your name in the town-it is entirely white, is it not? She argues that her name is not soiled. 
The people of Salem are obsessed with preserving the perceived cleanliness of their souls.

19. Accusations, Confessions, and Legal Proceedings
Parris accuses Abigail of dishonoring him
Parris accuses some of his parishioners
Giles Corey and Proctor accuse him of things in return
Legal proceedings in the past are alluded to
Putnam accuses others
Accusations are the only way that witches can be identified

20. Confessions Confessions provide the proof of the justice
Proctor confesses to adultery but this confession is trumped by the accusation of witchcraft against him, which in turn demands a confession
Proctor’s courageous decision to die rather than confess to a sin that he did not commit, finally breaks the cycle
The court collapses shortly afterward, undone by the refusal of its victims to propagate lies

21. Symbols
objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts
As a whole the play symbolizes the paranoia of the 1950’s communist “red scare” in America.
Shows:
narrow-mindedness
excessive enthusiasm for a cause
disregard for the individual
need for naming names (co-conspirators)

22. Fortress - the church is seen in this manner
Fortress - the church is seen in this manner. But while the metaphor used suggests one crack may break it, we also see that rigidity or the lack of an open mind can bring down an edifice just as quickly.
Dawn 'the new sun' - the end of the play suggests the start of a new day where right is restored and the evil has been expelled.

23. Black - Term used for evil
White - Used for the term for good. Usually used to describe reputation
Black - Term used for evil
“There be no blush about my name”
Horse/Animal Reference – suggesting lack of human values and understanding
The Witch Trials and McCarthyism - symbolic of the paranoia about communism that pervaded America in the 1950s

24. The Title: The Crucible
a trial that ultimately reveals a person's true character‘
a melting pot
“We burn a hot fire here. It melts down all concealment” Danforth
Crucible - it is meant to purify, usually by fire. A great irony since the 'fire' that burns in Salem does not purify. Instead it muddles (confuses) and corrupts. Thus a fire burning for the wrong reason is not able to purify.
A place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces

25. Allegory
Form of an extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself.
The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious or political significance.
Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.