A classic of the American theater—Arthur Miller's tense, ingeniously multilayered drama of principle and paranoia
The place is Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, an enclave of rigid piety huddled on the edge of a wilderness. Its inhabitants believe unquestioningly in their own sanctity. But in Arthur Miller's edgy masterpiece, that very belief will have poisonous consequences when a vengeful teenager accuses a rival of witchcraft—and then when those accusations multiply to consume the entire village.
First produced in 1953, at a time when America was convulsed by a new epidemic of witchhunting, The Crucible brilliantly explores the threshold between individual guilt and mass hysteria, personal spite and collective evil. It is a play that is not only relentlessly suspenseful and vastly moving but that compels readers to fathom their hearts and consciences in ways that only the greatest theater ever can.
"A drama of emotional power and impact" —New York Post
The Crucible
A Note on the Historical Accuracy of This Play
Act One (An Overture)
Act Two
Act Three
Act Four
Echoes Down the Corridor
Cast
Appendix
Email Alerts
To keep up-to-date, input your email address, and we will contact you on publication
Sign up to receive our newsletters featuring news about our latest books, information on our authors, exclusive discounts and offers, and more great content.
Download the Penguin App for iPhones and get exclusive excerpts and access to the blog, podcast and more. Click here for information.
