Crucible

The Crucible was first published in England in 1956 but was set in 1692. The Crucible was first presented as a play at the Martin Beck Theatre, New York, in January 1953. The Crucible was sat in Salem, Massachusetts. The Crucible is about a village that are scared of the devil hurting people or making people become bewitched. The introduction to Act 1 begins in Mr Reverend Parris' house where you would not expect witch craft as he is a Reverend this would cause tension with the reader by not knowing that something like this would not happen in a holy mans house so straight away the reader is suspicious of him. From the very start of the play in the setting you are given the setting of tension in the room 'A candle still burns near the bed' this suggests that Reverend Parris would have been up all night waiting for Betty awake as normally a candle is blown out after the child and family have gone to bed.

Salem was a Puritan and very religious community as they have very strict rules such as being obedient to god and to the religious leaders. The rules include being against greed, laziness, drinking, dancing and having fun.

People in the village are terrified of the devil as it ruins peoples lives just by over powering them it can also affect people by making them commit sins against God. Parris' behaviour as the curtain rises at the start of the play is very religious as he is 'discovered kneeling beside the bed evidently in prayer' This shows that he is praying that his daughter is going to be on and is not possessed in anyway. Reverend Parris was very angry and didn't want anyone in the room with him so when Tituba cam into the room he shouted for her to leave 'out of here!' This suggests that he would rather be alone and that he has got anger towards the situation. Reverend Parris gets even more uptight towards Tituba as it is shown in the stage directions '(scrambling to his feet in a fury): out of my sight!' This shows he is starting to over panic and...