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A summary of Act 1, Part 1 in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Crucible and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
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Need help with Act 1 in Arthur Miller's The Crucible? Check out our revolutionary side-by-side summary and analysis.
ACT ONE (AN OVERTURE) A small upper bedroom in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, Salem, Massachusetts, in the spring of the year 1692. There is a narrow window at the left. Through its leaded panes the morning sunlight streams. A candle still burns near the bed, which is at the right. A
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First performed in January of 1953 at the height of America's red scare, The Crucible is first and foremost a political argument, relating the Salem witchcraft trials to their contemporary equivalent in Miller's time, the McCarthy hearings.
The Crucible Act 1 Summary — “Oops I Didn’t Read It” Version. Act 1 opens on a bedroom in Reverend Samuel Parris’ house in the spring of 1692. Parris’ daughter, 10-year-old Betty, is in a deep sleep as a result of an unknown illness, and Parris is kneeling in prayer next to her bed.
In Act I, Scene 1, Miller sets the stage for The Crucible by introducing the four most important themes: deception, possession, greed, and the quest for power. The "unseen" scene in the woods, which takes place before the action of the play, figuratively sets the stage.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller, published in 1953, is a classic play that delves into the Salem witch trials of 1692. Set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts, Miller’s play unfolds as a chilling allegory for the Red Scare and McCarthyism of the 1950s.
