The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller's powerful play, The Crucible, dramatically recreates the mass hysteria and paranoia of the 1692 Salem witch trials. Set in the rigid Puritan community of Massachusetts, the tragedy focuses on farmer John Proctor as he struggles to maintain his integrity when his wife is falsely accused of witchcraft, forcing him to confront the town's corrupted religious authority. More than a historical drama, the play serves as a profound allegory for the McCarthy-era Communist witch hunts of the 1950s, exposing the devastating dangers of public accusation and the breakdown of justice. This compelling work remains a classic study of conscience and moral courage.