Explore Arthur Miller's superior play about good and evil, self-identity and morality by looking into CliffsNotes on The Crucible. Boost your insight (and impress your teachers as a result!) by using this study guide to gain understanding about the play's central story, set during the Salem witch hunts in the 1600s. You'll also discover parallels to contemporary witch hunts -- such as the McCarthy investigations of the 1950s -- and the paranoia and fear that accompany them. And that's not all! CliffsNotes on The Crucible provides critical commentaries, a list of characters, and background information about Arthur Miller and his prolific writing career.