The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a play set in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem Witch TRIALS of 1692. The play follows John Proctor, played by Paul Ryder, as he is put on TRIAL for witchcraft. The setting of the play is the town's courthouse, known as the Crucible. The TRIALS are presided over by Deputy Governor Danforth and involve the examination of witnesses and the questioning of the accused. The play is an allegory for the McCarthyism of the 1950s and serves as a warning against the dangers of mass hysteria and the power of fear.