The Crucible is often simply thought of as an allegory for the time in which Arthur Miller lived, but he presents more themes than may appear in a cursory reading. Several of these themes he states directly in lines presented by his characters; one such theme is presented with a quote in Act IV, in which Reverend Hale states, “Life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.” This quote makes obvious assumptions about the existence of God and the worth of human life. However, there is significant evidence in Arthur Miller’s play and in my personal experience to challenge the validity of his statement that life is God’s most precious gift. This quote is contradicted by underlying themes in Miller’s
