Resolution (Act Four of The Crucible)

What a dramatic end to such a tragic play! While the ending of The Crucible leaves the audience with a mixture of emotions, it is important to remember this play was based on actual events. Arthur Miller intended for his audience to draw a parallel between the witch hunt hysteria of 1692 and the communist threat and Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s. It is through his masterful use of the dramatic structure and irony that the audience cannot only make that connection mentally but emotionally as well. The audience feels the tension, frustration, and horror of the situation right along with the characters.