"The play was directly written to address the supposed McCarthy witch hunts. That political point will not be made over time and is not now recognized by the general public. Good thing, since Miller was dead wrong.
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Yes, that was one level of the play. However, it will stand and be a classic, because witch-hunts are always with us. There are always those who attack beliefs on false pretenses.
Future audiences will find new metaphors in "The Crucible."
That was THE level of the play. Miller was in a very public fight with his best friend over testifying; they responded to each other in their work, this was Miller's alpha and omega in writing the play.
Future audiences will find new metaphors in "The Crucible."
No doubt as will current uninformed audiences. But to teach it in school without teaching McCarthy would be like teaching "Animal Farm" without communism.
I doubt the teacher left out Miller's intended metaphor.