What is the relevance of 'intolerance' theme in The Crucible? is it like that the relgion couldn't cope with dancing, singing (other than at church)? That kind of thing?
The first answer is quite good and gets to the surface intolerance of the play but there is a lot more. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory. The play was written when McCarthism was at the height of it's terror. McCarthyism was essentially accusing anyone and everyone of being a Communist without so much as a sneeze of evidence. The phrase was coined because Senator Joseph McCarthy was very instrumental in the movement but was by far not the only cog is that machine. A lot of people in the various artist communities and the media were targeted, many of them simply for speaking out against it. But lots of people were accused and most people were scared to death they would be. Very few people spoke out because when they did, suddenly they were "Commies." One of the more Un-American chapters in our history. This was the climate in America at the time and the inspiration for the play.
Google McCarthyism and you'll find a ton of information on this. You'll easily see the similarities between what was really happening in America and the events in the play.
There is also the intolerance of sin & sinners (as perceived by the community). People are unable to forgive either themselves or each other and this breeds separation and isolation which in turn leaves the residents of Salem open to being attacked. They seemed on the surface to be willing to 'turn the other cheek' but beneath the surface they all bore grudges and were unforgiving of perceived slights and sins.
The first answer is quite good and gets to the surface intolerance of the play but there is a lot more. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory. The play was written when McCarthism was at the height of it's terror. McCarthyism was essentially accusing anyone and everyone of being a Communist without so much as a sneeze of evidence. The phrase was coined because Senator Joseph McCarthy was very instrumental in the movement but was by far not the only cog is that machine. A lot of people in the various artist communities and the media were targeted, many of them simply for speaking out against it. But lots of people were accused and most people were scared to death they would be. Very few people spoke out because when they did, suddenly they were "Commies." One of the more Un-American chapters in our history. This was the climate in America at the time and the inspiration for the play.
Google McCarthyism and you'll find a ton of information on this. You'll easily see the similarities between what was really happening in America and the events in the play.
There is also the intolerance of sin & sinners (as perceived by the community). People are unable to forgive either themselves or each other and this breeds separation and isolation which in turn leaves the residents of Salem open to being attacked. They seemed on the surface to be willing to 'turn the other cheek' but beneath the surface they all bore grudges and were unforgiving of perceived slights and sins.
A ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.