A crucible is a severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial. Another definition of the word crucible is a place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces. The title signifies the suffering and hardship that the town goes through. The town the story takes place in is governed by a theocracy. A quote from the book says “For good purposes, even high purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to kee ....