Arthur Miller's intended message of the need of individualism in a uniform (Puritan) society.

Be careful--the result of being an individual in a uniform society could possibly lead to death. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller relates the Salem witchcraft trials to the modern acts of McCarthyism being practiced. He uses specific events and characters in the play to describe what occurs in both situations. One of the characters Miller uses to describe his ideas is John Proctor. Miller uses Proctor's moral ambiguity to express his views of how individualism …

…and corrupt society, Proctor, like Miller, was accused of unrealistic crimes. Since he has committed another serious sin in the past, Proctor does not know how to judge himself when convicted of a crime he knows he has not committed. He must face death in order to realize how he feels about himself as a human being. Miller turns many heads and gains much support in his writing of this individualistic and, therefore, controversial play.