The Crucible is a modern tragedy because it was written in 1953 in the modern era. Although it was set in the 1600s during the Salem witch trials, it was really a commentary on a current event: the McCarthy era "witch hunts" that were going on the early 1950s.
At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States (countries that were allies during the war) broke with each other. What emerged was called a "cold war" because it was fought through propaganda, proxy wars in smaller countries, and military build ups rather than an actual "hot" war between the two countries.
In this country, certain segments of society became very fearful of communist infiltration and takeover. This led to a "Red scare," red being the color associated with communism. Under an executive order signed by President Truman allowing Congress to screen people to test their loyalty to the U.S. and to root our communists, fascists, and other subversives, Senator Joseph McCarthy started conducting wide-ranging investigations. This led to many innocent people having their lives or careers destroyed by being unfairly labelled communists. Miller's play is a commentary on this tragic modern situation. Unlike a Greek tragedy, which focuses on a tragic flaw in a person of high stature, such as a king, Miller's play shows what can happen to ordinary people when lies and hysteria are allowed to take over a society.
Arthur Miller's The Crucible is a modern tragedy as opposed to a classical tragedy primarily because of when it was written, published, and performed. The play was first published in 1953, and while it does retain some elements of the classical tragedy of Ancient Greece, it also is inspired by contemporary current events (in the 1950s) and complicates the standard expectations of tragedy, catharsis, and tragic hero.
The classical Greek tragedy, originating in the ancient world, follows the downfall of a tragic hero, who is generally an upper-class/powerful figure who has a tragic flaw that will lead to his demise. The hero is relatable to the audience on some level, so he cannot be perfect. We watch his flaw lead him to make poor decisions or take actions that will cause his death or fall. Through watching the tragic reversal of fate, we feel catharsis, or a purging of emotions.
The modern tragedy, on the other hand, does not necessarily follow the strict structure of the classical tragedy. Modern tragedies can have tragic heroes who are more ordinary, everyday people, and they are often placed in more realistic or average circumstances. The Crucible is a tragedy set during the Salem Witch Trials in Colonial Massachusetts. The characters are average Puritans living in Salem who get caught up in an extraordinary hysteria. The character who is closest to a tragic hero is John Proctor, a respected man in the community but not a rich man nor a powerful leader in the town. His flaw of lust leads him to betray his wife by having an affair with Abigail. This sets much of the witch accusations in motion, since Abigail goes on to accuse Mrs. Proctor of being a witch. The girls at the center of the hysteria are depicted as trying to deflect blame from themselves for their own transgressions (participating in a voodoo ceremony with Tituba). Eventually, John is faced with execution, and he must either confess to being a wizard or be put to death. He can be considered heroic because he chooses to die rather than lie or ruin his name. The play does end with his downfall (his death). The characters, including John, are common people, and though he does fall quite a bit in the play, his devolution is not as extreme as, say, Oedipus in Sophocles's classical tragedies. The cathartic effect on the audience is also questionable. The purpose of the play wasn't necessarily to have the audience purge emotions as it was to draw parallels between the witch trials and the McCarthy Era in U.S. politics.
The Crucible is a modern tragedy because it was written in the 1950s, is based on real events, and depicts the lives of ordinary characters who are simply caught up in an extraordinary situation.
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