* The paradox of power and powerlessness: The characters in The Crucible are constantly struggling for power. Some, like Abigail Williams, use their power to bully and manipulate others. Others, like John Proctor, use their power to try to protect the innocent. However, even the most powerful people in the play are ultimately powerless against the forces of mass hysteria.
* The paradox of good and evil: The Crucible is a play about good and evil. However, the play does not present a simple dichotomy between good and evil. Instead, it shows how good and evil can coexist in the same person. For example, Abigail Williams is both a victim and a perpetrator of evil. She is a victim of the hysteria that is gripping Salem, but she also uses that hysteria to her own advantage.
These are just a few of the paradoxes that run through The Crucible. These paradoxes make the play both complex and compelling. They challenge us to think about the nature of guilt, innocence, power, powerlessness, good, and evil.