We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.
– Arthur Miller
The Crucible, Act 3. Danforth warning to John Proctor relates to the title of the play. A crucible is a container in which metals may be melted. Danforth is using it here as a metaphor for burning away any lies and deceit in order to reveal the truth. This line is dramatic irony, because the audience knows that the court, far from getting to the truth, condemns the innocent. We also have an example of foreshadowing here, because Danforth actually does burn away Proctor’s concealment of his affair with Abigail.