A crucible has two definitions, one being a vessel in which metal is heated to a high temperature and melted for casting, after being purified . An alternative meaning of the word could be that of a baptism of fire, whereby a metamorphosis of political, social and cultural relations occurs, driven by agents of change. When a community presents a toxic environment that is seen as flawed in major aspects of its effective functioning, good can only triumph when certain individuals speak out against such a destructive system and refuse conformity in a desperate attempt to reform the community. society for the better, despite the often tragic personal consequences. Thus, the corruption of a society can only be mitigated by the personal sacrifice of those individuals who refuse conformism and choose to maintain their moral vision, despite friction. This phenomenon is not only found in The Crucible, but it is universal; applicable to any culture in any era and is a recurring theme in literature. Its roots go back to biblical stories, in which many of the earliest and most famous examples of this phenomenon can be seen in the crucifixion of Christ, in which Christ died willingly in order to change society and for the betterment of humanity. or in Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son despite the complications of the act. Other examples of this phenomenon can be found in The Crucible with major characters such as Giles and John Proctor acting as mavericks, and this can also be seen in the case of Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher and Mohamed Bouazizi, the man who incited the Arab Spring. These examples will be closely analyzed for their distinct parallels and similarities in distinct contexts...... middle of paper...... to recognize the unjust state of affairs that persists in the deteriorating city-state . Socrates believed that it was better to die than to live untrue to oneself and live incapable of practicing philosophy, asking people its questions. Thus, we can see that Socrates was a nonconformist in ancient Greek society, since he gave his life in hopes of saving his state, opening the eyes of the jury to the corruption and evils of society. Socrates also laid the foundation for a paradigm shift in his city, acquiring a formidable group of fans, or followers, of individuals who began preaching his philosophy and continuing his Socratic method of questioning and teaching . Socrates' philosophy is still influential and studied today, which is why his way of thinking about life, truth, and knowledge changed the way Western society perceives the world..