Arthur MillerArthur Miller

Author of Author of The CrucibleThe Crucible

Arthur Miller: A LifeArthur Miller: A Life

Born on October 17, 1915Born on October 17, 1915 Attended the University of Michigan Attended the University of Michigan

from 1934-1938from 1934-1938 Graduated with a degree in journalismGraduated with a degree in journalism Wrote and produced five plays during Wrote and produced five plays during

college careercollege career Married three times Married three times Two daughters, one sonTwo daughters, one son

What is communism?What is communism?

CommunismCommunism - a government where - a government where people shared work fairly and were people shared work fairly and were paid equally.paid equally.

The word “Communism” comes from The word “Communism” comes from the Latin word “Communis” which the Latin word “Communis” which means means commoncommon or or belonging to allbelonging to all..

Miller and HUACMiller and HUAC

Investigated for possible associations Investigated for possible associations with the Communist party from 1953 to with the Communist party from 1953 to 19551955

In 1956, he was called to testify before In 1956, he was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). Activities (HUAC).

Only attended meetings looking to Only attended meetings looking to advocate social justice and equalityadvocate social justice and equality

When brought before the committee, he When brought before the committee, he refused to name any other attendees.refused to name any other attendees.

Miller and HUAC (cont.)Miller and HUAC (cont.)

Found guilty of contemptFound guilty of contempt Later releasedLater released

Hollywood CommunismHollywood Communism ““My father was being hounded too. Because he had My father was being hounded too. Because he had

defended the Hollywood 10 and taken on numerous defended the Hollywood 10 and taken on numerous loyalty cases as well, he was labeled subversive. He loyalty cases as well, he was labeled subversive. He was followed relentlessly by the FBI, and our phones was followed relentlessly by the FBI, and our phones remained tapped.” -- Patricia Bosworthremained tapped.” -- Patricia Bosworth

Hollywood stars were accused to be communists.They were blacklisted by studios.

The Red ScareThe Red Scare

A time of paranoia and hysteria over A time of paranoia and hysteria over communismcommunism

Many government officials were Many government officials were involved or accused.involved or accused.

Many writers, actors, and directors Many writers, actors, and directors lost their jobs lost their jobs

Many named names to save their Many named names to save their own careersown careers

Salem, 1692Salem, 1692

The Salem Witch TrialsThe Salem Witch Trials

In 1692, twenty were executed; 150 In 1692, twenty were executed; 150 were jailed.were jailed.

The Puritan culture attributed its The Puritan culture attributed its hardships to the Devil.hardships to the Devil.

Several girls in the town began to Several girls in the town began to have seizures and lapses of have seizures and lapses of unconsciousness after seeking Tituba, unconsciousness after seeking Tituba, a slave from Barbados, for a slave from Barbados, for fortunetelling.fortunetelling.

The Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials (cont.)(cont.)

Tituba and two elderly women were Tituba and two elderly women were accused at first; by the end, many of accused at first; by the end, many of the community’s most prominent the community’s most prominent citizens were accused.citizens were accused.

Overall nineteen were hanged, four Overall nineteen were hanged, four accused died in prison, and one was accused died in prison, and one was pressed to deathpressed to death

In 1706, Ann Putnam signs a letter of In 1706, Ann Putnam signs a letter of apology.apology.

Salem Witch Trials (cont.)Salem Witch Trials (cont.)

Samuel Sewell was the only judge to Samuel Sewell was the only judge to apologize for actions.apologize for actions.

Possible Causes Possible Causes

Hallucinations from spoiled foodHallucinations from spoiled food BoredomBoredom Strict societyStrict society Social cleansing?Social cleansing? Land disputeLand dispute

ConnectionsConnections

Miller wrote Miller wrote The CrucibleThe Crucible as a as a metaphor for the Red Scare in the metaphor for the Red Scare in the 1950’s.1950’s.

He felt there was a “witch hunt” within He felt there was a “witch hunt” within the government and beyondthe government and beyond

Like the witch trials, it was easier to Like the witch trials, it was easier to admit guilt than maintain innocence.admit guilt than maintain innocence.

The play is widely performed when The play is widely performed when social unrest is present in a culture. social unrest is present in a culture.

Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts

Be aware of false accusationsBe aware of false accusations Rumors do harmRumors do harm Integrity is keyIntegrity is key Not all things are as they seemNot all things are as they seem

Puritan Beliefs and Puritan Beliefs and the Salem Witchcraft the Salem Witchcraft

TrialsTrials

They wanted to reform their national They wanted to reform their national church by eliminating every shred of church by eliminating every shred of Catholic influence Catholic influence

Their attempt to “purify” the Church of Their attempt to “purify” the Church of England and their own lives was based on England and their own lives was based on the teachings of John Calvin the teachings of John Calvin

Left for America 1620 to escape religious Left for America 1620 to escape religious persecution and established the persecution and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony.Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Who were the Puritans?Who were the Puritans?

Total depravity: “In Adam’s fall we sinned all” Total depravity: “In Adam’s fall we sinned all” Humankind is totally sinful through the fall of Humankind is totally sinful through the fall of Adam and Eve and damned for eternity.Adam and Eve and damned for eternity.

Predestination: You are “elect” (saved) or Predestination: You are “elect” (saved) or “unregenerate” (damned). “unregenerate” (damned). – Salvation belongs to the “elect”, or God’s chosen. Salvation belongs to the “elect”, or God’s chosen.

No good works will help you become saved’; No good works will help you become saved’; however, you must continue to do good works if you however, you must continue to do good works if you are one of the “elect.”are one of the “elect.”

Limited atonement: Christ died Limited atonement: Christ died onlyonly for the for the “elect”.“elect”.

Grace: You could feel God’s grace in an intense Grace: You could feel God’s grace in an intense emotional fashion. After receiving grace, you were emotional fashion. After receiving grace, you were “reborn” have thenceforth full power to do the will “reborn” have thenceforth full power to do the will of God and the ability to live uprightly to the end.of God and the ability to live uprightly to the end.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs

The Puritan community was a The Puritan community was a theocracytheocracy, a , a government which blends church and government which blends church and state. The church’s officials were the state. The church’s officials were the government’s officials. Thus, church and government’s officials. Thus, church and state were not separate. state were not separate. – City upon a Hill TheoryCity upon a Hill Theory: That the new MA : That the new MA

Colony would be a place of complete reform Colony would be a place of complete reform (utopia) where God would be found in (utopia) where God would be found in scripture and a strong work ethic.scripture and a strong work ethic.

Puritan Beliefs Cont.Puritan Beliefs Cont.

Theological StudiesTheological Studies HymnsHymns HistoriesHistories BiographiesBiographies AutobiographiesAutobiographies

* Religion dominated writings like it dominated their lives. The * Religion dominated writings like it dominated their lives. The purpose was to provide insight and instruction. When they wrote purpose was to provide insight and instruction. When they wrote for themselves, their aim was a serious kind of self-examination.for themselves, their aim was a serious kind of self-examination.

* They did not produce fiction nor drama because they * They did not produce fiction nor drama because they regarded both as sinful. regarded both as sinful.

What did they typically What did they typically write?write?

What do we know What do we know about the Salem about the Salem Witchcraft Trials?Witchcraft Trials?

How it started . . .How it started . . .Betty Parris became strangely ill. She dashed about, dove under furniture, contorted in pain, and complained of fever. The cause of her symptoms may have been some combination of stress, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, epilepsy, and delusional psychosis.

Talk of witchcraft increased when other playmates of Betty, including eleven-year-old Ann Putnam, seventeen-year-old Mercy Lewis, and Mary Walcott, began to exhibit similar unusual behavior.

A doctor called to examine the girls, suggested that the girls' problems might have a supernatural origin. The widespread belief that witches targeted children made the doctor's diagnosis seem increasingly likely.

Spectral EvidenceSpectral Evidence““The girls contorted into grotesque poses, fell down into frozen postures, and complained of biting and pinching sensations. In a village where everyone believed that the devil was real, close at hand, and acted in the real world, the suspected affliction of the girls became an obsession.” Douglas Linder

The TrialsThe Trials

By the end of 1692, over 200 people were jailed and standing accused of witchcraft.

Nineteen men and women were hanged, Nineteen men and women were hanged, all having been convicted of witchcraftall having been convicted of witchcraft

Another man of over eighty years was Another man of over eighty years was pressed to death under heavy stones for pressed to death under heavy stones for refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft refusing to submit to a trial on witchcraft chargescharges

Many languished in jail for months Many languished in jail for months without trialswithout trials

At least four died in prisonAt least four died in prison

Hysteria Hysteria StrikesStrikes

1.  Doubts grow when respected citizens are convicted and 1.  Doubts grow when respected citizens are convicted and executed. executed.

-------Rebecca Nurse (jury first acquits, then told to -------Rebecca Nurse (jury first acquits, then told to reconsider) reconsider) -------George Burroughs (recites Lord's Prayer perfectly at -------George Burroughs (recites Lord's Prayer perfectly at hanging)hanging)

2.  Accusations of witchcraft include the powerful and well-2.  Accusations of witchcraft include the powerful and well-connected. connected.

-------Wife of Governor Phips (and others) -------Wife of Governor Phips (and others)

Why the Hysteria Ended Why the Hysteria Ended

The CrucibleThe Crucibleby Arthur Millerby Arthur Miller

We begin with a play, set in America.We begin with a play, set in America. Arthur Miller’s dramaArthur Miller’s drama The Crucible The Crucible has its feet has its feet

in two eras of time, Puritanical New England in two eras of time, Puritanical New England Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and Cold War Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and Cold War Washington of the 1950’s. Miller presents Washington of the 1950’s. Miller presents America’s deepest past in order to make a America’s deepest past in order to make a modern point. He saw that, as the saying goes, modern point. He saw that, as the saying goes, “Those who do not learn from history are “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”doomed to repeat it.”

SettingSetting

How the play begins . . .How the play begins . . .

Group of girls caught dancing in Group of girls caught dancing in woods with Titubawoods with Tituba

Among the group is the Daughter Among the group is the Daughter of Rev. Parris and the daughter of of Rev. Parris and the daughter of Thomas and Anne PutnamThomas and Anne Putnam

Girls feign sickness and possessionGirls feign sickness and possession Both families demand that the Both families demand that the

possessors be found and punishedpossessors be found and punished