The CrucibleThe Crucible by: Arthur Millerby: Arthur Miller

*Background Information**Background Information*

Miss AmorinMiss Amorin

AuthorAuthor- - Arthur MillerArthur MillerBorn in New York in 1915.Born in New York in 1915.Miller became interested in writing after he Miller became interested in writing after he graduated high school in 1932.graduated high school in 1932.He studied journalism at the University of He studied journalism at the University of Michigan.Michigan.He also wrote He also wrote Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman, another , another popular play.popular play.The CrucibleThe Crucible became an American classic. became an American classic.

- Play (text)- Play (text)- Broadway - Broadway - Movie - Movie

SETTING- SETTING- Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts

Story takes placeStory takes place in Salem,in Salem, Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

Year- Year- 16921692In this timeIn this time

period, Salemperiod, Salem was was predominantlypredominantly Puritan.Puritan.

PuritansPuritansDuring the late 1600s, Salem, Massachusetts During the late 1600s, Salem, Massachusetts was predominantly was predominantly PuritanPuritan..Puritans fled England to escape religious Puritans fled England to escape religious persecution.persecution.They settled in They settled in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts to to establish their own colony where they were free establish their own colony where they were free to worship as they pleased.to worship as they pleased.Other non-Puritans, who were English merchants Other non-Puritans, who were English merchants also settled in the village to sell their goods, but also settled in the village to sell their goods, but this often caused tension within the community.this often caused tension within the community.‘‘Puritans associated with other Puritans’Puritans associated with other Puritans’

PuritanPuritan Beliefs BeliefsPuritanism is a Puritanism is a “religious culture”.“religious culture”.Puritans lived a very strict and Puritans lived a very strict and conservative lifestyle.conservative lifestyle.Females were not allowed to Females were not allowed to expose any part of their body (fully expose any part of their body (fully clothed) from neck to toe. Many clothed) from neck to toe. Many women even wore bonnets.women even wore bonnets.They lived their life according to They lived their life according to the bible.the bible.

They did not believe in recreation for They did not believe in recreation for amusement.amusement.They were not supposed to dance or They were not supposed to dance or have silly fun.have silly fun.They were forbidden to go in the They were forbidden to go in the woods/ forest.woods/ forest.-The woods was seen as-The woods was seen as

a dark, forsaken area a dark, forsaken area where evil existed- devilwhere evil existed- devil worshippers.worshippers.

-Seen as property of wild animals and -Seen as property of wild animals and Indians which was seen as barbaric- Indians which was seen as barbaric- again, where evil resides.again, where evil resides.They were not supposed to read books They were not supposed to read books for leisure, only the religious bible.for leisure, only the religious bible.Sunday was the day of the Sabbath- Sunday was the day of the Sabbath- dedicated to church, prayer, and dedicated to church, prayer, and reading of the bible. Puritans were not reading of the bible. Puritans were not supposed to work on this day.supposed to work on this day.

WitchcraftWitchcraftWitchcraft Witchcraft is defined as is defined as the use of sorcery the use of sorcery (fantasy- wizard) or (fantasy- wizard) or magic; communication magic; communication with the devil or with a with the devil or with a familiar evilfamiliar evilAny form of witchcraft Any form of witchcraft was taboo to Puritans was taboo to Puritans and if Puritans were and if Puritans were found guilty of associating found guilty of associating with witchcraft, they were with witchcraft, they were hung and killedhung and killed

Witchcraft continued…Witchcraft continued…People who were known to People who were known to practice witchcraft were seen practice witchcraft were seen as worshipers of the devil- as worshipers of the devil- which was against Puritan which was against Puritan beliefs.beliefs.People accused of witchcraft People accused of witchcraft were were “guilty until proven “guilty until proven innocent”.innocent”.They would be incarcerated They would be incarcerated until brought to trial. If they until brought to trial. If they were found to be guilty (based were found to be guilty (based on their actions, witness on their actions, witness testimony, or experts on testimony, or experts on witchcrafts agreed) they would witchcrafts agreed) they would be publically hung in town so be publically hung in town so set an example for others of set an example for others of the severity of the punishment.the severity of the punishment.

““GuiltyGuilty Until Proven Innocent” Until Proven Innocent”The judicial system in Salem, Massachusetts The judicial system in Salem, Massachusetts during the 1600s was based on the law and during the 1600s was based on the law and religious beliefs (Puritan beliefs based on the religious beliefs (Puritan beliefs based on the bible).bible).The judicial system today is based on the laws The judicial system today is based on the laws of the state and country (regardless of culture or of the state and country (regardless of culture or religion).religion).The judicial system believed in the idea of The judicial system believed in the idea of “Guilty Until Proven Innocent.”“Guilty Until Proven Innocent.” What does this What does this mean?mean?The law today is The law today is ““Innocent Until Proven Guilty.”Innocent Until Proven Guilty.” What is the difference between the two?What is the difference between the two?

‘‘Terms’Terms’ in the play in the play

““Goody” as in GGoody” as in Goody Proctor or Goody oody Proctor or Goody Corey means “Ms.” as in Ms. Proctor, Ms. Corey means “Ms.” as in Ms. Proctor, Ms. Corey, or Ms. Amorin- It is a form of Corey, or Ms. Amorin- It is a form of respect for a woman.respect for a woman.inert- motionless; non-reactive ( as if in inert- motionless; non-reactive ( as if in comma)comma)creed- a statement of beliefs of principlescreed- a statement of beliefs of principlespotent- very strong; effective; powerfulpotent- very strong; effective; powerful

TermsTerms

vengeance- punishment that is inflicted in return vengeance- punishment that is inflicted in return for a wrongfor a wrongcontention- an opinion or claim stated in the contention- an opinion or claim stated in the course of an argumentcourse of an argumentafflicted- to cause severe or mental distress to afflicted- to cause severe or mental distress to somebodysomebodytheology- religious theorytheology- religious theory summon- a call to court; to send for somebodysummon- a call to court; to send for somebodypenitence- regret for sinspenitence- regret for sins

ThemesThemes

LoveLoveLoyaltyLoyaltyTrustTrustDeceptionDeceptionAuthorityAuthorityHysteriaHysteriaReputationReputationTruthTruth

ResponsibilityResponsibilityIndividual vs. SocietyIndividual vs. SocietyTruth vs. HypocrisyTruth vs. HypocrisyOrder vs. ChaosOrder vs. ChaosGood vs. EvilGood vs. Evil

CharactersCharacters

John Proctor-John Proctor- farmer farmerReverend Parris-Reverend Parris- Reverend in Reverend in SalemSalemAbigail Williams-Abigail Williams- 17 year old 17 year old niece of Parrisniece of ParrisTituba- slave from BarbadosTituba- slave from BarbadosBetty Parris- 10 year old Betty Parris- 10 year old daughter or Reverend Parrisdaughter or Reverend ParrisElizabeth Proctor-Elizabeth Proctor- Proctor’s Proctor’s wifewifeFrancis Nurse- older famer; Francis Nurse- older famer; respected neighborrespected neighborRuth Putnam- one of the “inert” Ruth Putnam- one of the “inert” girlsgirls

Thomas Putman- wealthy man Thomas Putman- wealthy man in town; has disputes with in town; has disputes with neighbors over land/ moneyneighbors over land/ moneyAnn Putnam- wife of ThomasAnn Putnam- wife of ThomasSusanna Walcott- Abigail’s Susanna Walcott- Abigail’s friend; afflictedfriend; afflictedMercy Lewis- Putnam’s Mercy Lewis- Putnam’s servant; Abigail’s friendservant; Abigail’s friendMary Warren-Mary Warren- Abigail’s friend; Abigail’s friend; Proctor’s servantProctor’s servantRebecca Nurse- sweet, elderly Rebecca Nurse- sweet, elderly woman in townwoman in townGiles Corey-Giles Corey- older farmer; older farmer; complains a lotcomplains a lotRev. John Hale-Rev. John Hale- expert on expert on witcheswitches

SettingsSettings of Play of Play

Act I- Reverend Parris’s home Act I- Reverend Parris’s home

Act II- John Proctor’s homeAct II- John Proctor’s home

Act III- The Salem CourtAct III- The Salem Court

Act IV- The Salem JailAct IV- The Salem Jail

Opening of PlayOpening of PlayThe The opening of the playopening of the play takes place the day after the young takes place the day after the young girls from town including Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, girls from town including Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Susanna Walcott, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, Tituba, and Susanna Walcott, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, Tituba, and Ruth Putnam- snuck out of their home and all met in the Ruth Putnam- snuck out of their home and all met in the woods.woods.While in the woods, the girls sang, danced, and talked about While in the woods, the girls sang, danced, and talked about the boys they liked. Tituba sang songs from Barbados as the the boys they liked. Tituba sang songs from Barbados as the girls put flowers in a pot of water that stood over a small fire.girls put flowers in a pot of water that stood over a small fire.Abigail cursed a woman she disliked in town and drank Abigail cursed a woman she disliked in town and drank chicken blood.chicken blood.Reverend Parris caught the girls in the woods, and they all Reverend Parris caught the girls in the woods, and they all dispersed in a hurry scared that they were caught.dispersed in a hurry scared that they were caught.What happened that was against Puritan values? Explain What happened that was against Puritan values? Explain why?why?

Enjoy the Play!!! Enjoy the Play!!!