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The CruciblePart I: Overview
The CruciblePart I: Overview
Part I: Overview
• Written in the 1950s: premiered in NYC 1953
• Playwright: Arthur Miller
• Focuses on residents of Salem, MA 1692(but not just about the events of the play)
• Issues: greed, guilt, motivation, morality, sin,pride, love, identity
Part I: Overview
Written in the 1950s: premiered in NYC 1953
Playwright: Arthur Miller
Focuses on residents of Salem, MA 1692about the events of the play)
Issues: greed, guilt, motivation, morality, sin,
Overview: Arthur Miller
• Born in 1915 in New York City
• His father’s business failed because of the DepressionDepression
• Family moved around a lot because of poverty
• Attended the University of Michigan
Overview: Arthur Miller
Overview: Arthur Miller
• Returned to NYC after graduating collegeo No luck with writing!
• Finally had a play of • Finally had a play of his on Broadwayo All My Sons (1947)
• In 1949, wrote Death of a Salesman
Overview: Arthur Miller
Overview: Arthur Miller
• Married Marilyn Monroeo Divorced after a few
yearso Had three wives o Had three wives
altogether
• Wrote The Crucible in the early 1950so Was accused of being
a Communist
• Died in 2005
Overview: Arthur Miller
Overview: Salem, MA
• Settled mainly by Puritans in 1626o Reminder: left England so they could practice
religious freedomo Reminder: Often let their religious beliefs guide
their daily livestheir daily lives
• Most known for the Salem Witch Trials of1692o Nickname: “The Witch City”
Overview: Salem, MA
Settled mainly by Puritans in 1626Reminder: left England so they could practice
Reminder: Often let their religious beliefs guide
Most known for the Salem Witch Trials of
Nickname: “The Witch City”
Puritans arriving in MassachusettsPuritans arriving in Massachusetts
Salem Witch Trials MemorialSalem Witch Trials Memorial
The CruciblePart II: Salem Witch Trials
CruciblePart II: Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials
• Occurred from June through September of 1692 in Salem
• Remember the • Remember the concept of Covenant & that Bible = Law
• Townspeople were in a state of hysteriaabout witches/evil
Salem Witch Trials
The Facts
• Young girl named Betty Parris became illo Fever, extreme pain, running around the
house• More children in Salem became ill
Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcotto Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott• Doctors were called in to find the reason
for this sickness
The Facts
Young girl named Betty Parris became illFever, extreme pain, running around the
More children in Salem became illAnn Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Mary WalcottAnn Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott
Doctors were called in to find the reason
But…
• Doctors couldn’t explain illnesses thatchildren & young girls seemed to have, sothey defaulted to “witchcraft”
o Townspeople were easily convincedo A servant in town was suspected of witchcraft
• Townspeople decided to arrest theservant, Tituba, and an older woman forwitchcraft
But…
Doctors couldn’t explain illnesses thatchildren & young girls seemed to have, sothey defaulted to “witchcraft”
Townspeople were easily convincedA servant in town was suspected of witchcraft
Townspeople decided to arrest theservant, Tituba, and an older woman for
It continues…
• More and more people were arrested andcharged with witchcraft
o The punishment for witchcraft was DEATH by o The punishment for witchcraft was DEATH by HANGING
o In order to live, some people “confessed” to practicing witchcraft.
It continues…
More and more people were arrested andcharged with witchcraft
The punishment for witchcraft was DEATH by The punishment for witchcraft was DEATH by
In order to live, some people “confessed” to
The Casualties
• Nineteen men and women were put to death for witchcraft.
• One man, Giles Corey, was also pressed to death.
The Casualties
Why did this happen?• People were suspicious/fearful
o A book about witchcraft had just been published by Cotton Mather
o People were at war with Native o People were at war with Native Americans
o Death/evil were on the mind of many (because of fighting and disease)
o Puritan culture easily accepted the devil as the source of evil/wrong in life
Why did this happen?People were suspicious/fearful
A book about witchcraft had just been published by Cotton
People were at war with Native People were at war with Native
Death/evil were on the mind of many (because of fighting and
Puritan culture easily accepted
Other Explanations
• Teenagers in town were bored and got carried awayo Dancing, flirting, etc. not allowed at all
• Some researchers today think a contamination • Some researchers today think a contamination of food could have caused the first hallucinations
• Some of the accusers were jealous peopleo An easy way to get rid of people they didn’t like!
• General sense of depression in towno Not a lot of wealth/happiness/freedom
Other Explanations
Teenagers in town were bored and got carried
Dancing, flirting, etc. not allowed at all
Some researchers today think a contamination Some researchers today think a contamination of food could have caused the first
Some of the accusers were jealous peopleAn easy way to get rid of people they didn’t like!
General sense of depression in townNot a lot of wealth/happiness/freedom
The CruciblePart III: Historical Context
The CruciblePart III: Historical Context
The Appeals of Communism
• America’s Great Depression left people upset about the American governmento Everyone deserves basics o Everyone deserves basics
(food, clothing)o Communism offers that
promise
• 1939: 50,000 Americans were members of the Communist party.
The Appeals of Communism
upset about the American
Everyone deserves basics Everyone deserves basics
1939: 50,000 Americans
Then, World War II Begins
•
•
•
Then, World War II Begins
• 1941: America begins fighting against Germany (and others)
• Communism was seen as “un-American” because of “un-American” because of the surge in patriotism
• End of War led the the US’s emergence as a world power
America vs. The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was its mainThe Soviet Union was its maincompetition +
The Soviet Union was Communist
= Communism seen to be evil
America vs. The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was its mainThe Soviet Union was its main
The Soviet Union was Communist
= Communism seen to be evil
The “Red Scare” Begins
• Red: color of Communism
The “Red Scare” Begins
Red: color of Communism
Enter: Joseph McCarthy and theHUAC
Enter: Joseph McCarthy and theHUAC
HUAC
• HUAC: House Committee of UnActivities
o This committee questioned Americans who o This committee questioned Americans who were suspected of being Communists
o They summoned thousands of people to testifyGoal: to get as many names of “Communists” as
possible
HUAC
HUAC: House Committee of Un-American
This committee questioned Americans who This committee questioned Americans who were suspected of being Communists
They summoned thousands of people to testifyGoal: to get as many names of “Communists” as
Joseph McCarthy
• The ruthless head of the HUAC
• Claimed he had a list of 205 Communistswho worked for the US Governmentwho worked for the US Government
• Was the ringleader of the Red Scare
Joseph McCarthy
The ruthless head of the HUAC
Claimed he had a list of 205 Communistswho worked for the US Governmentwho worked for the US Government
Was the ringleader of the Red Scare
Who Was Suspected of Being aCommunist?
• Filmmakers, directors, actors were accused of attending communist meetings
• Certain politicians were also targeted
• These people had two options:o Admit to being a Communist and tell McCarthy names
of other people who attended Communist meetings
o Refuse to admit anything (or rat out others) and be blacklisted Can’t get work if blacklisted
Who Was Suspected of Being aCommunist?
Filmmakers, directors, actors were accused of attending communist meetings
Certain politicians were also targeted
These people had two options:Admit to being a Communist and tell McCarthy names of other people who attended Communist meetings
ORRefuse to admit anything (or rat out others) and be
Can’t get work if blacklisted
Arthur MillerArthur Miller
“The Crucible” and Communism
• Allegory: work of literature that tells onestory on the surface while referring toanother sub textuallyo Comparing the play to the Red Scareo Comparing the play to the Red Scare
• Can you see how these historical eventsare similar to those of the Salem WitchTrials?
“The Crucible” and Communism
Allegory: work of literature that tells onestory on the surface while referring toanother sub textually
Comparing the play to the Red ScareComparing the play to the Red Scare
Can you see how these historical eventsare similar to those of the Salem Witch
The CruciblePart IV: Character Introduction
The CruciblePart IV: Character Introduction
Character Introduction
• Abigail Williams:
o Leader of the group of girls
Orphan raised by Uncle (Reverend)o Orphan raised by Uncle (Reverend)
o Had an affair with married John Proctor & still in love with him
o Used to work for the Proctors
o Smart, manipulative, jealous
Character Introduction
Leader of the group of girls
Orphan raised by Uncle (Reverend)Orphan raised by Uncle (Reverend)
Had an affair with married John Proctor & still
Used to work for the Proctors
Smart, manipulative, jealous
Character Introduction
• John Proctor:
o Farmer
Married, but had an affair with Abigailo Married, but had an affair with Abigail
o Proud and (usually) honest
o Seen as a leader and upstanding citizen
Character Introduction
Married, but had an affair with AbigailMarried, but had an affair with Abigail
Proud and (usually) honest
Seen as a leader and upstanding citizen
Character Introduction
• Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor:
o John Proctor’s wife
Moral and honesto Moral and honest
o Sometimes seen as “cold” and unloving
o Had been physically ill when husband was having affair
Character Introduction
Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor:
Sometimes seen as “cold” and unloving
Had been physically ill when husband was
Character Introduction
• The Girls:
o Betty Parris: Young daughter of the town minister
o Ruth Putnam: Only surviving daughter of wealthy, greedy landowners
• Mary Warren: meek, now housekeeper for the Proctors
Character Introduction
Betty Parris: Young daughter of the town
Ruth Putnam: Only surviving daughter of wealthy, greedy landowners
Mary Warren: meek, now housekeeper for the
Character Introduction
• Reverend Parris:
o Town minister
Paranoido Paranoid
o Concerned with what others think of himmuch of the town does not support him & criticize his focus on money
Character Introduction
Concerned with what others think of him-much of the town does not support him & criticize his focus on money
Character Introduction
• John Hale:
o “Expert” on witchcraft
Asked to come to Salem for his knowledgeo Asked to come to Salem for his knowledge
o Intelligent and logical
o Depends on the knowledge of books
Character Introduction
“Expert” on witchcraft
Asked to come to Salem for his knowledgeAsked to come to Salem for his knowledge
Intelligent and logical
Depends on the knowledge of books
Character Introduction
• Tituba:
o Slave from Barbados
Performs voodooo Performs voodoo
o Friend / caretaker to Betty & Abigail
Character Introduction
Slave from Barbados
Friend / caretaker to Betty & Abigail
Other Characters• Giles Corey:
o Older man who is a rabbleo Files lawsuits frequently
neighbors the Putnamso His wife, Martha, is also outspoken and likes to
readread
• Rebecca Nurseo Kind, older woman accused of witchcrafto Very moral and sensible
Other Characters
Older man who is a rabble-rouserFiles lawsuits frequently- esp. against
PutnamsHis wife, Martha, is also outspoken and likes to
Kind, older woman accused of witchcraftVery moral and sensible
