The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1. The Crucible By Arthur Miller BACKGROUND NOTES

2. The Crucible • The play is set in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts • The play deals with the Salem Witch Trials • The main characters are Puritans

3. WHO WERE THE PURITANS?

4. WHO WERE THE PURITANS? • English Protestants who wanted to “purify” the Church of England • Came to America in 1630 and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony

5. WHO WERE THE PURITANS? • They imagined themselves as re-enacting the story of Exodus leaving oppression for a new land • They believed they were chosen by God to establish a new, pure Christian commonwealth

6. PURITAN BELIEFS • Convinced that most of humanity would be damned due to Adam & Eve’s fall • Not sure who were the “elect” and who were destined to be damned

7. PURITAN BELIEFS, CONT. • Believed in PREDESTINATION (determined by God before birth) and that the choice of the “elect” was arbitrary • If “elected”, one could do no wrong, but if an “elect” did sin, he could still be saved because once elected, he would be saved forever

8. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. • Bible was the literal word of God • Education very important because they must be able to read, interpret and debate theology • All other ways of life were wrong

9. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. • Just as God could “elect” those to be saved, the Devil could select people to be bewitched • Devil was a real and active enemy of mankind, not just an abstract figure

10. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. • Witches could definitely exist in society • Felt the Devil was determined to destroy the New World because they were so righteous • Naturally the Devil would need helpers – witches

11. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. • Vast forests gave the Devil plenty of places to hide • Believed the “savage” Indians could also be agents of the Devil

12. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. • Accepted and promoted the concept of THEOCRACY – that the church should control the government – seemingly in conflict with our belief that our forefathers wanted true separation of church and state

13. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. • Believed the following were cardinal sins: *Adultery *Dancing *Playing games *Dressing “prettily” (Women were forbidden to do so.)

14. “Build Your Kingdom Here” • As you listen to this song, find and highlight lyrics that echo Puritan ideas and mindset. • Write on a post-it note what Puritan idea is being expressed • Place the post-it note by the lyric to which it relates • Discuss with a partner your findings and explain your choices

15. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS • Those accused of consorting with the Devil had committed a crime against the government and the punishment was hanging. • The afflicted were those “possessed” & “tormented”. They accused or “cried out” the names of those supposedly possessing them, the accused.

16. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS • Both men and women were accused • In Salem, 19 people hanged along with 2 dogs, while 1 man was pressed to death

17. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/biog/pooroldgoodycole.htm

18. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS • Similar trials took place in other places • The witch trials lasted less than a year (1692)

19. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS • Experts are unsure what caused the girls’ “fits”. Some believe the cause was adolescent hysteria while some believe it was ergot (a type of fungus) poisoning. • After the trials, the jurors and magistrates apologized, restitution was made to the victims’ families, and a Day of Fasting and Remembrance was instituted.

20. McCarthyism • Refers to the use of careless, often false, accusations and methods of investigating that violate civil liberties • Originates from Senator Joseph McCarthy’s hunt for “pinkos, radicals and Communists” in the 1950’s

21. McCarthyism • Sen. McCarthy accused the Democratic administration of supporting Communists during a time when America was in a struggle with the Soviet Union and growing Communism.

22. McCarthyism • Playing on Americans’ great fear of Communism, McCarthy summoned hundreds of Americans to testify & threatened to brand them as Communists if they didn’t. • Mass hysteria grew and the “witch hunts” began.

23. McCarthyism • Several Hollywood writers, actors, and other famous people were questioned; many were “blacklisted” and 10 were sent to prison for refusing to answer questions.

24. McCarthyism • The Committee questioned Arthur Miller in 1956, who admitted to attending Communist meetings 10 years earlier to learn about it. • Miller refused to answer questions about other people who attended those meetings, and he was held in contempt of court and had his passport withdrawn and was fined.

25. McCarthyism • He appealed and 2 years later won his case. • McCarthy was eventually condemned by the Senate for misconduct and abuse of power.

26. Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The Crucible • Anyone opposing McCarthy was suspected of communism and often brought before the Senate committee • Anyone opposed to the Salem judges was suspected of trying to undermine the court & was “probably a witch”

27. Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The Crucible • Panic among Puritans led to “witch-hunts” for the Devil’s agents • Panic in the 1950s led to “witch hunt” for Communists

28. Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The Crucible • Puritans feared the Devil & his agents in the 1600’s • Americans in the ’50’s feared Communism (Miller’s intentional use of these similarities makes this story an allegory.)