Arthur Miller s The Crucible

1. Arthur Miller�s The Crucible ES2B Mrs. Schaffer

2. About the Author Born October 17th, 1915 in New York City Began Writing Plays in 1930�s Most well-known for Death of a Salesman Plays addressed social and political issues Convicted in 1957 for Contempt of Congress for refusing to name communist sympathizers Passed February 10th, 2005 at age 89

3. Miller and McCarthy Alien Registration Act passed by Congress on June 29th, 1940 made it illegal for anyone to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government Main objective was to undermine American Communist Party and other left-wing political groups House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) set up by Martin Dies in 1938 to investigate people suspected of unpatriotic behavior

4. HUAC Attacks Hollywood In 1947, HUAC began an investigation into the Hollywood Motion Picture Industry HUAC interviewed 41 �friendly witnesses� �Hollywood Ten� � Convicted of Contempt of Congress and imprisoned Red Channels Leonard Bernstein, Charlie Chaplin, Burl Ives, Arthur Miller, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellmann, Pete Seeger, Orson Welles

5. Adaptation: Politics of the Play Based on events that took place in 1692 Liberal in fictionalization Accusations driven by fictional affair Political Criticisms � � what I was doing was writing a fictional story about an important theme."

6. History for Social Commentary McCarthyism often characterized as �witch hunt� �The more I read into the Salem panic, the more it touched off corresponding ages of common experience in the fifties.� The same terror, which paralyzed Salem citizens in the spring of 1692, was paralyzing the United States. Actors were replacing Salem citizens, Communists were replacing witches, and Dan forth turned over his court to McCarthy and the HUAC. Blind men of equivalent stuff were again forging history.

7. Salem Witch Hysteria In 1692, 19 innocent men and women were hanged for witchcraft. An old man was pressed to death under heavy rocks for refusing to stand trial. Four others died in jail as they awaited trial. How did a village get swept up in such hysteria?

9. Puritan Beliefs Puritans suffered persecution in old world and came to America to establish religion Believed their way of life to be absolutely right Doctrine of the Elect Theocracy: government controlled by church Devil concentrated all of his attention upon destroying new world

10. Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Reverend Samuel Parris elected minister without a firm majority Parris� daughter, Elizabeth, and her cousin, Abigail, became ill Doctor William Griggs diagnosed bewitchment Girls began accusations First three accused: Tituba, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne

11. Witch!� Options of The Accused

12. Major Characters Reverend Samuel Parris: Minister of the town of Salem, who believes anything said against the town or church is an attempt to undermine both institutions. Betty Parris: Ten-year-old daughter of Reverend Parris, who is accused of witchcraft. Tituba: Reverend Parris� slave from Barbados, who knows of spirits and witchcraft and is among the first accused. Abigail Williams: Seventeen-year-old niece of Reverend Parris, who is the leader of the accused.

13. Major Characters Susanna Walcott: Abigail Williams� friend. She accuses people of being witches along with Abigail. Reverend John Hale: A minister from Beverly who is called by Parris to investigate the situation. He considers himself an expert on matters of witchcraft. Goody Elizabeth Proctor: John Proctor�s wife, who hates Abigail as she learns the young girl had an affair with her husband. She is later accused of witchcraft. John Proctor: Does not care for voice of authority and has no desire to be involved in the witch hunt.

14. Major Characters Giles Corey: Oldest man in town of Salem, who is charged with contempt of court for trying to defend his wife. Goody Sarah Good: An older beggar woman accused of witchcraft. Deputy Governor Danforth: Head of the court case dealing with the witch hunt. Ezekial Cheever: Man appointed by the court to arrest witches. Judge Hathorne: Judge sent to examine some of the people accused of being witches.

15. Major Themes Intolerance: �The witch trials are the ultimate expression of intolerance and hanging witches is the ultimate means of restoring the community�s purity.� Hysteria: �It suspends the rules of daily life and allows the acting out of every dark desire and hateful urge.� Reputation: �I have given you my soul, leave me my name!�

16. To Learn More � Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm

17. Additional Resources Arthur Miller @ http://who2.com/ask/arthurmiller.html McCarthyism @ http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmccarthyism.htm Why did Arthur Miller Write the Crucible? @ http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Lab/4191/MILLER/millers.html#Who_was_Arthur_ Salem Witch Trials @ http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/story/ The Crucible Book Notes @ http://www.bookrags.com/notes/cru/CHR.htm