The Crucible By Arthur Miller
The Author: Arthur Miller Born in 1915 in New York City; died in 2005 (89-years-old) Graduated from U of M with journalism degree Famous ex-wife: Marilyn Monroe! Another famous play: Death of a Salesman
Why he wrote The Crucible It was the 1950s The “Red Scare” was gripping America The government saw Communists everywhere Similar to the panic after 9/11
Started with the Cold War Began after World War II Relations became strained between the U.S (Democratic govt.) and the U.S.S.R (Communist govt.) They were the two superpowers—and the only ones with nuclear weapons
What does this have to do with a play about witches? Senator Joe McCarthy
Preyed on the public’s fear of Communism Began accusing people of being Communists Held biased trials 2 options: confess to being a Communist and risk public banishment OR accuse other “Communists”
House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)
HUAC This was the committee in charge of trying “Communists” Arthur Miller was brought before the committee in 1956 Was found in contempt because he refused to provide names of other Communists
BLACKLISTED! Could not be hired … at ALL! HUAC ruined many people’s careers
Why is the book about Salem … not McCarthy? Miller wanted to prove the McCarthy’s logic was flawed BUT he could not be so direct or he would have been thrown in jail SO he set his play which warns people about the dangers of unfounded accusations in Salem, MA
Allegory Definition: a story that has a literal as well as figurative meaning What Miller did with The Crucible EX: The Salem Witch Trials actually happened (literal) but Miller is actually warning people about McCarthy and HUAC (figurative)
Setting Salem, MA 15 miles north of Boston Events began in 1692 Lasted 14 months
Puritan Beliefs Literal interpretation of the Bible You were either committing a sin or pleasing God—NO in between! No dancing, drinking or laziness Emphasis on hard work and church Theocracy government— combination of church and state
Salem Witch Trial Facts 19 people executed (hanged)—including 2 dogs 5 people died in jail 1 person was tortured to death 47 people “confessed” to witchcraft 160 people accused of witchcraft
How did you prove someone was a witch? Based on “spectral evidence” (based on dreams and visions) Accused “sent” their spirit out to torture the accuser (bite, pinch, choke)
Would you confess? Claim your innocence Possessions were sold Family left homeless No legacy for offspring Death by hanging Confess Name other witches Retain your land and possessions Live
Causes of Witchcraft Hysteria Jealousy, spite, need for attention Teenage boredom (most accusations came from a group of eight young girls) Ergot poisoning (ingestion of rye bread made with moldy grain) – same fungus from which LSD is derived Politics, feuds and greed
What did a “fit” look like? excessive weeping silent states followed by violent screams hiding under furniture hallucinations
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” -George Santayana, philosopher