The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and The Crucible “I am wronged. It is a shameful thing that you should mind these folks that are out of their wits.” --Martha Carrier Hanged August 19, 1692

Arthur Miller (1915 - 2005) Lived in New York City for most of his life Greatest works include The Crucible and Death of a Salesman His plays focus on tragedy and injustice

Arthur Miller (1915 - 2005) Dropped out of high school but later went to the University of Michigan Was questioned about his involvement in Communism and was caught up in Senator Joseph McCarthy’s “Red Scare” Was married for a time to Marilyn Monroe

Facts about the Salem Witch Trials Over 150 tried for witchcraft 20 people killed (19 hanged, 1 pressed to death) Many more confessed Many more were jailed

Facts about the Salem Witch Trials The government later gave money to the heirs of the deceased and published statements stating that the accused/deceased were not actually witches and/or warlocks Judge Samuel Sewall, a judge at the witchcraft trials, later said he was wrong for participating

Facts about The Crucible Written in 1953 Set in the Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts during the spring of 1692 “Crucible” definitions: A heat-resistant container in which materials can be subjected to high temperatures A severe test or trial (especially of belief) A place, time, or situation characterized by the collision of intellectual and social forces

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft God is all powerful punishes the wicked and unjust

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft is real is called Satan, Prince of Darkness, or Lucifer exists and works in the world can take various forms (person, animal, etc.) exists to separate people from God and overthrow good lives in the woods provides temptations causes fear, jealousy, mistrust, anger etc.

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft Witches are real are helpers of the Devil and do the Devil’s work are not just female; they can be men or animals

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft Bible quote: “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live” Exodus 22:18 In other words, the Puritans felt it was their religious duty to kill a witch so that he or she would not have to suffer the torment of being a witch.

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft If you were accused of being a witch and confessed, you were pardoned If you were accused of being a witch and did not confess, you would be burned, pressed, or hanged

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft A witch could also be tried by the water test (a form of trial by ordeal): The accused would be tied up and tossed into water. If they sank, they were innocent; if they made it to shore, they were guilty.

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft The Puritans had created a Theocracy: God is recognized as the supreme ruler Religious authorities acted as God’s representatives and controlled both church and state Citizens could be punished for church offenses: Not attending church Not knowing their commandments Not knowing the Lord’s Prayer

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft Puritan society demanded conformity Early in the colony’s history, conformity was necessary for survival Non-Conformists were not tolerated: Roger Williams suggested paying Indians for their land. He was run out of Salem and later founded Rhode Island. Villagers turned each other in for violations against Puritan society The central struggle was between the authority of the state versus individual rights

Information regarding the Puritan’s concept of the devil and witchcraft All this led to fear and, ultimately, mass hysteria The nature of the crime of witchcraft causes everyone to believe the victims (the accusers) Witches will identify themselves Witchcraft is an invisible crime where the victim is believed

The Crucible’s connection to McCarthyism and the Red Scare The 1950s—The U.S. and U.S.S.R. were in a struggle for world domination. Joseph McCarthy, a congressman, made a career by looking for communists in the government and in American life McCarthy was head of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Miller was called into hearing because he had worked in the labor movement as a young man.

The Crucible’s connection to McCarthyism and the Red Scare McCarthy’s accusations were similar to a “witch hunt” because anyone who criticized or talked out against the hearings was accused of being a Communist People were afraid of McCarthy’s power and were afraid to speak out against him His accusations targeted a variety of groups and people, including the President of the United States

The Crucible’s connection to McCarthyism and the Red Scare Miller was accused, but he refused to admit that he was a Communist, and he refused to name others as Communists The connection to The Crucible is this: innocent people were falsely accused of evil, and it was easy to get rid of your enemies by accusing them of either being a witch or a communist The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare

Witch Hunt…Or Not? The Holocaust Japanese-American Internment Camps Racial Profiling and/or Stereotyping Can you think of any other Current or Historical examples of “Witch Hunts” or scapegoats?

The End Witchcraft was hung, in History, But History and I Find all the Witchcraft that we need Around us, every Day— Emily Dickinson, #1583