FLEX Sept. 16th Today you will be allowed to flex out to another teacher for help if you have a pass. I will have students testing in here, so if you are in here, then you need to be working quietly. You may listen to your music, but no talking during this time. Thank you.

Part I: Salem Witch Trials The Crucible Part I: Salem Witch Trials Sept. 16, 2014 Do Now Review Questions: Write at the bottom of your notes from last week. 1) Who was John Proctor? What happened to him? 2) Who was George Burroughs? What happened to him? 3) Based on our discussion, why do you think that Tituba, Sarah Osborne and Sarah Good were accused of being witches? Why didn’t people stand up against the witch hunts?

Sept. 16th Objective: SWBAT understand the history of the Salem Witch Trials in preparation for reading The Crucible. EQ: Why is history necessary in studying literature? Agenda Do now and review Finish video. Have out your notes, so I can check them during this time. Finish guided video questions. Hand in before you leave.

Part I: Salem Witch Trials The Crucible Part I: Salem Witch Trials Sept. 15, 2014 Do Now Review Questions: Write at the bottom of your notes from last week. 1) What was the relationship like between the Native Americans and the Puritans? 2) What inexplicable event happened to Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, and some of the other girls in the town? 3) What diagnosis did the doctors give to explain what was wrong with the girls?

Part I: Salem Witch Trials The Crucible Part I: Salem Witch Trials

Overview: Salem, MA Settled mainly by Puritans in 1626 They left England so they could practice religious freedom Their strict religious beliefs often guided their daily lives Feuded with the Native Americans in a frontier war Most known for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Nickname: “The Witch City” Witch museums, etc. as tourism industry *

Puritans arriving in Massachusetts

Salem Witch Trials Occurred from June through September of 1692 in Salem Townspeople were in a state of hysteria about witches/evil and started accusations. Some might have actually been believers, but some might have accused for personal gain. Look at your notes from yesterday to remind yourself what a Puritan is. *

The Casualties Nineteen men and women were put to death for witchcraft. One man, Giles Corey, was also pressed to death.

Salem Witch Trials Why did this travesty occur? Why in Salem? It was a combination of an ongoing frontier war with the Native Americans, economic and congregational rivalry, teenage boredom, and personal jealousies. Look at your notes from yesterday to remind yourself what a Puritan is. *

The Facts Samuel Parris, a new pastor was invited by John Putnam to preach at the Village church and moved from Barbados to Salem with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Betty, niece Abigail Williams, and servant Tituba

The Facts During this same time period, two prominent families were competing for control of the village and its church – the Putnams and the Porters.

The Facts In Salem, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams became inexplicably ill Fever, extreme pain, running around the house, hallucinating Soon, more children in Salem became ill with the same symptoms Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott Doctors were called in to find the reason for this sickness

But… Doctors couldn’t explain illnesses that children & young girls seemed to have, so they defaulted to “witchcraft.” The townspeople were easily convinced. Townspeople decided to arrest the servant, Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne – None of whom were liked by the townspeople

The Arrests Begin Sarah Good was a beggar and social outcast who lived wherever someone would house her. Osborn was an old woman who hadn’t gone to church for over year and who quarreled regularly with people in town Tituba was a South American servant – this exotic background made her a natural target to the Puritans who feared “different”

It continues… More and more people were arrested and charged with witchcraft including a Bridget Bishop, an old tavern owner where patrons could drink and play games, even on the Sabbath (holy day), It was claimed that these women had transformed themselves into specters (ghosts) and cats in order to steal and wreak havoc on the townspeople.

It continues… Even those who voiced an opinion against the witch hysteria were put on trial and executed, including John Proctor who was hanged for openly denouncing the witch hunt.

It continues… But, the death that caused the most unease in the town was of George Burroughs, a former minister of the town, was accused. He was hanged.

Why did this happen? People were suspicious/fearful A book about witchcraft had just been published by Cotton Mather People were at war with Native Americans Death/evil were on the mind of many (because of fighting and disease) Puritan culture easily accepted the devil as the source of evil/wrong in life Students respond to the question on their guided notes: What is the benefit of blaming something/someone like the devil (or even God)? What is the problem with this? *

Other Explanations Teenagers in town were bored and got carried away Dancing, flirting, etc. not allowed at all Some researchers today think a contamination of food could have caused the first hallucinations Some of the accusers were jealous people An easy way to get rid of people they didn’t like! General sense of depression in town Not a lot of wealth/happiness/freedom Respond to question: Which of these explanations is the most believable to you? Why? *

The Crucible Part II: Play Overview

Part II: Play Overview Written in the 1950s: premiered in NYC 1953 Playwright: Arthur Miller Focuses on residents of Salem, MA 1692 as a way to highlight what was going on during his own time. Issues: greed, guilt, motivation, morality, sin, pride, love, identity We will focus on each of these bullets as we go through the slideshow *

Overview: Arthur Miller Born in 1915 in New York City His father’s business failed because of the Depression Family moved around a lot because of poverty Attended the University of Michigan Dad had a garment manufacturing business. Explain Depression *

Overview: Arthur Miller Returned to NYC after graduating college No luck with writing! Finally had a play of his on Broadway All My Sons (1947) In 1949, wrote Death of a Salesman His first play, “The Man Who Had All the Luck,” received horrible reviews. *

Overview: Arthur Miller Married Marilyn Monroe Divorced after a few years Had three wives altogether Wrote The Crucible in the early 1950s Was accused of being a Communist Died in 2005 Communism: a type of government that believes everyone should chip in equally and get equal benefits (from each according to his ability, to each according to his need). Why bad? Russia and China; also, execution of ideal is difficult *

Part III: Historical Context The Crucible Part III: Historical Context

The Appeals of Communism America’s Great Depression left people upset about the American government Everyone deserves basics (food, clothing) Communism offers that promise 1939: 50,000 Americans were members of the Communist party.

Then, World War II Begins 1941: America begins fighting against Germany (and others) Communism was seen as “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 main competition + The Soviet Union was Communist = Communism seen to be evil

Red: color of Communism The “Red Scare” Begins Red: color of Communism

Enter: Joseph McCarthy and the HUAC

HUAC HUAC: House Committee of Un-American Activities This committee questioned Americans who were suspected of being Communists They summoned thousands of people to testify Goal: to get as many names of “Communists” as possible

Joseph McCarthy The ruthless head of the HUAC Claimed he had a list of 205 Communists who worked for the US Government Was the ringleader of the Red Scare Video: McCarthyism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07buRRJ6s4k&safe=active

Who Was Suspected of Being a Communist? 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 OR Refuse to admit anything (or rat out others) and be blacklisted Can’t get work if blacklisted

Arthur Miller Video: The Hollywood Ten http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taancRcLQ8o&safe=active

“The Crucible” and Communism Allegory: work of literature that tells one story on the surface while referring to another sub textually Comparing the play to the Red Scare Can you see how these historical events are similar to those of the Salem Witch Trials?

Part IV: Character Introduction The Crucible Part IV: Character Introduction

Character Introduction Abigail Williams: Leader of the group of girls Orphan raised by Uncle (Reverend) Had an affair with married John Proctor & still in love with him Used to work for the Proctors Smart, manipulative, jealous

Character Introduction John Proctor: Farmer Married, but had an affair with Abigail Proud and (usually) honest Seen as a leader and upstanding citizen

Character Introduction Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor: John Proctor’s wife Moral and honest Sometimes seen as “cold” and unloving Had been physically ill when husband was having affair

Character Introduction The Girls: Betty Parris: Young daughter of the town minister Ruth Putnam: Only surviving daughter of wealthy, greedy landowners Mary Warren: meek, now housekeeper for the Proctors

Character Introduction Reverend Parris: Town minister Paranoid Concerned with what others think of him- much of the town does not support him & criticize his focus on money

Character Introduction John Hale: “Expert” on witchcraft Asked to come to Salem for his knowledge Intelligent and logical Depends on the knowledge of books

Character Introduction Tituba: Slave from Barbados Performs voodoo Friend / caretaker to Betty & Abigail

Other Characters Giles Corey: Rebecca Nurse Older man who is a rabble-rouser Files lawsuits frequently- esp. against neighbors the Putnams His wife, Martha, is also outspoken and likes to read Rebecca Nurse Kind, older woman accused of witchcraft Very moral and sensible