Background Information: The Crucible

Cooperative Activity What do you know about The Crucible? What do you know about The Crucible? What do you know about the Salem Witch Trials? What do you know about the Salem Witch Trials?

The Salem Witch Trials A series of trials in which citizens were accused of witchcraft A series of trials in which citizens were accused of witchcraft Considered a tragedy because so many innocent people were accused and/or killed Considered a tragedy because so many innocent people were accused and/or killed

Why were there witch trials? Colonial America was very religious Colonial America was very religious Government was based on religion Government was based on religion Witchcraft was a felony Witchcraft was a felony Pact with the devil Pact with the devil Making or doing the work of the devil Making or doing the work of the devil Hanging was the sentence Hanging was the sentence In Europe witches were burned In Europe witches were burned Most dangerous crime Most dangerous crime

The American Witch Trials Started in Salem Village, Mass Started in Salem Village, Mass March 1, 1692 March 1, 1692 Abigail Williams and another girl were having symptoms of an unknown cause Abigail Williams and another girl were having symptoms of an unknown cause Theories Theories Smallpox Smallpox Puberty Puberty Food poisoning Food poisoning Contributing factors Contributing factors Fear of Indian attacks, God punishing them, economic, political, social fears and feuds Fear of Indian attacks, God punishing them, economic, political, social fears and feuds

The American Witch Trials cont’d Last trial in the court of Oyer and Terminer Last trial in the court of Oyer and Terminer November 25, 1692 November 25, 1692 Public support had waned Public support had waned Unreliable evidence Unreliable evidence Respected people were defending accused Respected people were defending accused Spectral evidence was no longer sufficient Spectral evidence was no longer sufficient

Governor Pelm In November started the new courts In November started the new courts Remaining not guilty Remaining not guilty Pardoned sentenced Pardoned sentenced

How many died? 19 people hanged 19 people hanged 1 pressed 1 pressed 13 may have died in prison 13 may have died in prison 43 were “afflicted” 43 were “afflicted”

Arthur Miller ( ) Considered the most celebrated American playwright of the 2 decades following WWII Considered the most celebrated American playwright of the 2 decades following WWII Specialized in commentary on American way of life, moral downfall of ordinary individual, and tragedy in modern terms Specialized in commentary on American way of life, moral downfall of ordinary individual, and tragedy in modern terms

Miller’s Early Life Born in New York (10/17/1915) Born in New York (10/17/1915) Raised in Jewish middle-class family Raised in Jewish middle-class family Moved to Brooklyn in 1929 Moved to Brooklyn in 1929 Intense athlete in high school Intense athlete in high school Education Education Graduated high school 1932 Graduated high school 1932 Worked as shipping clerk and other odd jobs Worked as shipping clerk and other odd jobs U of M U of M

Miller’s Early Career Joined Federal Theatre Project Joined Federal Theatre Project Wrote radio scripts Wrote radio scripts Toured army camps Toured army camps First Broadway play First Broadway play First novel First novel- 1945

Miller’s Mature and Later Career All My Sons All My Sons Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman Politics Politics Left- wing supporter Left- wing supporter 1953 denied passport due to The Crucible 1953 denied passport due to The Crucible 1956 accused of communism under House Committee on Un-American Activities 1956 accused of communism under House Committee on Un-American Activities Wrote After the Fall based on marriage to Marilyn Monroe Wrote After the Fall based on marriage to Marilyn Monroe Continued to publish, edit, and mentor Continued to publish, edit, and mentor

The Crucible Setting- Salem, Mass 1692 Setting- Salem, Mass 1692 Themes Themes Hypocrisy Hypocrisy Guilt Guilt Revenge Revenge Hysteria Hysteria Authority Authority Integrity and courage Integrity and courage