The Crucible By Arthur Miller Background p – 1231 Act I p Act II p Act III p Act IV p

The Author, Arthur Miller He has written many plays including: Death of a Salesman Wrote about “common people pitted against powerful... social forces.” Wanted social justice and equality among classes During the McCarthy Era, he was accused of being a Communist and Un-American

Background Information 1962, MA colonized by British, a witch craft hysteria (Puritan New England) 20 people were executed and 150 jailed Puritan New England paralleled McCarthyism girls had seizures and lapses of unconsciousness thought to be witch craft girls had been engaging in fortunetelling with the minister’s slave, Tituba.

Overview of the Plot Girls dancing in woods with Tituba. Minister Parris catches them Parris’ daughter, Betty falls into a coma Crowd gathers at Parris’ rumor begins of with craft Reverend Hale, an expert of the subject has been sent for Abigail, Parris’ niece will admit to nothing but “dancing”

Dramatic Exposition ( An Overture) Reverend Samuel Parris, minister, is in mid- forties. Persecuted by the town Salem, MA is also about forty – a religious shipping town w/o privacy John Proctor, farmer would rebel against this Forest thought to be a dark and threatening place Became a theocracy to maintain unity of the town Witch hunts brought out people confessing sins and guilt which otherwise they wouldn’t

Act I p Narrator Tituba Parris Abigail Mrs. Putnam Susanna Putnam (Thomas)

Dramatic Exposition p Thomas Putnam eldest son of richest man in Salem Putnam wanted his brother-in-law, James Bayley to be the minister Former Minister George Burroughs went into debt paying for wife’s funeral Putnam and his brother, John jailed Burroughs for his debt Burroughs became minister when Bayley didn’t Many accusations were give by Putnam

Act I p Parris Putnam Mrs. PutnamAbigail Mercy Mary Warren Betty

Dramatic Exposition p. 1245