2. The word ‘crucible’ means: a porcelain container used for melting a substance that requires a high degree of heat A severe test OR

3. Arthur Miller Bio  Born in New York City on Oct 17 th, 1915  During the Great Depression, he worked in a factory and washed dishes at the age of 13.

4.  In 1932, after flunking Algebra 3 times, he graduated from high school.  He enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1934.  He won the Avery Hopwood Award for Honors of Dawn, a play he wrote in 4 days.

5. He won a Pulitzer for Death of a Salesman. He also wrote A View from the Bridge and All my Sons He received an award for The Crucible. In 1956, he divorced his wife and married Marilyn Monroe.

6. He was accused of being a Communist and for attending Communist meetings. He refused to name friends of his who were Communist. He died February 10 th, 2005

7. Part 2: The Play Itself Allegory: A person or object in stories that represent other meanings. For example: If you have a character in a story named Hope, she would represent positive thinking or other things associated w/ hope.

8. The Crucible is an allegory that represents the McCarthy Era and the Red Scare. Who was Joseph McCarthy and what was the Red Scare?

9. Joseph McCarthy was a senator who was determined to find “Un- Americans” (a.k.a Communist) in America and imprison them in the early 1950s.

10. The Red Scare: The period during the 1940s- 1950s characterized by heightened suspicion of Communist and other radicals. There was also a fear of a widespread infiltration of Communists in US government.

11. The Crucible pokes fun at this time period. Miller compares the Communist witch hunt to the Salem Witch Hunts of 1692. Miller hated McCarthy and despised what he was doing to the American people.

12. SO…….The Crucible is as an allegory representing the Red Scare The witches represent the Communist and the Puritans represent the government. To clarify, the Salem Witch Trials did happen.

14. The Puritans were a group of people who grew upset with the Church of England and decided to leave and work towards religious, moral, and societal changes. They believed that the Bible is the True Law.

15. God motivated all of their actions. The Puritans attempted to "purify" the town and their own lives through religion.