1. 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

2. Arthur Miller (1915 - 2005) Lived in New York City
Greatest works include The Crucible and Death of a Salesman
Miller focuses on the tragedy of the common man
Writings reflect on injustice (Miller was involved in social causes)

3. Arthur Miller ( )
Dropped out of high school, but later went to University of Michigan
He was thought to be a communist and brought court and questioned and, like many, was caught up in the Senator Joseph McCarthy’s “Red Scare”
Miller was married to Marilyn Monroe (the movie star)

4. Facts about The Crucible
Written in 1953
Set in Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts
Occurs in spring, 1692
A crucible means:
Vessel made of ceramic materials used for melting materials at high temperatures
In the play, it means a severe test or trial

5. 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

6. Facts about the Salem Witch Trials
Government gave money to heirs and published statements saying “not true”
Judge Samuel Sewall, a judge at the witchcraft trials, said he was wrong for participating
Cotton Mather, Puritan preacher, roused the people against witches

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

8. The Devil …
Is real
Called Satan, Prince of Darkness, 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 people to be full of fear

9. Witches…. Are real Are helpers of the Devil and do the Devil’s work
Are not just female; can be male or animal

10. 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 being a witch!

11. If you are accused of being a witch and confess, you are pardoned
If you are accused of being a witch and do not confess, you must be burned or hanged

12. A witch can be tried by the water test…
Tied up and tossed in a pond
If witch sinks, is innocent
If witch gets back to shore, is guilty

13. Puritans had a Theocracy, which is a government that:
God is recognized as Supreme ruler
Religious authorities act as God’s representatives and control both church and state
Government could punish for church offenses, like:
Not attending church
Not knowing commandments
Not knowing the Lord’s prayer

14. Puritan society demanded conformity:
Early in the colony conformity was necessary for survival
Violators were not tolerated
Roger Williams suggested paying Indians for their land
Was run out of Salem
Left and founded Rhode Island
Turned each other in for violations against Puritan society
Questions of authority (ministers and judges) vs. individual rights (Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor)

15. All this leads to fear therefore mass hysteria…
The nature of the crime of witchcraft causes everyone to believe the victims (the accusers)
No witch will identify herself/ himself
Witchcraft is an invisible crime where the victim is believed

16. The Crucible’s connection to McCarthyism and the Red Scare
After Korean Conflict – U.S. in struggle with the USSR during the 1950’s
Joseph McCarthy, a congressman, made a career by looking for communists in the government and in American life
McCarthy was head of House UnAmerican Actitivies Committee (HUAC)
Miller was called into hearing because of his background
He worked in labor movement as a young man
He attended some writing workshops that were allegedly funded by the Communist party

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

18. Miller was accused, but refused to admit that he was a Communist and refused to name others as Communists
The connection to The Crucible is this: innocent people were falsely accused of evil; it was easy to get rid of your enemy: just accuse him of being a witch or communist
The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare

19. Major Themes Good vs. Evil Individual vs. Society Individual vs. Self
Lies and Deceit
The Supernatural
The Role of Religion
Hysteria

20. 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