1. McCarthy, Blacklists, HUAC and Arthur Miller (the guy who wrote the Crucible…)
How can an author use a historical situation to illustrate a current problem?
Why did Miller write this play in the 1950’s, hundreds of years after the historical Salem Witch trials?

2. The Crucible Written by Arthur Miller (1915-2005)
The Crucible was first staged at the Martin Beck Theater on Broadway on January 22, 1953 when Miller was 38 years old.

3. Quick 20th century history lesson…
1917 – Czar Nicholas II forced to abdicate; Russian Republic established under Russian Provisional Govt.
Communists overthrow Republic
“October Revolution” led to growth of the USSR
Americans aware, but didn’t think it was important
American Communist Party created
In 1919, a group of Communists (the newest, most radical political view to date) overthrew the Czar (king) of Russia.
Known as the “October Revolution,” this shift in power led to the growth of the Soviet Union.
Most Americans, though wary of Communism, didn’t think about it too much.
Communism was somewhat popular among left leaning groups such as artists and intellectuals, and an American Communist Party began.
The party was never large or powerful, but it existed nonetheless.

4. THEN CAME WWII… Allies in WWII
Different political ideologies signaled beginning of COLD WAR
Became very unpopular to be Communist in America
Anyone who is or was Communist considered threat
Led to creation of HUAC
Though the United States was allied with the Soviet Union in World War II
End of the war signaled the beginning of the COLD WAR - the buildup of power and strategic locations between the two superpowers that emerged in the world after WWII (U.S. and Soviet Union).
Despite the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, it became very out of style to be a Communist or have been a Communist.
As the United States stockpiled arms and began competition with the Soviets, ANYTHING that dealt with Communism became seen as a threat.
By the late 1940’s and 1950’s, the American government became alarmed that Communists were trying to overthrow the American government (much as had happened in Russia in 1919.)
As a result HUAC was born.

5. What is HUAC? HUAC stands for:
House UnAmerican Activities Committee ( )
Responsible for hunting down Communists and suspected Communist activities
Focused on artists, intellectuals, and
actors/writers/directors
Studios started creating Blacklists
People named and listed in hearings
Could not work anywhere
HUAC was a bipartisan, Congressional committee that investigated anyone it thought to be “UnAmerican.”
By the late 1940’s, HUAC turned its eye on Hollywood.
Numerous actors, playwrights, and musicians were interrogated, and several admitted to formerly holding Communist views.
19 people (interesting number) were originally named, and they in turn were asked to name more names
Eventually, Hollywood studios, afraid of upsetting the powerful committee (backed by the government), created BLACKLISTS.
These were very simply lists of people who had been named or even mentioned in the HUAC hearings.
Once on a blacklist, these people could not work anywhere in the entertainment industry.

6. Who was blacklisted?
Over 300 entertainers were placed on blacklists and one point or another, including:
Charlie Chaplin (actor)
Orson Wells (actor)
Pete Seeger (folk singer),
Richard Wright (writer),
Dorothy Parker (writer),
Leonard Berstein (movie composer)

7. Then came 1950… Joseph McCarthy elected in 1946
Previously unknown; became instant household name
Accused people in public service
Very rarely had evidence
Never proved plots to overthrow
the country
Never served on HUAC, but
forever tied to it
“McCarthyism”
Elected to 2nd term in 1952

8. Miller’s connections Elia Kazan called before HUAC
After Miller talked to him, started investigating Salem Witch Trials of 1692
Wrote The Crucible in response
Miller was an established and award winning playwright already.
He was also married to Marilyn Monroe, who became a bargaining chip in his investigation.
Of course, as you could guess, HUAC wanted Miller to name his friends and associates in the entertainment industry. He spoke basically the same words he would eventually give to his character Francis Nurse (I do not want to bring trouble on my friends.)
He would not (like the Proctor he would eventually create).

9. Writes The Crucible in response
No one questioned existence of witches in Salem
No one questioned existence of Communists in America
One overriding theme: paranoia
Saw too many parallels to ignore
Miller was an established and award winning playwright already.
He was also married to Marilyn Monroe, who became a bargaining chip in his investigation.
Of course, as you could guess, HUAC wanted Miller to name his friends and associates in the entertainment industry. He spoke basically the same words he would eventually give to his character Francis Nurse (I do not want to bring trouble on my friends.)
He would not (like the Proctor he would eventually create).

10. Parallels: 1950’s to the play
Communism = witchcraft
HUAC, and McCarthy = the court, and Reverend Parris
Proctor = Arthur Miller
Blacklists = list of condemned witches
McCarthy used his accusations for political and personal gain = Putnam and others used witchcraft hysteria for personal gain. Parris tried to hide behind his power.
Communism=witchcraft (an unseen threat that did not prove to be legitimate).
HUAC, and McCarthy=the court, and Reverend Parris (people stirring up hysteria with no real evidence)
Proctor=Arthur Miller (asked to name friends who were Communists, refused, was condemned for it, wife brought into the picture)
Blacklists=list of condemned witches (though people didn’t die, their careers were ruined…)
McCarthy used his accusations for political and personal gain=Putnam and others used witchcraft hysteria for personal gain. Parris tried to hide behind his power.
His play can be applied to any situation where people are faced with the problem of blindly following mass hysteria, guilt by association, and their freedom to be an individual within a larger society.

11. The play Audiences and critics hated it
No one likes a heavy-handed moral history lesson
Wasn’t popular until a year later
Themes, motifs, and conflicts hold true more than 50 years later
Miller was an established and award winning playwright already.
He was also married to Marilyn Monroe, who became a bargaining chip in his investigation.
Of course, as you could guess, HUAC wanted Miller to name his friends and associates in the entertainment industry. He spoke basically the same words he would eventually give to his character Francis Nurse (I do not want to bring trouble on my friends.)
He would not (like the Proctor he would eventually create).

12. Miller and the HUAC Called before HUAC in 1956
Agreed not to ask him names of associates
Went back on that promise
"I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him.“
Held in contempt, blacklisted, fined,
sentenced to prison in May 1957
Conviction overturned in 1958
Miller was an established and award winning playwright already.
He was also married to Marilyn Monroe, who became a bargaining chip in his investigation.
Of course, as you could guess, HUAC wanted Miller to name his friends and associates in the entertainment industry. He spoke basically the same words he would eventually give to his character Francis Nurse (I do not want to bring trouble on my friends.)
He would not (like the Proctor he would eventually create).

13. End of the HUAC Began to decline in late ‘50s
denounced by former President Harry Truman as the "most un-American thing in the country today.”
Lost prestige as ‘60s progressed
1969 – name changed to House Committee
on Internal Security
Disbanded in January 1975
Miller was an established and award winning playwright already.
He was also married to Marilyn Monroe, who became a bargaining chip in his investigation.
Of course, as you could guess, HUAC wanted Miller to name his friends and associates in the entertainment industry. He spoke basically the same words he would eventually give to his character Francis Nurse (I do not want to bring trouble on my friends.)
He would not (like the Proctor he would eventually create).

14. Endings… McCarthy eventually lost power career ruined
censured by the Senate
career ruined
became a “pale ghost” of his former self
died May 2, 1957, at age 48, while still
in office
McCarthy eventually lost power, as people grew tired of his unfounded accusations and strong arm tactics.
Miller went on to be one of America’s most celebrated playwrights,

15. Endings… Miller became famous, celebrated playwright
Continued to receive awards and accolades
Married 3 times, divorced 2, 2 children
Died Feb 10, 2005, in Roxbury, Md
McCarthy eventually lost power, as people grew tired of his unfounded accusations and strong arm tactics.
Miller went on to be one of America’s most celebrated playwrights,

16. What really caused the witch hysteria?
Fungal poisoning!
Ergot is a fungus, which affects rye, wheat and other cereal grasses. When first infected, the flowering head of a grain will spew out sweet, yellow-colored mucus, called "honey dew," which contains fungal spores that can spread the disease.
Toxicologists now know that eating ergot-contaminated food can lead to a convulsive disorder characterized by violent muscle spasms, vomiting, delusions, hallucinations, crawling sensations on the skin, and a host of other symptoms — all of which, are present in the records of the Salem witchcraft trials. Ergot thrives in warm, damp, rainy springs and summers. When scientists examined the diaries of Salem residents, they found that those exact conditions had been present in 1691.
Nearly all of the accusers lived in the western section of Salem village, a region of swampy meadows that would have been prime breeding ground for the fungus. At that time, rye was the staple grain of Salem. The rye crop consumed in the winter of — when the first usual symptoms began to be reported — could easily have been contaminated by large quantities of ergot. The summer of 1692, however, was dry, which could explain the abrupt end of the 'bewitchments.’