1. The Crucible Start Up Info & Topics

2. The Author – Arthur Miller

3. Arthur Miller Classic American playwrights of the 20th century.
Died in 2005 at the age of 90.
Most famous work = Death of a Salesman (won a Pulitzer Prize for Literature for this play in 1949).

4. Arthur Miller
Perhaps his greatest achievement was marrying this young lady…

5. Arthur Miller
Another interesting tidbit is that he was the father-in- law of actor Daniel Day Lewis (who starred in the movie version of the story that we’ll watch).

6. Why Did He Write The Crucible?
In the 1950’s the Cold War was in full swing, largely due to the craziness of Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy.
Miller was brought before the House Committee on Un- American Activities in the mid-1950s but refused to name so-called "Communist Sympathizers" and thus was convicted of contempt.
In attempt to draw attention to the ridiculousness of McCarthy’s accusations, Miller wrote The Crucible.

7. The Crucible Background
In 1692, 19 people were convicted and hanged after being accused of being witches in Salem, Mass.
The Crucible was written in 1953, Miller connected the "Red Scare" and McCarthyism of the 1950s to the events and atmosphere of the Salem Witch Trials.
The play brings to light an event in American history that many would like to forget. Miller called it "one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history."

8. The Crucible Background
Step-by-step:
Salem Witch Trials (Salem Massachusetts) in late 1600’s.
2) U.S./Russia tension leads to “The Cold War” in the late 1940’s.
3) This escalates into a frenzied “Red Scare” in our government
4) McCarthy/”McCarthyism” targets Hollywood and leads to
‘blacklisting”
5) Miller’s involvement in the above leads him to write The
Crucible as a response to the paranoia (it’s not just about
witches).

9. The Crucible Background
While the events seem to be too crazy to be true, consider the time period and beliefs of the community (and think about how they/it may parallel to situations today)
Making sense of the title:
a "crucible" can be thought of as a large bowl or container where food/materials are heated and/or can be defined as a place of extreme heat, a severe test

10. The Crucible Background
Themes of the play are centered around…
the concept of power
the effects of guilt on people
the flawed nature of the individual and society
persecution masquerading as virtue
the redemption of individuals and society.

11. Puritan Beliefs Central to the Story
Eternal Punishment
Salvation ONLY Through Grace 
Opportunity to be “Born Again”
Predestination (desire to be thought of as a ‘chosen one’)
God’s Intervention in Daily Life
Not a “loving God”
True, legitimate fear of devil/witches/forest
(not really a ‘belief’ but…) Constant meddling in other people’s lives (in theory to be able to keep others on a righteous path)

12. Pre-Reading Issues That Link to Story
You can almost always rely on religious leaders to do what is right.
If you commit a sin, you are a bad person.
The justice system in America is almost always fair.
Many people fear the powers of witchcraft/the supernatural even today.
If a woman is not a good wife, her husband has every right to cheat on her.

13. Pre-Reading Issues That Link to Story
If a man cheats on his wife, he should never be forgiven.
Children who do not get much attention often cause trouble so they’ll be noticed.
If a person tries hard enough, he/she can be perfect.
I hate lying, so much so I would never tell a lie even to help a friend.
I would never confess to a crime that I did not commit.