1. The Crucible
By Arthur Miller

2. The Author: Arthur Miller
Born in 1915 in New York City; died in 2005 (89-years-old)
Graduated from U of M with a journalism degree 
Famous ex-wife: Marilyn Monroe
Another famous play: Death of a Salesman

3. Why he wrote The Crucible
It was the 1950’s
The “Red Scare” was gripping America
The government saw Communists everywhere
Similar to the panic about terrorists after 9/11 attack

4. Started with the Cold War
Began after WWII
Relations became strained between the U.S. (Democratic govt.) and the U.S.S.R (Communist govt.)
They were the two superpowers—and the only ones with nuclear weapons

5. What does this have to do with a play about witches?
Senator Joe McCarthy

6. Senator Joe McCarthy Preyed on the public’s fear of Communism
Began accusing people of being Communists
Held biased trials
Two options: confess to being a Communist and risk public banishment OR accuse other “Communists”

7. House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

8. HUAC This was the committee in charge of trying “Communists”
Arthur Miller was brought before the committee in 1956
He was found in contempt because he refused to provide names of other Communists

9. BLACKLISTED! Could not be hired by anyone
HUAC ruined many people’s careers

10. Why is the book about Salem … not McCarthy?
Miller wanted to prove the McCarthy’s logic was flawed, BUT he could not be so directly or he would have been thrown in jail
So he set his play, which warns people about the dangers of unfounded accusations, in Salem, MA

11. Allegory
Definition: a story that has a literal as well as figurative meaning (extended metaphor)
The Crucible is an allegory 
The Salem Witch Trials actually happened (literally), but Miller is actually warning people about McCarthy and the HUAC (figuratively)

12. Setting Salem, MA 15 miles north of Boston Events began in 1692
Lasted 14 months

13. Puritan Beliefs Literal interpretation of the Bible
You were either committing a sin or pleasing God; there was no in between
No dancing, drinking or laziness
Emphasis on hard work and going to church
Theocracy government— combination of church and state

14. Salem Witch Trial Facts
19 people executed (hanged)
5 people died in jail
1 person was tortured to death
47 people “confessed” to witchcraft
160 people were accused of witchcraft

15. How did you prove someone was a witch?
Based on “spectral evidence” (based on dreams and visions)
Accused “sent” their spirit out to torture the accuser (bite, pinch, choke)

16. Would you confess? Claim your innocence Possessions were sold
Family left homeless
No legacy for offspring
Death by hanging
Confess
Name other witches
Retain your land and possessions
Live

17. Causes of Witchcraft Hysteria
Jealousy, spite, need for attention
Teenage boredom (most accusations came from a group of eight young girls)
Politics, feuds and greed
Ergot poisoning (ingestion of rye bread made with moldy grain) – same fungus from which LSD is derived

18. What did a “fit” look like?
excessive weeping
silent stares followed by violent screams
hiding under furniture
Hallucinations
changes in body temperature

19. “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” -George Santayana, philosopher