1. Historical Background for Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Salem Witch Trials The

2. What is a witch hunt? Literal: an effort to find and eliminate people who are practicing witchcraft Figurative: an effort to discover and expose disloyalty or subversion, accusations of which are generally based on weak or inaccurate evidence -e.g. Witch hunt for Communists in America during the Red Scare -e.g. Witch hunt for terrorists after 9/11

3. Burning a witch at the stake was a method of execution used during the Inquisition

4. People had real fears of demons and witchcraft

5. What were some common beliefs about witches? The Bible condemns the practice of witchcraft Witches considered servants of Satan Puritans were extremely fearful of witchcraft and black magic Puritan communities wanted to eliminate witches because they desired a pure, Godly society Witches were tortured and often executed by state and church authorities Puritans considered women, children, and people with mental disabilities weak and therefore more vulnerable to the Devil’s advances

7. What were some methods used to test suspected witches? “Swimming a witch” Searching for the “Devil’s mark” Testing knowledge of the Bible

8. Looking for the “Devil’s mark”

9. How did the trials begin? Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, two young girls, show signs of “affliction” Tituba, the servant in the Parris house, is accused of teaching the girls witchcraft Tituba claims that there are other witches in Salem Hysteria spreads through the community Other outcasts in the community are soon accused Official court is established to question the accused

10. What happened next? More girls claim to be “afflicted” Accusations escalate Over 100 people in Salem and the surrounding area are accused Soon, even respected members of the community are accused Some start to question the girls’ claims, and they are soon accused as well

11. A women pleads with the court as her accuser writhes on the ground

12. What evidence was used to convict the accused? No actual evidence “Spectral evidence” allowed by the court Spectral evidence was a claim by an afflicted girl that a witch’s evil spirit had attacked her Only the girl who was being attacked could see the evil spirit The court believed the girls’ claims Ironically, a confession of guilt saved the accused Denying an accusation resulted in conviction

13. How did the trials end? The afflicted girls start to accuse people outside of the Salem area, including the wives of prominent ministers and the wife of the governor The girls lose credibility because of these outlandish claims Governor officially terminates the court In the end, over 200 people were accused 19 were hanged for practicing witchcraft 4 died in prison One man was crushed to death for refusing to cooperate with the court

14. What are some theories that have been developed to explain the trials? Puritans were trying to rid their communities of outcasts who didn’t meet their holy standards The girls were bored and wanted some excitement Tensions in the community caused neighbors to turn on each other Tainted grain caused the girls and others to hallucinate (ergot poisoning) The girls actually believed they were possessed

15. What are some characteristics of Puritan culture that contributed to these events? Wanted to create a “city on a hill” in the New World, established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in modern-day Boston area Believed they were on a holy mission to purify society Religion was at the center of all aspects of life Theocracy Extremely strict Intolerant of disparate views Stressed importance of community and therefore did not encourage individualism

17. How do modern people generally think of the Puritans? Negative view of Puritan culture Excessively strict Self-righteous Intolerant One good thing: the Puritan work ethic Another good thing: Puritan schooling system

18. When and why did Arthur Miller write his play The Crucible? Wrote the play in 1953 Used the Salem Witch Trials as an allegory (a symbolic story) He was comparing the Puritans’ irrational fear of witches to his society’s irrational fear of Communists Fear of Communism was rampant during the 1950s Many were suspicious that Communist spies were in our country gathering information for the Soviets People with liberal social and political views (many artists) were unfairly accused, and their reputations were damaged as a result

19. Arthur Miller Play: 1953 Film: 1996 Crucible The

20. Red Scare The

22. Tituba

23. Abigail Williams

24. Reverend Parris

25. Thomas Putnam

26. Ann Putnam

27. John Proctor

28. Elizabeth Proctor

29. Mary Warren

30. Giles Corey

31. Rebecca Nurse

32. Judge Danforth