The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
Crucible: (noun)
1) a heat resistant container for melting
iron
 2) a severe trial

Puritan Living
Strict Religious beliefs.
 Main goal in life was to serve God
 Simple Farming Communities
 Believed in wealth and prosperity, land
ownership

Puritan Living

Puritans were responsible for:
 Public
schools
 Organized government
 Printing Press
 Intellectual stimulation in growing Colonies
Puritan images
Puritan Images
The Real Story

In 1688, four young girls accused a
laundry woman of "bewitching" them.
What could have been stopped progressed
into a community tragedy. The young
women enjoyed the attention this story
afforded them, but no doubt were afraid
that their lies would be found out. In an
effort to further punctuate their story,
they lapsed into prolonged convulsions.
Those who were "possessed by the devil"
were forced to make confessions of their
evil liaisons in order to protect their
families and properties from harm .
The Real Story
Those who denounced witchcraft (thereby
calling the witnesses liars) were then
accused themselves. In the frenzy to
follow, by 1690 two hundred persons were
held in jail, fifty sentenced prison and
twenty executed (along with 2 dogs).
 Cotton Mather, a leader of the group,
quietly led the way in bringing this crisis
to an end. The devotion they held in
maintaining a religious society in isolation
provided the medium for the hysteria that
occurred.

Arthur Miller 1915-2005
Major Works:
 Death of A Salesman
 The Crucible

Arthur Miller

Married Marilyn Monroe
Arthur Miller
Wrote The Crucible in response to
McCarthyism- the crusade led by Senator
Joseph McCarthy to hunt down and prosecute
people suspected of communism during the
1950’s.
 Many actors, writers, film makers, musicians,
and regular civilians were brought to trial for
having “Communist” ideas. Arthur Miller was
among those accused.
 Miller saw a direct comparison to the Salem
Witch Trials of the Puritans in 1692.

Drama Terms
Protagonist – the central character in a
work of fiction
 Antagonist – the character that opposes
the main character
 Foil – a minor character whose traits
contrast sharply with those of the main
character.

Tragic Hero

Four Traits
 Position
of high rank, respect, or authority
 Possesses extraordinary talents
 Has a TRAGIC FLAW that will bring about
his/her downfall
 Faces downfall with dignity and courage.
Drama Terms
Dialogue – conversation between two or more
characters
 Monologue – a long speech given while other
characters are on stage
 Soliloquy – speech given while a character is
alone on stage
 Aside – a short statement made that is only
meant to be heard by the audience or select
characters.

Drama Terms
Dramatic Irony – When the audience is
aware of something that the characters on
stage do not know.
 Paradox – a statement that contradicts
itself. Example: “Trust me. Everything I
am telling you is definitely false.”
