The Crucible
Part I: Overview
Part I: Overview
American play
 Written in the 1950s
 Playwright: Arthur Miller
 Focuses on residents of Salem,
Massachusetts
 Issues: greed, guilt, motivation, morality

Overview: American Drama

1950s drama was heavily influenced by:
– World War II just ending
– The desire for change
– Feelings of guilt and exploration of identity

The Crucible premiered in January 1953 in
New York City.
Overview: Salem, Massachusetts
Located on the coast of Massachusetts
 Settled mainly by Puritans in 1626

– A group of people who left England so they
could practice religious freedom
– Often let their religious beliefs guide their
daily lives

Most known for the Salem Witch Trials of
1692
– Nickname: “The Witch City”
The Appeals of Communism

America’s Great
Depression left people
upset about the American
government
– Everyone deserves basics
(food, clothing)
– Communism offers that
promise

1939: 50,000 Americans
were members of the
Communist party.
Who Was Suspected of Being a
Communist?
Filmmakers, directors, actors were accused of
attending communist meetings
 Certain politicians were also targeted
 These people had two options:

– Admit to being a Communist and tell McCarthy
names of other people who attended Communist
meetings
– OR
– Refuse to admit anything (or rat out others) and be
blacklisted
 Can’t get work if blacklisted!
“The Crucible” and Communism

Allegory: work of literature that tells one
story on the surface while referring to
another sub textually
– Comparing the play to the Red Scare

Can you see how these historical events
are similar to those of the Salem Witch
Trials?
Vocabulary
Abrogate—to abolish; to do away with
The king abrogated the law passed by the
parliament.
2. Ameliorate—to make better, to relieve, to
improve
Social workers attempt to ameliorate the poor
conditions of people living in the slums.
3. Autocrat—a person with unlimited influence
and authority (negative connotation)
The people wanted to overthrow the evil autocrat.
1.
Beguile—to deceive, to mislead, to persuade
with charm
Sometimes we allow ourselves to be beguiled by
flatterers.
4.
Conciliatory—to reconcile, to pacify, to renew
a friendship
My boyfriend tries to conciliate me with a gift of
roses.
5.
Contentious—quarrelsome, stirring
controversy
My contentious child will not listen to reason.
6.
Corroboration—confirmation
I had some corroboration for my whereabouts on
the night of the crime.
7.
Dogmatic—strongly opinionated in an
unwarranted manner
He has so dogmatic that having an intelligent
conversation with him was impossible.
8.
Effrontery—extreme boldness, audacity
I can’t believe you had the effrontery to say such a
rude thing to your parents.
9.
Indigenous—native to a certain area
Many types of cacti are indigenous to the
southwest deserts of The United States.
10.
Ingratiate—to make an effort to gain good favor
with someone
He tried to ingratiate himself with the girl’s
parents so they would allow him to date her.
11.
Licentious—lacking moral or sexual restraint;
wanton
His licentious behavior caused him to loose his
seat as the governor.
12.
Parochial—limited in range or scope; narrow,
provincial
Having parochial attitudes, she was not accepting
of new ideas.
14. Predilection—preference
He has a predilection for fish when we go out to
eat.
15. Prodigious—extraordinary in bulk, quantity,
or degree, great in size, enormous
His prodigious appetite allowed him to eat the
entire turkey.
13.
Placid—peaceful, calm
The mountains are usually a placid place where
you can rest.
16.
Augury—an omen or prophecy
Several auguries were revealed to Caesar before
his death.
17.
Defamation—act of harming or ruining
another’s reputation
The defamation of another’s character is a horrible
thing.
18.
19. Credulous—believing on slight
evidence; gullible
Because the lady’s horoscope said to not go
outside, the credulous lady did not leave
for work.
20.Heretical—contrary to
church doctrine
or accepted beliefs or standards
His heretical statements were offensive to
many believers.