“The Crucible”
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. How do writers use literature as a means of creating
social and political change?
2. Is personal integrity more important than survival?
3. Can morality be legislated?
4. How does collective fear affect people?
5. Is there a difference between law and justice?
6. What responsibility do individuals have in our society
to stand up to injustice?
7. Why does history seem to repeat itself?
8. Why are people vengeful?
“THE CRUCIBLE” – Arthur Miller (1915-2005)
Definition of crucible? severe trial or test
Play depicts the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 BUT . . .
Play written in 1953 in response to political climate of that time
McCarthyism
It is an ALLEGORY (more than just a literal meaning – symbolic
of something else)
Literally about Salem Witch Trials (fictional account) BUT
figuratively about McCarthyism
What is McCarthyism?
Senator Joseph McCarthy – Republican from Wisconsin headed
a committee to root out suspected communists in U.S.
McCarthy’s accusations ruined the careers of many people. He
was actually motivated by political gain (most of the people he
targeted were liberals in the entertainment industry).
Suspected communists were encouraged to confess and
identify others to escape punishment. Many people confessed
regardless of innocence just to escape punishment. They
“saved themselves” through false confessions and pointed
fingers at others – “naming names”
In 1956, Arthur Miller was investigated for possible communist
association. He was called to testify before McCarthy’s
committee. Miller refused to cooperate and was held in
contempt (conviction was reversed).
Miller was comparing McCarthyism to a:
WITCH HUNT (allusion to Salem) – an intensive effort to
discover and expose disloyalty, subversion, dishonesty, or the
like, usually based on slight, doubtful, or irrelevant evidence
Salem Witchcraft Trials – two centuries before Miller was born
20 “witches” hanged or killed
150 in prison
1692 – colony of Massachusetts – Puritans (poor, uneducated,
superstitious, very religious)
Why were Puritans vulnerable to believing in devil/witchcraft?
-harsh, cold winters
-outbreaks of diseases
-droughts & insect infestations that destroyed crops
-devastating fires
-pirate and Indian attacks
-French & Dutch warships
FORCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL – ATTIBUTED TO DEVIL
PURITANS WANTED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE EVIL THAT
CAUSED THEIR SUFFERING
Puritan System of Government – Theocracy – Church and State
are one. Rule by God through religious officials. Legal system is
based on the Bible.
Moral laws = state laws
Sin = public concern
Allowed for no personal freedom – NO INDIVIDUALITY – your
behavior was public concern
(Plow on Sunday, or skip church, or do not baptize your child –
not only sin, but breaking the law)
Strict adherence to religious laws caused people to be unable
to express anger, resentment (feuds/grudges over property)
What started Salem Witch Trials?
Minister’s (Rev. Parris) daughter (Betty) and other young girls
are caught dancing in the woods. To escape punishment, they
pretend to be sick (coma-like state, then appear possessed,
seizures). Everyone suspects witchcraft. Girls accuse Tituba
(maid from Barbados) of voo-doo.
Tituba is coerced into confessing to witchcraft to escape
beating. She then hysterically accuses other townspeople of
consorting with the devil (tells them what they want to hear
even though it’s not true).
Young girls decide to use “their power” (ability to identify
witches) to seek revenge on anyone they want to by naming
that person “a witch”
Because of strict religious laws, people were unable to
publically express anger, jealousy, resentment, feuds/grudges
over property. Must be “Good Christian”
Used the opportunity to seek revenge and act out their
resentment against others in the name of morality (rooting out
witches from community – God’s work)
Resulted in MASS HYSTERIA:
-paranoia
-fear
-panic
-irrational behavior
-suspicion
-reason/logic is lost
IF YOU CONFESS AND SAY YOU WILL TURN BACK TO GOD AND
NAME OTHER WITCHES, YOU ARE NOT PUNISHED – BUT IF
YOU DO NOT CONFESS – YOU ARE PUT TO DEATH
WHAT WOULD YOU DO??????????????? J
Is your REPUTATION/GOOD NAME/THE TRUTH worth more
than YOUR LIFE???