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The Crucible

This document provides an introduction to the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. It discusses that Miller wrote the play in 1953 to draw parallels between the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and the anti-communist Red Scare period in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The Crucible is set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and depicts the Salem Witch Trials, but was also Miller's way to comment on the political climate of suspicion during the Red Scare without directly criticizing McCarthy. The document provides context on Puritan beliefs and life in Salem, as well as definitions of a crucible.

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113 views11 pages

The Crucible

This document provides an introduction to the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. It discusses that Miller wrote the play in 1953 to draw parallels between the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and the anti-communist Red Scare period in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The Crucible is set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and depicts the Salem Witch Trials, but was also Miller's way to comment on the political climate of suspicion during the Red Scare without directly criticizing McCarthy. The document provides context on Puritan beliefs and life in Salem, as well as definitions of a crucible.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE CRUCIBLE

An introduction
STARTER QUESTION: WHAT ARE PURITANS?
TICKET OUT THE DOOR!
• On your worksheet, I want you to write down what you see when you think about the
Puritans.
• Think about where and when they were around and what they did.
• What were their beliefs?
• When have you seen pictures of puritans today?
INTRO TO THE CRUCIBLE
• The Crucible is a play that was written in 1953 by Arthur Miller.

• Arthur Miller attended The University of Michigan. He was a very popular playwright in
America in the 40s and 50s.

• He was married to Marilyn Monroe.


WHAT WERE THE 40S AND 50S LIKE?
• In the 40s and 50s, the U.S. was in the middle of the Cold War with Russia.
• Miller wanted to highlight the story of the “Red Scare” that occurred under the leadership of Senator
Joseph McCarthy.
• The Red Scare took place in the late 40s to mid 50s when many Americans were suspicious that
others might be supporting Communist spies in the American government.
• Many people were brought before grand juries and subjected to aggressive questioning (many of
these were televised!)
• Many people were imprisoned and lost jobs because they were said to be associated with the
Communist party.
• The atmosphere at the time was such that Miller couldn’t directly write about McCarthyism. If he
had blatantly criticized the McCarthy era or the Senator behind the hysteria, he certainly would have
been charged as a Communist.
JOSEPH MCCARTHY/THE “RED
SCARE”/MCCARTHYISM
• https://youtu.be/lO7rTOZJGFo?t=32
THE CRUCIBLE
• The Crucible is set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 in a small village of Puritan settlers.
• Salem is a theocracy that combines church and state rule. Therefore, moral law and state
laws are one and the same.
• Ex. The Ten Commandments=Nationwide Laws
WHO WERE THE PURITANS?
• Puritans looked to God’s will to explain everything.

• Curious of odd circumstances that they could not explain through God were often
considered the work of Satan.

• There is no middle ground. A person either belongs to God or to Satan.


WHAT IS AN ACTUAL CRUCIBLE?
• A crucible is literally a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may
be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.

• Metaphorically, a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to


the creation of something new.
WHY DID ARTHUR MILLER WRITE THE
CRUCIBLE?
• “The Crucible” depicts the Salem witch trials, but it also relates them to the paranoia about
communism that spread over America in the 1950’s.

• Courts convinced people based on little to no evidence.

• Communists were encouraged to “confess” their crimes and name others that were part of
the party as well.
WHAT WOULD PURITANS BE LIKE TODAY?
(FUNNY)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc9HTPI1vDE
TICKET OUT THE DOOR
• Back on your ticket out the door worksheet, please write what you have learned about the
puritans today that you did not already know.

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