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The Crucible(1953) By Arthur Miller

The Crucible(1953) By Arthur Miller. Pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Witch hunts/Witchcraft. Why/How Was It Written?. Written during the McCarthy period-1950s

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The Crucible(1953) By Arthur Miller

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  1. The Crucible(1953) By Arthur Miller Pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Witch hunts/Witchcraft

  2. Why/How Was It Written? • Written during the McCarthy period-1950s • Senator Joseph McCarthy made public accusations that over 200 communists had infiltrated the United States- “Red Scare.” • A paranoid “hunt” for infiltrators began, and McCarthy accused writers/entertainers of sympathizing with communists. • McCarthy claimed to have a list of guilty parties. They needed to testify, confess, “name names” or deny • Some confessed to save careers-Miller didn’t

  3. Miller Responds to McCarthy • The Crucible is thought to be Miller’s response to the hunt McCarthy went on to reveal communists-a hunt that was believed to have started out of pure paranoia. • Accusations were made without any real proof and the lives of innocent people were affected.

  4. The Crucible as an Allegory • Miller’s play is often described as an allegory. • An allegory is a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning. • In other words, Miller draws a parallel between what occurred during McCarthy’s time with that of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. He uses the events of 1692 and characters as a way of commenting on the social issues of his time.

  5. PURITANS • View of God: God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and strongly punishes sin. • Their values: morality, religion, Bible, God • Truth = faith, religion • View man as basically evil; must be saved by God. • Mainly a pessimistic view of life • Place emphasis on the success of society • Emphasis on authority • Education is religious • Work/worldly success are paths to God’s graces

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