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The Crucible

The Crucible. Double Double Toil and Trouble. Arthur Miller. 1915-2005 Born in Harlem, NY University of Michigan (Worst College Ever) Worked for the school newspaper Wrote his first play No Villain 1949- Death of a Salesman 1953- The Crucible Dies of heart failure

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The Crucible

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  1. The Crucible Double Double Toil and Trouble

  2. Arthur Miller • 1915-2005 • Born in Harlem, NY • University of Michigan (Worst College Ever) • Worked for the school newspaper • Wrote his first play No Villain • 1949- Death of a Salesman • 1953- The Crucible • Dies of heart failure • Very sick (cancer, pneumonia)

  3. Rocky Relationships • Married three times • 1st-Mary Slattery (1940-1956) • 2 kids • 2nd- Marilyn Monroe (1956-1961) • 3rd- IngeMorath (1961-2002) • Remained together until her death • 2 kids

  4. The Crucible • Set in Salem, Massachusetts 1692 • Puritan Community • Based on the Salem Witch Trials • 200 people accused of practicing witchcraft • 20 people executed • Time of mass hysteria-many false accusations • 1702-Colony declared trials unlawful and compensated families • 1957- formally apologized

  5. Salem Witch Trials • Puritans- God is directly involved • But….so is Satan! • They believed the devil could do evil magic • Also believed the devil could recruit witches • Theocracy • Government leaders and church leaders are the same • Laws based on religion

  6. Salem Witch Trials • Political Context • Dispute over land • Dispute over money (agriculture vs. port trade) • Some disliked the newly elected minister • Some Puritans believed these disagreements were the work of the devil

  7. It all starts with… • Two girls having fits • Screamed, contorted themselves into weird positions • Soon another girl joined • Accused three women for afflicting them • Sarah Good- homeless beggar • Sarah Osborne- old impoverished woman • Tituba-slave from the Caribbean

  8. Grows into Hysteria • Women are brought in for questioning • Asked about their involvement with the devil • Asked to name other witches • Soon, many people are accused of witchcraft

  9. Eventually Ends • Gains attention outside Salem as hysteria grows • Governor Phipps becomes involved • Higher courts disallow “spectral evidence” • Witches could use invisible powers to torture victims

  10. So why did Arthur Miller write a play about Puritans in the 1950’s?

  11. He was comparing the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials to contemporary political events.

  12. Politics of the 1950’s • Post WW2 • big concern is the Soviet Union • America fears communism • Believed it threatened free thought and democracy • The House Committee on Un-American Activities forms (HUAC) • Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy

  13. McCarthyism • Those with “connections” to communists were investigated by HUAC • People were brought before a committee and questioned • Asked to name other communists • Many times the evidence used against them was “kept confidential” • Hearings were aired on TV

  14. The Accused • Who was accused? • Hollywood • Union activists • Government employees • Anyone who criticized McCarthy or the hearings • Those who were investigated were put on blacklists • Denied work • Ostracized from society

  15. Arthur Miller • Friends were accused • Inspired Miller to travel to Salem to research the witch trials • Brought before HUAC after premier of The Crucible • Refused to provide names

  16. How did it end? • Court decisions overturning the committee’s rulings • Media • Edward R. Murrow does a series of stories on McCarthy • Exposes inconsistencies and problems with the hearings • Personally paid for the ads during the news story because network worried it was too controversial and they might lose sponsors • Murrow accused of being a communist by McCarthy

  17. Good Night and Good Luck

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