The Crucible Background and Terms to Apply to the Play

Arthur Miller Focuses on theme of morality vs. pressures from society and family Focuses on theme of morality vs. pressures from society and family The Crucible began performances in The Crucible began performances in Miller was called before the McCarthy trials in 1956 because of comparisons he made between the Salem witch trials and the McCarthy hearings in his play. Miller was called before the McCarthy trials in 1956 because of comparisons he made between the Salem witch trials and the McCarthy hearings in his play. He was convicted of contempt of Congress, but his conviction was overturned in He was convicted of contempt of Congress, but his conviction was overturned in 1958.

Allegory Extended metaphor Extended metaphor Persons and objects in the story represent meaning outside the story Persons and objects in the story represent meaning outside the story The Crucible is an allegory of the McCarthy era. The Crucible is an allegory of the McCarthy era. Miller contends that this paranoia about Communist infiltration is reflective of the paranoia surrounding the Salem witch trials. Miller contends that this paranoia about Communist infiltration is reflective of the paranoia surrounding the Salem witch trials.

McCarthy Era In 1953, Harry Truman defined McCarthyism as “the corruption of truth, the abandonment of fair play and ‘due process’ of law…the use of the ‘big lie’ and the unfounded accusation…in the name of Americanism and security.” In 1953, Harry Truman defined McCarthyism as “the corruption of truth, the abandonment of fair play and ‘due process’ of law…the use of the ‘big lie’ and the unfounded accusation…in the name of Americanism and security.”

McCarthy Era McCarthy claimed the state department was infiltrated by Communists. McCarthy claimed the state department was infiltrated by Communists. He established the House Committee on Un- American Activities to search for Communists. He established the House Committee on Un- American Activities to search for Communists. He focused especially on the entertainment industry and ruined lives and careers. He focused especially on the entertainment industry and ruined lives and careers. His subcommittee was guilty of corruption and his power faded. His subcommittee was guilty of corruption and his power faded.

Salem 1680 Founded by Puritans. Founded by Puritans. Wanted freedom from religious persecution and considered themselves God’s chosen people. Wanted freedom from religious persecution and considered themselves God’s chosen people. Established strict theocracy. Established strict theocracy.

Dramatic Licence Historical accurate except for affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams and the timeline of events. Historical accurate except for affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams and the timeline of events.

Conflict Internal Conflict: Man vs. Himself Internal Conflict: Man vs. Himself Note the difficult decision characters need to make. External Conflict: Man vs. Man External Conflict: Man vs. Man Note the interactions between characters.

Conflict Societal Conflict: Man vs. Society Societal Conflict: Man vs. Society –Remember that Miller is concerned with mass paranoia and the “bystanders” of conflict. Note what the town as a whole does to support or fail to discourage the witch trials and what finally motivates people to speak up.

Characterization Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Miller accomplishes this through authorial intrusion and sidebars. Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is. Miller accomplishes this through authorial intrusion and sidebars. Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character.

Indirect Characterization Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect on others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Actions What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Irony Irony is a literary device which presents a conflict between appearance and reality; may be intentional or unintentional on the part of a character, but always intentional on the part of the author. Irony is a literary device which presents a conflict between appearance and reality; may be intentional or unintentional on the part of a character, but always intentional on the part of the author. Romeo and Juliet has a classic example of dramatic irony... The audience knows that Juliet only drank a sleeping potion and is not dead. This knowledge makes Romeo's suicide over the sleeping Juliet all the more bitter. Romeo and Juliet has a classic example of dramatic irony... The audience knows that Juliet only drank a sleeping potion and is not dead. This knowledge makes Romeo's suicide over the sleeping Juliet all the more bitter.

Verbal Irony Verbal irony is a disparity of expression and intention: when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect. An example of this is sarcasm. Verbal irony is a disparity of expression and intention: when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect. An example of this is sarcasm.sarcasm

Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony is a disparity of expression and awareness: when words and actions possess a significance that the listener or audience understands, but the speaker or character does not. Dramatic irony is a disparity of expression and awareness: when words and actions possess a significance that the listener or audience understands, but the speaker or character does not.

Dramatic Irony In O. Henry's story The Gift of the Magi, a young couple are too poor to buy each other Christmas gifts. The wife cuts off her treasured hair to sell it to a wig-maker for money to buy her husband a chain for his heirloom pocket watch. She's shocked when she learns he had pawned his watch to buy her a set of combs for her long, beautiful, prized hair. O. HenryThe Gift of the MagiO. HenryThe Gift of the Magi

Dramatic Irony In drama, the device of giving the spectator an item of information that at least one of the characters in the narrative is unaware of (at least consciously), thus of placing the spectator a step ahead of at least one of the characters. Dramatic irony has three stages - installation, exploitation and resolution (sometimes called preparation, suspension and resolution) - producing dramatic conflict in what one character relies or appears to rely upon, the contrary of which is known by observers (especially the audience; sometimes to other characters within the drama) to be true. The character talking is saying something else and the audience or whatever knows something that the character does not. They are not on the same page. In drama, the device of giving the spectator an item of information that at least one of the characters in the narrative is unaware of (at least consciously), thus of placing the spectator a step ahead of at least one of the characters. Dramatic irony has three stages - installation, exploitation and resolution (sometimes called preparation, suspension and resolution) - producing dramatic conflict in what one character relies or appears to rely upon, the contrary of which is known by observers (especially the audience; sometimes to other characters within the drama) to be true. The character talking is saying something else and the audience or whatever knows something that the character does not. They are not on the same page.

Tragic Irony Tragic irony is a special category of dramatic irony. In tragic irony, the words and actions of the characters belie the real situation, which the spectators fully realize. Tragic irony is a special category of dramatic irony. In tragic irony, the words and actions of the characters belie the real situation, which the spectators fully realize. In the William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged death-like sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet kills herself with his dagger. In the William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo finds Juliet in a drugged death-like sleep, he assumes her to be dead and kills himself. Upon awakening to find her dead lover beside her, Juliet kills herself with his dagger.William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Situational Irony Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result: when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect. Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result: when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect. Verbal irony is distinguished from situational irony and dramatic irony in that it is produced intentionally by speakers. Verbal irony is distinguished from situational irony and dramatic irony in that it is produced intentionally by speakers.

Situational Irony When John Hinckley attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, all of his shots initially missed the President; however a bullet ricocheted off the bullet- proof windows of the Presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest. Thus, the windows made to protect the President from gunfire were partially responsible for his being shot When John Hinckley attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, all of his shots initially missed the President; however a bullet ricocheted off the bullet- proof windows of the Presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest. Thus, the windows made to protect the President from gunfire were partially responsible for his being shotJohn Hinckley assassinateRonald ReaganJohn Hinckley assassinateRonald Reagan

Allusion An indirect reference to some piece of knowledge not actually mentioned. Allusions usually come from a body of information that the author presumes the reader will know. For example, an author who writes, “She was another Helen,” is alluding to the proverbial beauty of Helen of Troy. An indirect reference to some piece of knowledge not actually mentioned. Allusions usually come from a body of information that the author presumes the reader will know. For example, an author who writes, “She was another Helen,” is alluding to the proverbial beauty of Helen of Troy. Allusions made to Inquisition, Martin Luther, Biblical stories, and the Red Scare. Allusions made to Inquisition, Martin Luther, Biblical stories, and the Red Scare. Miller’s goals is to show the circumstances causing this hysteria that echo throughout history and when Miller is writing. Miller’s goals is to show the circumstances causing this hysteria that echo throughout history and when Miller is writing.