Analyzing Contemporary American Theatre &The Crucible Allegory and Persuasion

Plot Analysis Exposition: important background information such as setting (time and place); characters and relationships between characters; and any other relevant factors that the audience needs to know to understand the beginning of the play Exposition: important background information such as setting (time and place); characters and relationships between characters; and any other relevant factors that the audience needs to know to understand the beginning of the play Inciting Incident: this is the one event that sets the main conflict of the play in motion; can occur before the play begins. Inciting Incident: this is the one event that sets the main conflict of the play in motion; can occur before the play begins. Rising Action: a SERIES of events that complicate the plot and add to the conflict Rising Action: a SERIES of events that complicate the plot and add to the conflict Turning Point: a single event or choice made by a character that could potentially change the course of events in the play Turning Point: a single event or choice made by a character that could potentially change the course of events in the play Climax: the single event of the play that has the most emotional intensity Climax: the single event of the play that has the most emotional intensity Falling Action: the events that immediately follow the climax of the play Falling Action: the events that immediately follow the climax of the play Denouement (Resolution): events that resolve the main conflict of the play Denouement (Resolution): events that resolve the main conflict of the play

The Crucible as Allegory Allegory: Allegory: a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953 Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953 His response to The Red Scare His response to The Red Scare Red Scare: the fear of communism influencing society (through film and tv) and infiltrating the federal government Red Scare: the fear of communism influencing society (through film and tv) and infiltrating the federal government Miller makes a comparison between the witch hunt in Salem (in 1692) and the witch hunts in Washington and Hollywood in the 1950’s Miller makes a comparison between the witch hunt in Salem (in 1692) and the witch hunts in Washington and Hollywood in the 1950’s

Arthur Miller ( ) Began playwriting career in college Began playwriting career in college 1 st success: All My Sons (1947) 1 st success: All My Sons (1947) 1 st great American Tragedy: Death of a Salesman (1949) 1 st great American Tragedy: Death of a Salesman (1949) Wrote The Crucible as a response to Red Scare of 1940s and 50s Wrote The Crucible as a response to Red Scare of 1940s and 50s Specifically targeted ppl who were in the arts and show business Specifically targeted ppl who were in the arts and show business

Red Scare House UnAmerican Activities Committee (HUAC) House UnAmerican Activities Committee (HUAC) Formed in 1938, gained steam after WWII Formed in 1938, gained steam after WWII Focused on left wing Americans who might be communist sympathizers Focused on left wing Americans who might be communist sympathizers 1947: began to focus on Hollywood—directly affected Arthur Miller 1947: began to focus on Hollywood—directly affected Arthur Miller

Factors that Contributed to Red Scare Alger Hiss Trial/Rosenbergs Trial Alger Hiss Trial/Rosenbergs Trial Truman Doctrine Truman Doctrine Truman Loyalty Program Truman Loyalty Program There was a climate of fear in America after WWII as a result of the rise of communism in Eastern Europe. As the Soviet Block extended its influence, Americans became wary of a communist takeover. Miller saw the similarities in the climate of Salem prior to the witch trials and the climate in America prior to the Red Scare. There was a climate of fear in America after WWII as a result of the rise of communism in Eastern Europe. As the Soviet Block extended its influence, Americans became wary of a communist takeover. Miller saw the similarities in the climate of Salem prior to the witch trials and the climate in America prior to the Red Scare.

Historical Background in Salem Salem 1692: Massachusetts Bay Colony Salem 1692: Massachusetts Bay Colony Factors that contributed to the hysteria Factors that contributed to the hysteria Royal Charter Revoked—fear of losing land to new settlers Royal Charter Revoked—fear of losing land to new settlers Theocratic form of government Theocratic form of government Massachusetts Body of Liberties—no law can be created that is in conflict with anything in the Bible Massachusetts Body of Liberties—no law can be created that is in conflict with anything in the Bible Strong Puritan belief in the Devil/punishing God Strong Puritan belief in the Devil/punishing God Small Pox Epidemic of 1691—believed God was punishing settlement for secret sins Small Pox Epidemic of 1691—believed God was punishing settlement for secret sins Increased Indian Raids—savages/devils lived in the forest Increased Indian Raids—savages/devils lived in the forest Wild behavior of teenagers—dancing, growing hair long— viewed as the cause of the Small Pox Epidemic & Indian Raids Wild behavior of teenagers—dancing, growing hair long— viewed as the cause of the Small Pox Epidemic & Indian Raids

Red Scare Joseph McCarthy: senator from Wisconsin Joseph McCarthy: senator from Wisconsin 1950: Claimed to have names of 205 communists working in the State Department 1950: Claimed to have names of 205 communists working in the State Department Targets democrats associated with New Deal Policies Targets democrats associated with New Deal Policies Targets Hollywood—writers and actors—believed to be producing films with subversive communist messages Targets Hollywood—writers and actors—believed to be producing films with subversive communist messages McCarthyism: anti-communist hysteria or the policy of Gov’t rooting out communism McCarthyism: anti-communist hysteria or the policy of Gov’t rooting out communism

Joseph McCarthy (con’t) People called before HUAC were encouraged to confess and name others involved People called before HUAC were encouraged to confess and name others involved Result of not confess or naming names Result of not confess or naming names Blacklisted—could not find work in their previous line of business Blacklisted—could not find work in their previous line of business Many left US, others committed suicide Many left US, others committed suicide Arthur Miller: refused to name names… Arthur Miller: refused to name names… As a result, he was fined for contempt of court As a result, he was fined for contempt of court

Methods of Persuasion Logos: a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade the audience by using reason and logic Logos: a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade the audience by using reason and logic Pathos: a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade the audience by using emotion, usually fear or sadness Pathos: a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade the audience by using emotion, usually fear or sadness Ethos: a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade the audience by proving his/her own credibility and reliability Ethos: a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade the audience by proving his/her own credibility and reliability

Methods of Persuasion McCarthy relies primarily on Ethos and Pathos McCarthy relies primarily on Ethos and Pathos When he claims to have the names of 205 communists in the State Dept., it is an attempt at Logos, but because it was untrue, he really doesn’t use logos When he claims to have the names of 205 communists in the State Dept., it is an attempt at Logos, but because it was untrue, he really doesn’t use logos In The Crucible, Miller uses all three In The Crucible, Miller uses all three Logos: Offers the readers logical reasons as to why the people of Salem turned on one another Logos: Offers the readers logical reasons as to why the people of Salem turned on one another Grudges, land disputes, etc Grudges, land disputes, etc Pathos: We are meant to sympathize with Proctor and understand why he nearly confesses, but also why he tears up the confession Pathos: We are meant to sympathize with Proctor and understand why he nearly confesses, but also why he tears up the confession Ethos: Through the research and notes in the stage directions in Act I, Miller establishes his credibility as a researcher of the period. Ethos: Through the research and notes in the stage directions in Act I, Miller establishes his credibility as a researcher of the period.

Analyzing Persuasion Read over the letters from Thomas Brattle and Cotton Mather regarding the Salem Witch trials. Read over the letters from Thomas Brattle and Cotton Mather regarding the Salem Witch trials. Complete the responses to the questions regarding the use of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. Complete the responses to the questions regarding the use of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.