Puritanism

This religion profoundly affected every aspect of their lives- political organizations, attitudes, literature and dress. They lived under a theocracy (a society in which the rules of the church were the basis of the law) No dissent was allowed- those that did were whipped or tortured

Puritan beliefs GOD- Good Just but wrathful Beyond man’s understanding Omnipotent ( all-powerful), and omniscient (all-knowing)

MAN’S BASIC NATURE- Originally GOOD, when first created and put in the Garden of Eden But ever since the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, man’s basic nature as been EVIL (prone to sinfulness)

MAN’S WILL Man’s will is not free The individual’s life and his destiny beyond life are TOTALLY PREDESTINED BY GOD Whatever happened to man that was evil was a result of his sinfulness

MAN’S DESTINY Predestination- belief that all things are controlled beforehand by the will of God Eternal damnation to Hell for nearly all Salvation (heaven) for a very few “elected” by God to be spared

MAN’S KNOWLEDGE OF HIS DESTINY NONE The individual has no way of knowing whether he is one of the great majority already predestined to Hell or whether he is one of the very few elected to be saved One’s final destiny is NOT determined by his own “good works” or his own evil (you could not earn salvation) However, it was assumed God probably predestined the elected ones to goodness in this life (rulers, ministers, governors, etc.)

It was thought that this state of Grace was accompanied by an inner consciousness of it, an intense feeling of “election and sure calling”

MAN’S DUTY Man’s duty is to glorify God through “good works” “Good works” meant industriousness, laboring hard and well at whatever it is that one does in life

Characteristics of Puritanism The community was preoccupied with punishing and wiping out all evidences of sinfulness Rules of morality and behavior were extremely strict No play on Sundays, relations between the sexes were severely scrutinized, adultery was punishable by death Pleasure as an aim in life was frowned on

A good life was one devoted to work, duty and service to God Punishments for crimes were severe- petty theft could be punished by death; public whipping for unreligious remarks/disrespect for elders Public punishment was a warning to deter others from straying from righteousness

Puritan Doctrine Puritanism stressed: Intellect Simplicity Restraint Obedience to established authority Pessimism (negative feelings) Rigid order Puritanism avoided Emotion Ornamentation Exuberance Individual freedom Optimism Flexibility

Arthur Miller

Political Views Outspoken about human rights Interested in doctrines of Communism investigated by the House-Un American Activities Committee

Married & divorced Marilyn Monroe in 1956 Political views began to erode his fame and popularity

Denied being under Communist influence but refused to name others who had attended Communist inspired meetings 1957-was convicted of contempt of Congress One year later- decision was reversed

The Salem Witch Trials

people were executed as a result of the witch trials Documents from these are the basis for the play They tried the sinfulness of man against the righteousness of God

The play was first produced in 1953, but only ran a few months because of controversial views reopened and was a great success

The Crucible a severe test Allegory- persons and objects in the story represent meanings outside the story The Crucible is an allegory of the McCarthy Era Miller believed the paranoia about Communist infiltration was a reflection of the paranoia surrounding the Salem Witch trials

McCarthyism Senator Joseph McCarthy was thought of as the worst senator in Washington He needed something to keep his political boat from sinking. He found that something in some obsolete documents of investigations of Communists in government jobs. He named 205 people as members of a Communist spy ring

McCarthyism His real evidence against these people was a bottle of bourbon in his briefcase McCarthysim in 1950 meant a patriotic stand against Communism Now it means a smear campaign of groundless accusations from which the accused cannot escape because professions of innocence become admissions of guilt And only confessions are accepted.