By Arthur Miller

Background  Salem, Mass  Theocracy- government ruled by God through religious officials  Moral and state laws are one  Sinning was a public matter & punishments were public  State officials governed  No free speech  Salem, Mass  Theocracy- government ruled by God through religious officials  Moral and state laws are one  Sinning was a public matter & punishments were public  State officials governed  No free speech

Background  Salem was divided into a prosperous town—second only to Boston—and a farming village. The two bickered again and again.  Townspeople were hard workers and were mandated to attend church  Salem was divided into a prosperous town—second only to Boston—and a farming village. The two bickered again and again.  Townspeople were hard workers and were mandated to attend church

What happened…  Salem in seemed confused -  It was under British rule and was awaiting a new governor, but by the time the governor William Phips arrived the jails were filled with alleged witches.  Salem in seemed confused -  It was under British rule and was awaiting a new governor, but by the time the governor William Phips arrived the jails were filled with alleged witches.

Some more problems  In 1689 the villagers won the right to establish their own church and chose the Reverend Samuel Parris, a former merchant, as their minister. His rigid ways and seemingly boundless demands for compensation—including personal title to the village parsonage— increased the friction.  Many villagers vowed to drive Parris out, and they stopped contributing to his salary in October  In 1689 the villagers won the right to establish their own church and chose the Reverend Samuel Parris, a former merchant, as their minister. His rigid ways and seemingly boundless demands for compensation—including personal title to the village parsonage— increased the friction.  Many villagers vowed to drive Parris out, and they stopped contributing to his salary in October 1691.

Witchcraft was a major belief  Puritans believed in witches and in witchcraft. They believed that witchcraft was "entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil.”  A sin and a crime, since it used the devil's power to perform cruel acts against others.  Puritans believed in witches and in witchcraft. They believed that witchcraft was "entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil.”  A sin and a crime, since it used the devil's power to perform cruel acts against others.

Two girls?  Betty Parris & Abigail Williams accuse the following women:  Tituba  Sarah Good  Sarah Osborne Are you a witch? Have you seen the devil? How do you explain the afflictions of these girls?  Betty Parris & Abigail Williams accuse the following women:  Tituba  Sarah Good  Sarah Osborne Are you a witch? Have you seen the devil? How do you explain the afflictions of these girls?

Results of accusations  After initially maintaining her innocence, Tituba eventually confessed to being a witch and claimed that she, Good, and Osborne had all made pacts with the devil and had even flown through the air on poles. Tituba's confession showed Salem that their suspicions were valid. For the next year the villagers, fueled by their paranoia and hysteria, searched for witches amongst themselves tirelessly.

Witchcraft in Salem  In the following months, many more were accused of witchcraft.  Overloaded with all the new trials, Governor William Phips created a special court to hear the witch cases.  The trials quickly spiraled out of control, and a number of suspected witches were convicted and hanged.  Those who stood trial for the crime of witchcraft could be convicted based on gossip or hearsay.  Practically the only way to avoid execution was to admit to being a witch. During 1692, nineteen people refused to confess and died as a result.  In the following months, many more were accused of witchcraft.  Overloaded with all the new trials, Governor William Phips created a special court to hear the witch cases.  The trials quickly spiraled out of control, and a number of suspected witches were convicted and hanged.  Those who stood trial for the crime of witchcraft could be convicted based on gossip or hearsay.  Practically the only way to avoid execution was to admit to being a witch. During 1692, nineteen people refused to confess and died as a result.

Miller’s Play  Based on these events!  Not all is accurate in play- there are many distortions  Crucible - refers to a test or hard trial that people undergo  You will read and explore ideas focuses on  Private sins; paranoia, hysteria, & religious intolerance  Based on these events!  Not all is accurate in play- there are many distortions  Crucible - refers to a test or hard trial that people undergo  You will read and explore ideas focuses on  Private sins; paranoia, hysteria, & religious intolerance

Characters in the Beginning of Act I  Parris: A minister in Salem who is more worried about his reputation than the life of his daughter or the lives of his parishioners  Betty: Parris's young daughter; stricken at the beginning of the play; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial  Abigail: Orphan; niece of Parris; tauntress; mistress of Proctor; leads "crying out" during the trial  Tituba: Parris's slave from Barbados; first accused witch  Putnam: Vindictive, bitter villager who believes he has been wronged and cheated; leading village voice against the witches  Mrs. Putnam: Wife of (Thomas) Putnam; first plants the idea that Betty has been bewitched  Susanna: Doctor's messenger; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial  Parris: A minister in Salem who is more worried about his reputation than the life of his daughter or the lives of his parishioners  Betty: Parris's young daughter; stricken at the beginning of the play; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial  Abigail: Orphan; niece of Parris; tauntress; mistress of Proctor; leads "crying out" during the trial  Tituba: Parris's slave from Barbados; first accused witch  Putnam: Vindictive, bitter villager who believes he has been wronged and cheated; leading village voice against the witches  Mrs. Putnam: Wife of (Thomas) Putnam; first plants the idea that Betty has been bewitched  Susanna: Doctor's messenger; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial

Act I  Act One begins with the Rev. Samuel Parris praying for his daughter Betty who lies faint in her bed, suffering from a strange malady. Betty and Abigail, Parris's niece, and some of the other village girls had been surprised by Parris in the forest as they were engaged in a voodoo ritual led by Tituba, Parris's black slave. Betty fainted and still had not recovered.

Act I  Ann and Thomas Putnam, prosperous villagers, arrive and claim that the children are suffering from "the Devil's touch" at the hands of witches.When the adults leave to pray with townspeople who have heard rumors of witchcraft, Abigail and Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren wake Betty.

Act I  Betty accuses Abigail of "drinking blood" and says that Abigail will be whipped. Abigail threatens the other girls with grievous harm if they admit too much to the elders.At this point, John Proctor, a farmer who had an affair with Abigail, enters. Abigail tells John of her continuing love and desire, but Proctor rejects her saying nothing happened between them.

Act I  Soon the Rev. John Hale, a specialist in witch hunting arrives and examines Betty who has fainted again. He then questions Abigail and Tituba. Tituba, afraid of being hung as a witch, professes faith in God and confesses that two townswomen, Goody Good and Goody Osburn, came to her with the Devil. Abigail and then Betty claim they have been bewitched but now turn to God. The act closes as the girls ecstatically chant the names of the townspeople whom they accuse of consorting with the Devil.