Arthur Miller & The Crucible The realities behind the play

Arthur Miller Born in 1915 in New York City Held many jobs as a young man Truck Driver Radio Singer Car Parts Clerk Graduated from the University of Michigan

The Author The Man Who Had All the Luck All My Sons Death of a Salesman A View from the Bridge The Misfits After the Fall

His Love Life Married Mary Grace Slattery in 1940. Married Marilyn Monroe in 1956. Married Inge Morath in 1962.

His Message Pointed political and social commentary Voiced his concern through his art Two most famous works are tragedies “Politicians are us, which is very dangerous. If they weren't us, it would be a lot better.” -Arthur Miller

THE RED SCARE The Cold War began shortly after WWII International “stare down” between America and the USSR Little to no actual fighting between the two countries (hence ….”The Cold War” ) USSR and America become world’s superpowers mostly due to nuclear weapons

Mutually Assured Destruction Reason why the Cold War remained cold Any direct conflict risked the use of nuclear weapons If used, both countries would have been completely obliterated Thus they engaged in shadow wars, spying and indirect conflict.

So… What does this have to do with a play about witches?

“So in one sense The Crucible was an attempt to make life real again, palpable and structured. One hoped that a work of art might illuminate the tragic absurdities of an anterior work of art that was called reality, but was not.” ---Arthur Miller to The Guardian/The Observer; Saturday, June 17, 2000

Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s “witch hunt” One United States senator, Joseph McCarthy, preyed upon the populace’s fear of communist infiltration and subversion Led pointed, and biased, trials against “suspected” communists These trials were reactionary by nature

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

HUAC A special congressional committee charged with gathering information about subversive propaganda and people. Arthur Miller was subpoenaed by HUAC in 1956. Cited for contempt of Congress because he would not provide names of other “communists.”

Salem Witch Trials

Salem Witch Trial Facts 19 people executed (hanged) 2 dogs executed as suspected accomplices 5 people died in jail, awaiting trial or sentencing 1 person died under torture Pressed to death by stones 47 people confessed to witchcraft Over 160 accused of witchcraft

Salem Witch Trial Facts (cont.) Most cases began based on spectral evidence. Based upon dreams and visions. Accused “sent” his/her spirit out of the body to harm or harass accuser.

What would you claim? If one confessed… If claimed innocent… Name other witches Retain land & possessions They would live! If claimed innocent… Possessions taken and sold Family left homeless No legacy for offspring Death by hanging

Causes of the Hysteria Honest belief that evil forces were working in the world. Ergot poisoning – caused by a fungus growing on rotting grains (same fungus from which LSD is derived). Teenage boredom (most accusations came from a group of 8 young girls). Politics, feuds, and greed.

crucible   1. metallurgy container for melting something:  a heat-resistant container in which ores or metals are melted. 2. testing circumstances: a place or set of circumstances where people or things are subjected to forces that test them and often make them change.

allegory symbolic work: a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning.

motivation   giving of reason to act: the act of giving somebody a reason or incentive to do something

Arthur Miller & The Crucible QUIZ

1) Arthur Miller worked “blue collar” jobs as a young man. TRUE or FALSE

2) Arthur Miller wrote all of the following plays, except Death of a Salesman The Crucible A Streetcar Named Desire The Man Who Had All the Luck

3) Arthur Miller’s plays did NOT include this key criteria Social commentary Moral dilemmas Political commentary Comical dilemmas

4) After World War II, America and the USSR initiated in all of the following except The Cold War Mutually Assured Destruction Nuclear Arms Race International “stare down”

5) The special congressional committee that gathered information about communist plots and people was called FBI HUAC NRA HVAC

6) This U.S. politician led the communist “witch hunt” in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Paul McCartney Jenny McCarthy Joseph McCarthy Marilyn Monroe

7) The consequences for confessing to witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692 were less than if you claimed your innocence. TRUE or FALSE

8) The root cause of the Salem Witch Trials was NOT due to the following Teenage boredom Belief in evil forces Native American attacks Ergot poisoning

9) A work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things. Analogy Alliteration Anachronism Allegory

10) Senator Joseph McCarthy’s lust for fame is one _____________ for his abuse of his congressional powers. scapegoat motivation memory excuse

**BONUS** A crucible is a heat-resistant container in which wood is burned. TRUE or FALSE

QUIZ ANSWERS True A Streetcar Named Desire Comical dilemmas Mutually Assured Destruction HUAC Joseph McCarthy False Native American attacks Allegory motivation BONUS: False

Work Cited Encarta Dictionary. Encarta, Microsoft. Web. 7 Aug. 2009. <http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/crucible%2520.html>. Ruedin. “Arthur Miller and the Crucible” PowerPoint Presentation for English III, <http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/teachers/jruedin/pdfs/2398/Arthur _Miller_and_The_Crucible_presentation_notes.pdf .> Spring 2004