1. The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
BACKGROUND NOTES

2. PURITAN BELIEFS
Convinced that most of humanity would be damned due to Adam & Eve’s fall
Not sure who were the “elect” and who were destined to be damned
Believed in PREDESTINATION (determined by God before birth) and that the choice of the “elect” was arbitrary
If “elected”, one could do no wrong, but if an “elect” did sin, he could still be saved because once elected, he would be saved forever

3. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. Bible was the literal word of God
Education very important because they must be able to read, interpret and debate theology
All other ways of life were wrong
Just as God could “elect” those to be saved, the Devil could select people to be bewitched
Devil was a real and active enemy of mankind, not just an abstract figure

4. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT. Witches could definitely exist in society
Felt the Devil was determined to destroy the New World because they were so righteous
Naturally the Devil would need helpers – witches
Vast forests gave the Devil plenty of places to hide
Believed the “savage” Indians could also be agents of the Devil

5. PURITAN BELIEFS CONT.
Accepted and promoted the concept of THEOCRACY – that the church should control the government – seemingly in conflict with our belief that our forefathers wanted true separation of church and state
Believed the following were cardinal sins: *Adultery *Dancing
*Playing games
*Dressing “prettily” (Women were forbidden to do so.)

6. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
Those accused of consorting with the Devil had committed a crime against the government and the punishment was hanging.
The afflicted were those “possessed” & “tormented”. They accused or “cried out” the names of those supposedly possessing them, the accused.

7. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS Both men and women were accused
In Salem, 19 people hanged along with 2 dogs, while 1 man was pressed to death
Similar trials took place in other places
The witch trials lasted less than a year (1692)

8. THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
Experts are unsure what caused the girls’ “fits”. Some believe the cause was adolescent hysteria while some believe it was ergot (a type of fungus) poisoning.
After the trials, the jurors and magistrates apologized, restitution was made to the victims’ families, and a Day of Fasting and Remembrance was instituted.

9. McCarthyism
Refers to the use of careless, often false, accusations and methods of investigating that violate civil liberties
Originates from Senator Joseph McCarthy’s hunt for “pinkos, radicals and Communists” in the 1950’s
Sen. McCarthy accused the Democratic administration of supporting Communists during a time when America was in a struggle with the Soviet Union and growing Communism.

10. McCarthyism
Playing on Americans’ great fear of Communism, McCarthy summoned hundreds of Americans to testify & threatened to brand them as Communists if they didn’t.
Mass hysteria grew and the “witch hunts” began.
Several Hollywood writers, actors, and other famous people were questioned; many were “blacklisted” and 10 were sent to prison for refusing to answer questions.

11. McCarthyism
The Committee questioned Arthur Miller in 1956, who admitted to attending Communist meetings 10 years earlier to learn about it.
Miller refused to answer questions about other people who attended those meetings, and he was held in contempt of court.
He appealed and 2 years later won his case.
McCarthy was eventually condemned by the Senate for misconduct and abuse of power.

12. Similarities Between the McCarthy Hearings and The Crucible
Anyone opposed to the Salem judges was suspected of trying to undermine the court & was “probably a witch”
Panic among Puritans led to “witch-hunts” for the Devil’s agents
Puritans feared the Devil & his agents in the 1600’s
Anyone opposing McCarthy was suspected of communism and often brought before the Senate committee
Panic led to “witch hunt” for Communists
Americans in the ’50’s feared Communism
(Miller’s intentional use of these similarities makes this story an allegory.)