The CrucibleThe Crucibleby Arthur Millerby Arthur Miller

NotesNotes

Who Were the Puritans?Who Were the Puritans?

Religious reformers who were critical Religious reformers who were critical of the Church of Englandof the Church of England

In America, they hoped to establish a In America, they hoped to establish a ““city upon the hillcity upon the hill”” as a model as a model community guided in all aspects by community guided in all aspects by the bible.the bible.

Their government would be a Their government would be a theocracy – a state under the theocracy – a state under the immediate guidance of God.immediate guidance of God.

PuritansPuritans’’ Central Beliefs Central Beliefs

Human beings exist for the glory of God.Human beings exist for the glory of God. The Bible is the sole expression of GodThe Bible is the sole expression of God’’s s

will.will. Predestination – God has already decided Predestination – God has already decided

who will/wonwho will/won’’t achieve salvation, but you t achieve salvation, but you cancan’’t take your salvation for granted.t take your salvation for granted.

You should accomplish good only through You should accomplish good only through continual hard work and self-discipline.continual hard work and self-discipline.

Puritan ideals that are still Puritan ideals that are still regarded regarded

as basic American virtues:as basic American virtues: Hard workHard work

FrugalityFrugality

Self-improvementSelf-improvement

Self-relianceSelf-reliance

Puritan WritingPuritan Writing

Wrote to provide spiritual insight and Wrote to provide spiritual insight and instructioninstruction

Believed in a plain style of writingBelieved in a plain style of writing Clear statement was their highest Clear statement was their highest

goalgoal Ornate or clever writing was seen as Ornate or clever writing was seen as

a sign of vanity & against Goda sign of vanity & against God’’s will.s will.

Typically, Puritans wrote:Typically, Puritans wrote:

1.1. Theological Theological studiesstudies

2.2. HymnsHymns

3.3. HistoriesHistories

4.4. BiographiesBiographies

5.5. AutobiographiesAutobiographies

They wrote for themselves in They wrote for themselves in journals/diaries as a serious kind of self-journals/diaries as a serious kind of self-examination.examination.

They regarded fiction and drama as They regarded fiction and drama as sinful.sinful.

They did write poetry as a vehicle for They did write poetry as a vehicle for spiritual enlightenment; however, they spiritual enlightenment; however, they were more concerned with the message were more concerned with the message than the literary form of the poems.than the literary form of the poems.

2 most famous Puritan poets: Anne 2 most famous Puritan poets: Anne Bradstreet & Edward TaylorBradstreet & Edward Taylor

Puritans & EducationPuritans & Education

Believed in education for both men & womenBelieved in education for both men & women In 1636, they founded Harvard College to In 1636, they founded Harvard College to

ensure a well-educated ministry.ensure a well-educated ministry. Set up the first printing press in the coloniesSet up the first printing press in the colonies Established free public schools in MA in 1647Established free public schools in MA in 1647 Published Published The New England PrimerThe New England Primer c.1690, c.1690,

which combined instruction in spelling and which combined instruction in spelling and reading with moralistic teachingsreading with moralistic teachings

Cotton MatherCotton Mather Published at least 400 worksPublished at least 400 works His writing on witchcraft His writing on witchcraft

helped stir up hysteria.helped stir up hysteria. He believed the more He believed the more

information a work contained, information a work contained, the better its style.the better its style.

"They which lie, must go to "They which lie, must go to their father, the devil, into their father, the devil, into everlasting burning; they everlasting burning; they which never pray, God will which never pray, God will pour out his wrath upon pour out his wrath upon them; and when they bed them; and when they bed and pray in hell fire, God and pray in hell fire, God will not forgive them, but will not forgive them, but there [they] must lie there [they] must lie forever. Are you willing to forever. Are you willing to go to hell and burn with go to hell and burn with the devil and his angels?". the devil and his angels?".

Featured in one of MatherFeatured in one of Mather’’s s ChildrenChildren’’s bookss books

Witch HuntsWitch Hunts

In 16In 16thth-17-17thth Centuries, between 1-9 Centuries, between 1-9 million Europeans were accused of million Europeans were accused of being witches and executed.being witches and executed.

Many of those accused were merely Many of those accused were merely practicing folk customspracticing folk customs

During this time, the populace was During this time, the populace was very superstitiousvery superstitious

Often, witch hunts were Often, witch hunts were politically motivated, such as politically motivated, such as

with Englandwith England’’s James I:s James I:

He wrote a treatise He wrote a treatise on witchcrafton witchcraft

Accused his Accused his enemies of enemies of practicing the practicing the black artsblack arts

In 1692, the British colony of In 1692, the British colony of MA was swept by a witchcraft MA was swept by a witchcraft

hysteriahysteria

20 people were 20 people were executedexecuted

At least 150 others At least 150 others were jailedwere jailed

Hardships the colonists Hardships the colonists endured & attributed to the endured & attributed to the

Devil:Devil: Bitter weatherBitter weather Sickness & deathSickness & death Devastating firesDevastating fires DroughtDrought Insect InfestationsInsect Infestations*They were a fearful (and possibly paranoid) *They were a fearful (and possibly paranoid)

people, and their Puritan faith stressed people, and their Puritan faith stressed that witches were real and dangerous.that witches were real and dangerous.

In Salem . . .In Salem . . .

many were quick to blame witchcraft many were quick to blame witchcraft when:when:

The ministerThe minister’’s daughter and several s daughter and several other girls were afflicted by seizures other girls were afflicted by seizures and lapses into unconsciousness.and lapses into unconsciousness.

It was learned that the girls had been It was learned that the girls had been dabbling into fortunetelling with the dabbling into fortunetelling with the ministerminister’’s slave, Tituba.s slave, Tituba.

What led to the What led to the accusations?accusations?

Social and economic animositySocial and economic animosity Mass hysteriaMass hysteria

*Although Miller took liberties with some of *Although Miller took liberties with some of the historical details, he believed that the the historical details, he believed that the reader would discover reader would discover ““the essential the essential nature of one of the strangest and most nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human historyawful chapters in human history”” in his in his play.play.

Arthur MillerArthur Miller1915-20051915-2005

Early LifeEarly Life

During the Depression, his family lost its During the Depression, his family lost its money and moved from Manhattan to money and moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn.Brooklyn.

He delayed his enrollment at the University of He delayed his enrollment at the University of Michigan for more than 2 years to raise Michigan for more than 2 years to raise money for tuition.money for tuition.

He raised the tuition money by singing at a He raised the tuition money by singing at a local radio station, driving a truck, and local radio station, driving a truck, and working as a stock clerk in an auto parts working as a stock clerk in an auto parts warehouse.warehouse.

MillerMiller’’s writing:s writing:

Known for chronicling the dilemmas Known for chronicling the dilemmas of common people pitted against of common people pitted against powerful and unyielding social forcespowerful and unyielding social forces

Began writing drama while still in Began writing drama while still in collegecollege

Prior to Prior to The CrucibleThe Crucible, he wrote , he wrote All My All My SonsSons and and Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman..

The CrucibleThe Crucible

Uses the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 Uses the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 as a means of attacking anti-communist as a means of attacking anti-communist ““witch huntswitch hunts”” in Congress in the 1950s in Congress in the 1950s

Miller believed the hysteria surrounding Miller believed the hysteria surrounding the witchcraft trials in Puritan New the witchcraft trials in Puritan New England paralleled the contemporary England paralleled the contemporary climate of McCarthyism – Senator climate of McCarthyism – Senator Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy’’s obsessive quest to s obsessive quest to uncover Communist party infiltration of uncover Communist party infiltration of American institutions.American institutions.

MillerMiller’’s experiences with s experiences with McCarthyism:McCarthyism:

During the 2 years following the During the 2 years following the publication of publication of The CrucibleThe Crucible, Miller , Miller was investigated for possible was investigated for possible associations with the Communist associations with the Communist party.party.

In 1956, he was called to testify In 1956, he was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.American Activities.

Why?Why? He advocated principles of social justice He advocated principles of social justice

and equality among all classes.and equality among all classes.

At the Hearings:At the Hearings: He testified about his own experiences.He testified about his own experiences. He refused to discuss his colleagues He refused to discuss his colleagues

and associates.and associates. He was found guilty of contempt of He was found guilty of contempt of

Congress for his refusal, but the Congress for his refusal, but the sentence was later overturned.sentence was later overturned.

Hollywood GlamourHollywood Glamour

In 1956, Miller married In 1956, Miller married film star Marilyn film star Marilyn Monroe.Monroe.

He wrote the He wrote the screenplay for screenplay for The The MisfitsMisfits, in which , in which Monroe starred.Monroe starred.

After their divorce, After their divorce, Miller wrote the plays Miller wrote the plays The PriceThe Price and and The Last The Last YankeeYankee..