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Introduction to The Crucible. Arthur Miller and Joseph McCarthy. Arthur Miller. b. New York City, Oct. 17, 1915 Miller began writing plays while a student at the University of Michigan. Background of author. Isidore Miller (Father) L adies-wear manufacturer and shopkeeper - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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INTRODUCTION TO THE
CRUCIBLEArthur Miller and Joseph McCarthy
ARTHUR MILLER b. New York City, Oct. 17,
1915 Miller began writing plays
while a student at the University of Michigan
BACKGROUND OF AUTHOR Isidore Miller (Father)
Ladies-wear manufacturer and shopkeeperRuined in the Great DepressionSudden change in fortune had a strong
influence on Miller Education
University of Michigan Journalism degree, 1934Won awards for playwriting
AM AND MM Married the motion-picture actress
Marilyn Monroe in 1956; they divorced in 1961.
PLAYS First successes--All My Sons (1947) and
Death of a Salesman (1949) Miller and the American Dream
Condemned it in his worksBelieved that few can pursue it without
making dangerous moral compromises.
THE COLD WAR IN AMERICA After WWII, the US and the USSR emerged
as the world’s major powers. Gave rise to the Cold War
State of hostility between two nations Not an actual war Stopped short of direct military conflict
Many Americans feared Communism abroad and at homeSuspicion about Communist infiltration of
the government
THE COLD WAR IN AMERICA Soviets conducted their 1st nuclear tests in
1949 2nd world power to harness nuclear
technology New threat to the U.S.
Many Americans suspected espionage “Secret agents” sold American nuclear
technology secrets Spies were thought to be ordinary
American citizens E.g., Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Caused The Red Scare: paranoia and
hysteria about Communist infiltration
JOSEPH MCCARTHY Senator from Wisconsin Gained power by accusing others Had a “list” of 205 Communists working in
the State Department. Came right after the 1st Russian nuclear testsFlood of press attention
Accusations unsupportedStill won a national followingBranded Democrats as a party of treason that
was “soft on Communism” Called President Truman’s secretary of state,
Dean Acheson, the “Red Dean.”
MCCARTHYISM Thus, McCarthyism came to mean false
charges of disloyalty. Led to the McCarran Internal Security
ActSept 1950Established a Subversive Activities Control
Board to monitor Communist influence in the United States.
(HUAC) Congress investigated suspicions of
disloyalty.1938: House Un-American Activities
Committee (HUAC) created Investigated Communist influence in American
life. HUAC called witnesses and investigated the
entertainment industry Hollywood seen as a source of Communist
propagandaThe Hollywood Ten
Uncooperative film directors and screenwriters were imprisoned on contempt charges.
Suspected communists were blacklisted (banned) by the industry
THE HUAC AND HOLLYWOOD HUAC investigated communism within Hollywood, calling a number of playwrights, directors and actors known for left-wing views to testify. Some of these, including film director Elia Kazan, testified for the committee to avoid prison sentences The Hollywood Ten, a group of entertainers, refused to testify and were convicted of contempt and sentenced to up to one year in prison.
THE HOLLYWOOD TEN Three options for the accused:
1. Claim not to be or to ever have been a member of the Communist party
2. Claim to be Communist and become informants
3. Refuse to answer and become blacklisted
BLACKLISTING Over 300 entertainers were
placed on a blacklist for possible communist views
Banned from working Arthur Miller was one of
those blacklisted.Admitted to attending
meetingsRefused to give names of
others
McCarthy censured for abuse by the Senate in 1954 Fears of subversion continued.Communities banned booksTeachers, academics, civil servants, and entertainers lost jobs
RELEVANCE TO THE CRUCIBLE Miller did not write the play as a straight
historical account of the Salem Witch Trials DOES take events from a real trial Misrepresents facts, e.g. John Proctor was 60 yrs
old, Abigail was 11. Instead, the play is an allegory of the
McCarthy era Allegory: a story in which characters or events
symbolize concepts or ideas The “witch hunts” symbolize the HUAC search
for Communists Accused witches symbolize accused
Communists.
WHAT DOES “CRUCIBLE” MEAN?1. a container that can withstand very
high temperatures and is thus used for melting a substance that requires a high degree of heat, e.g. metals
2. a severe test
THEMES Miller writes:
“The witch-hunt was a perverse manifestation of the panic which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom.” (1036) The language used here clearly articulates
Miller’s intent: This is an instance of panicPanic erupts when groups of individuals want
more power/control over their own destiny
THEMES CONTINUED Miller writes that the witch-hunts were
“an opportunity for everyone so inclined to express publicly his guilt and sins, under the cover of accusations against the victims” (1036).Because society was so tight, many people
committed “sins” If you could free yourself of guilt, while
others were guilty of more, wouldn’t you?
CONFLICT1. Land-lust: Putnam has too much;
Putnam thinks Proctor is stealing his lumber; Parris wants the deed to his house; the Nurse family has land too
2. Settle old scores: Putnam thought his brother should have been Salem’s minister; Nurse family is rumored to have been behind the choice of minister
CONFLICT CONTINUED…3. Suspicion: Ann Putnam believes Rebecca either didn’t do enough to help her children, or she caused their deaths
4. Envy/Jealousy: Clearly, Abigail wants what she cannot have
5. Good vs. Evil
CONNECTION TO MODERN DAY
“The Salem tragedy, which is about to begin…developed from a paradox. It is a paradox in whose grip we still live, and there is no prospect yet that we will discover its resolution…” (1036)
The fight for individual rights within society will always exist
