Crucible

The CrucibleThe Crucible

A witch hunt and a metaphorA witch hunt and a metaphor

In the 1600s, Puritans settled on the East In the 1600s, Puritans settled on the East coast of the United States. They brought coast of the United States. They brought with them the hope of religious freedom, with them the hope of religious freedom, but instead became embroiled in hysteria but instead became embroiled in hysteria over the existence of witches. They had over the existence of witches. They had been persecuted in their native England, been persecuted in their native England, but they created a theocracy and eventually but they created a theocracy and eventually persecuted others.persecuted others.

Most of those accused of being witches were women. Most of those accused of being witches were women.

Many were healers, and used plants to heal people. Many were healers, and used plants to heal people.

Many were without family, and this made them easy Many were without family, and this made them easy targets. targets.

They were people who did not fit in with the They were people who did not fit in with the mainstream for some reason.mainstream for some reason.

One of the ways most witches were accused was with the One of the ways most witches were accused was with the use of “spectral evidence.” If someone said they had seen use of “spectral evidence.” If someone said they had seen the accused with the devil in a dream, or that the accused the accused with the devil in a dream, or that the accused had visited them in the night, or had hurt them, it was had visited them in the night, or had hurt them, it was taken as evidence that the devil was at work.taken as evidence that the devil was at work.

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20 executed20 executed

Between 175 to Between 175 to 200 imprisoned200 imprisoned

How did it start?How did it start?In 1692, several girls in the village of Salem, Massachusetts In 1692, several girls in the village of Salem, Massachusetts became intrigued when a West Indian servant told them stories became intrigued when a West Indian servant told them stories of magic and voodoo from her native land.of magic and voodoo from her native land.

Bored and restricted by the oppressive Puritan life, the girls Bored and restricted by the oppressive Puritan life, the girls slipped into the woods one night and “conjured” love charms slipped into the woods one night and “conjured” love charms and hexes.and hexes.

One girl, Betty Parris, slipped into unconsciousness when her One girl, Betty Parris, slipped into unconsciousness when her father caught them. She wouldn’t wake up, and this started the father caught them. She wouldn’t wake up, and this started the discussion of witchcraft. To avoid punishment, the girls discussion of witchcraft. To avoid punishment, the girls created the story of the “witches” who made them dance and created the story of the “witches” who made them dance and conjure the spells.conjure the spells.

Why did it happen?Why did it happen?

It began as a way for the oppressed girls to avoid being It began as a way for the oppressed girls to avoid being punished.punished.

It then became an ideal way to get revenge on anyone whom It then became an ideal way to get revenge on anyone whom you disliked.you disliked.

People started accusing their neighbors of being witches so People started accusing their neighbors of being witches so they could steal their farmland.they could steal their farmland.

People accused others of being witches if they wanted to People accused others of being witches if they wanted to steal their husbands or wives or possessions.steal their husbands or wives or possessions.



Those accused of being witches Those accused of being witches were most often found guilty. were most often found guilty. Sometimes they were sentenced to Sometimes they were sentenced to be tied to a rock dunked in a be tied to a rock dunked in a pond, and if they sank, they were pond, and if they sank, they were declared innocent. Innocent. If declared innocent. Innocent. If they somehow survived the they somehow survived the dunking, they were obviously dunking, they were obviously witches, and they were executed. witches, and they were executed.

Most of those found guilty of Most of those found guilty of witchcraft were hung. witchcraft were hung.

One man was pressed to death One man was pressed to death with rocks because he refused to with rocks because he refused to plead guilty or innocent, insuring plead guilty or innocent, insuring that his sons still inherited his that his sons still inherited his lands.lands.

Why Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible”Why Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible”

Arthur Miller, one of America’s most famous playwrights, Arthur Miller, one of America’s most famous playwrights, lived during the 1950s and experienced the Communist lived during the 1950s and experienced the Communist hysteria of the era. People thought their were Commies hysteria of the era. People thought their were Commies everywhere, and one man, Senator Joseph McCarthy, made everywhere, and one man, Senator Joseph McCarthy, made it his personal mission to find Communists and destroy their it his personal mission to find Communists and destroy their lives by bringing them before something called the HOUSE lives by bringing them before something called the HOUSE UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.









Senator McCarthy accused many people— actors, writers, Senator McCarthy accused many people— actors, writers, people in media, people in the military — of being Communists. people in media, people in the military — of being Communists. He held hearings where people were commanded to give names He held hearings where people were commanded to give names of other Communists in order for leniency. People were afraid of other Communists in order for leniency. People were afraid they might be named as Communists, and it was called the Red they might be named as Communists, and it was called the Red Scare. (‘Red’ was a word used for a Communist.)Scare. (‘Red’ was a word used for a Communist.)











The Crucible was Arthur Miller’s way of The Crucible was Arthur Miller’s way of protesting the House Unamerican Activities protesting the House Unamerican Activities Committee hearings. He compared the Committee hearings. He compared the Communist hearings to the witch hunts of Communist hearings to the witch hunts of Salem, where gossip, rumors, and fear were Salem, where gossip, rumors, and fear were evidence enough to convict people.evidence enough to convict people.

The term “witch hunt” now applies to any The term “witch hunt” now applies to any activity where people are looking for a activity where people are looking for a scapegoat or where they are using accusations scapegoat or where they are using accusations to get revenge or to get personal gain or to get revenge or to get personal gain or attentionattention..

REFLECTION (150 + words) REFLECTION (150 + words)

Based on what you’ve heard about the Salem Witch Trials and Based on what you’ve heard about the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy hearings, write a paragraph detailing any the McCarthy hearings, write a paragraph detailing any connections you see between the two occurrences. connections you see between the two occurrences.

Why do you think Arthur Miller chose to use the period of Why do you think Arthur Miller chose to use the period of history (1692) that he chose? Why didn’t he just write about history (1692) that he chose? Why didn’t he just write about the Red Scare and the McCarthy trials?sthe Red Scare and the McCarthy trials?s

Are there any differences between the two occurrences (other Are there any differences between the two occurrences (other than the obvious things, like time periods and clothes, etc.) than the obvious things, like time periods and clothes, etc.)

How do you think both of these “witch hunts” were stopped How do you think both of these “witch hunts” were stopped eventually?eventually?

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Crucible