Background Information: The Crucible - Mr. Jackson`s Web-site
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Transcript Background Information: The Crucible - Mr. Jackson`s Web-site
Background Information:
The Crucible
Cooperative Activity
What do you know about The Crucible?
What do you know about the Salem Witch
Trials?
The Salem Witch Trials
A series of trials in which citizens were
accused of witchcraft
Considered a tragedy because so many
innocent people were accused and/or
killed
Why were there witch trials?
Colonial America was very religious
Government was based on religion
Witchcraft was a felony
Pact with the devil
Making or doing the work of the devil
Hanging was the sentence
In Europe witches were burned
Most dangerous crime
The American Witch Trials
Started in Salem Village, Mass
March 1, 1692
Theories
Abigail Williams and another girl were having
symptoms of an unknown cause
Smallpox
Puberty
Food poisoning
Contributing factors
Fear of Indian attacks, God punishing them,
economic, political, social fears and feuds
The American Witch Trials cont’d
Last trial in the court of Oyer and Terminer
November 25, 1692
Public support had waned
Unreliable evidence
Respected people were defending accused
Spectral evidence was no longer sufficient
Governor Pelm
In November started the new courts
Remaining not guilty
Pardoned sentenced
How many died?
19 people hanged
1 pressed
13 may have died in prison
43 were “afflicted”
Arthur Miller (1915-2005)
Considered the most
celebrated American
playwright of the 2
decades following WWII
Specialized in
commentary on American
way of life, moral downfall
of ordinary individual, and
tragedy in modern terms
Miller’s Early Life
Born in New York (10/17/1915)
Raised in Jewish middle-class family
Moved to Brooklyn in 1929
Intense athlete in high school
Education
Graduated high school 1932
Worked as shipping clerk and other odd jobs
U of M
Miller’s Early Career
Joined Federal Theatre Project
Wrote radio scripts
Toured army camps
First Broadway play- 1944
First novel- 1945
Miller’s Mature and Later Career
All My Sons- 1947
Death of a Salesman- 1949
Politics
Left- wing supporter
1953 denied passport due to The Crucible
1956 accused of communism under House
Committee on Un-American Activities
Wrote After the Fall based on marriage to
Marilyn Monroe
Continued to publish, edit, and mentor
The Crucible
Setting- Salem, Mass 1692
Themes
Hypocrisy
Guilt
Revenge
Hysteria
Authority
Integrity and courage