Arthur Millers The Crucible A melting pot for

Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ A melting pot for characters, themes and society

Studying The Play l l l plot setting & context character theme literary techniques

Further Points To Consider l l l stage directions structure language & style relevance to modern day use of quotation Miller’s commentaries

Act One l l l Character of Parris is immediately introduced We learn about Salem and there is effective use of setting (comm. ) e. g. . ‘vain enjoyment’ foregrounds for us and suggests strict religious code We learn that the play will be about a witch hunt (comm. ) The doctor suggests supernatural causes for Betty's illness (*Parris’ reaction) We learn about the events of the forest Abigail threatens Mercy, Betty & Mary

Act One (cont. ) l l l Abigail is alone with Proctor and turns against him when he rejects her Miller foregrounds by use of commentary – feuds between families Hale arrives Giles endangers his wife Hale questions Abigail who nearly tells all (pivotal point) Tituba gets the blame and hysteria ensues – the witches are named

Act Two l Relationship between the Proctors defined (‘meddles in the pot’) l Mary Warren now official of the court l Many more now accused l Elizabeth wants John to denounce Abigail. He agrees, reluctantly, and Mary returns with the poppet

Act Two (cont. ) l Hale arrives and questions Christian nature of the home l Officials bring warrant for Elizabeth and search for poppets l Find the doll with the needle… mention Abigail l Elizabeth arrested

Act Three l l l Giles goes to the court to save Martha Proctor arrives with Mary to tell truth (nervous) Danforth doubts Abigail (pivotal point) Abigail pretends Mary sending spirit Proctor confesses to affair Elizabeth tries to protect John’s name

Act Three (cont. ) l l l Hale starts to believe John Danforth shows signs of listening to reason (Piv. P. ) ‘Yellow bird’ incident Mary badly frightened (others joining in) Mary accuses Proctor who is arrested Hale denounces court and realises no justice there.

Act Four l l l Discussion about need for John to confess Speaks to Elizabeth Decides will confess Refuses to allow confession on church door Decides to ‘do the right thing’ (? )

Setting l A key term for literary criticism l Refers to ‘when’ as well as ‘where’ l Relevant for the Critical Essay

Setting in ‘The Crucible’ l Witchcraft l Salem, Massachusetts

Witchcraft l l In 1962 most people believed in God &, as a result, in the devil as a real entity Devil aimed to tempt mankind and steal souls Selling souls meant benefits … blamed bad luck on a witch (life was hard) Easy to accuse and difficult to defend

Salem, Massachusetts l l l l Colony of Puritans – arrived in 1630, first to Salem, Congregationalists (Protestants objected to Anglican church), founded society based on own religious ideas Driven and ruled by Congregationalism- Theocracy Severe punishments for deviation from norm – flogging, loss of ears, nose, limbs Public executions – hanging, beheading, pressing Zero tolerance of outsiders – hanging of Quakers in 1660 for returning to colony Clear hierarchy – educated gentry & ministers Value of literacy – reading the Bible

Background l The Cold War l Mc. Carthyism

The Cold War l l l ‘Witch hunt’ term coined – defined as persecuting religious or political dissidents Relationship deteriorated between U. S. & Soviet Union Period known as ‘The Cold War’ Fear in U. S. that Russians trying to take over the world Fear of Communism

Mc. Carthyism l l l l 20 th century version of witch-hunting Early 1950’s exploited fears and created national campaign against Communism Chairman of Senate committee Interrogated ‘witnesses’ and tried to make them inform on peers and friends Powerful figures happy to support him - ‘bully tactics’(? ) Spiral of fear and suspicion Miller called in 1956 – refused to inform & fined for contempt of Congress THIS IS NOT A THEME, MERELY BACKGROUND

Context l basically ‘background’ l helps the audience/reader to understand the plot/ themes/ characters l effective use of context creates ’credibility’ l to ‘contextualise’, or to place in context, is to give background information which helps the literary critic to make sense of the text.

Studying Character l Define the character when he/ she first appears – what do we know/ what information are we given? l Try to track the changes within the character l Is the character a simple or complex character? l How are we supposed to feel?

Characters l John Proctor l Thomas & Ann Putnam l Elizabeth Proctor l Rebecca & Francis Nurse l Abigail Williams l Tituba l Rev. John Hale l The Judges l Rev. Parris l Mary Warren l Giles Corey

Meeting John Proctor l l l Down to earth ‘steady manner’ ‘is respected and even feared’ No saint – relationship with Abigail Doesn’t attend church as often as he should Speaks his mind and stands up to Parris Courage and boldness at Elizabeth's arrest

John in the middle l l l Despite usual ‘quiet confidence’, careful about what he says when senses danger – not keen to denounce Abigail but feels he owes it to his friends and works hard to build defence, persuading Mary Warren to tell the truth Suffers public shame at confession re Abigail to no avail

John – The end! l l l Confesses so can live for his family Decides would rather die than admit and refuses to sign (thinking of his children’s future reputation and led by example of Elizabeth Doubted his ‘goodness' but with his wife’s support, he can be true to himself and accept death for the good of them all

Meeting Elizabeth Proctor l Abigail informs us she is a cold woman l John himself says her ‘justice would freeze beer’ l Seems to try to forgive John – badly hurt – suspects his motives for not denouncing Abigail

Elizabeth in the middle! l l l Confident before Hale – she ‘keeps an upright house’ Honest and open about Mary’s doll Dignified as taken Will not confess – ‘if you think that I am one then say there are none’ John confident ‘that woman will never lie’

Elizabeth – The End! l l Love for John proves stronger than love of truth Unwittingly instrumental in collapse of case aginst Abigail (sympathy and dramatic irony) Truly forgiven John and come to realise that she is not perfect either – more loving? Shows great courage in refusing to influence him, ‘Do as you will, do as you will!’ (repetition for emphasis)

Meeting Abigail Williams l l l Seduced by employer, jilted and thrown out Wants revenge, strong minded, describes herself as ‘a wild thing’ Determined and scheming, involved in ‘mischief’ Sensual person and has ‘concentrated desire’ for John Skilful at manipulation, plays on wanting Jesus

Abigail in the middle! l l Skilful at defending herself, turning suspicion on others Little regard for fate of the accused, only for herself Enjoys her power, secure enough to even threaten Danforth at one point Court performances so convincing that the other girls join in

Abigail – The End! l l Still ruthlessly controlling girls Maintains control until the end Only discredited with revelation has run off with Parris’ savings but… Too late to make a difference

Rev. John Hale

Rev. John Hale

Mary Warren

Giles Corey

Thomas & Ann Putnam

Rebecca & Francis Nurse

Tituba

The Judges

Themes l l l l Purification Tyranny (& the abuse of power) Bigotry Conflict Integrity - The Individual Conscience Loyalty & Courage Good & Evil – how do they manifest? Hysteria

Purification

Tyranny (& the abuse of power)

Bigotry

Conflict

Integrity - The Individual Conscience

Loyalty & Courage

Good & Evil – how do they manifest?

Hysteria

Literary Techniques l l l l Allegory Imagery & Symbolism Contrast Irony Inversion Dramatic Irony Tension

Allegory

Imagery & Symbolism

Contrast

Irony

Inversion

Dramatic Irony and Tension

Miller’s Commentaries

Stage Directions

Structure

Language & Style

Modern Day Relevance

Critical Use of Quotation

And finally… l l l This is not a finite ‘list’ You will have to be familiar with, and capable of using, key terms Remember… Miller wrote this for you, the reader/ audience, should he have?

“ He was one of a few who … persisted in calling the entire business a ruse and a fake” Arthur Miller