Background Information The Crucible Cooperative Activity l What
Background Information: The Crucible
Cooperative Activity l What do you know about The Crucible? l What do you know about the Salem Witch Trials?
The Salem Witch Trials l A series of trials in which citizens were accused of witchcraft l Considered a tragedy because so many innocent people were accused and/or killed
Why were there witch trials? l Colonial America was very religious l Government l was based on religion Witchcraft was a felony l Pact with the devil l Making or doing the work of the devil l Hanging was the sentence In Europe witches were burned l Most dangerous crime l
The American Witch Trials l l Started in Salem Village, Mass March 1, 1692 l l Theories l l Abigail Williams and another girl were having symptoms of an unknown cause Smallpox Puberty Food poisoning Contributing factors l Fear of Indian attacks, God punishing them, economic, political, social fears and feuds
The American Witch Trials cont’d l Last trial in the court of Oyer and Terminer l November 25, 1692 l Public support had waned l Unreliable evidence l Respected people were defending accused l Spectral evidence was no longer sufficient
Governor Pelm In November started the new courts l Remaining not guilty l Pardoned sentenced l
How many died? 19 people hanged l 1 pressed l 13 may have died in prison l l 43 were “afflicted”
Arthur Miller (1915 -2005) l l 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) l Raised in Jewish middle-class family l Moved to Brooklyn in 1929 l Intense athlete in high school l Education l l Graduated high school 1932 l Worked as shipping clerk and other odd jobs l U of M
Miller’s Early Career Joined Federal Theatre Project l Wrote radio scripts l Toured army camps l First Broadway play- 1944 l First novel- 1945 l
Miller’s Mature and Later Career l l l All My Sons- 1947 Death of a Salesman- 1949 Politics l l l 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 l Themes l l Hypocrisy l Guilt l Revenge l Hysteria l Authority l Integrity and courage
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