Arthur Miller - The Crucible

“The Crucible was an act of desperation”Arthur Miller - The New Yorker 1996

Arthur Miller

1915-2005 married several times Marilyn Monroe Born in NYC father manufactured women’s coats mom - school teacher pre-eminent playwright in US

Miller - career

auto parts plant read Tolstoy’s War and Peace University of Michigan wrote plays to earn money All My Sons 1st Broadway success

– 1947 NY Drama Critics - Best Play– need for moral responsibility

Miller - works continued

1949 Death of a Salesman– Willy Loman– tragic hero

The Crucible

1953 response to Joseph McCarthy “Are you now or were you ever a

Communist?” initial reaction most produced play

Senator Joseph McCarthy

1908 - 1957 Wisconsin 1950 - list of 205 people in State Dept. Red Scare HUAC Army-McCarthy hearings 1954 censured by Senate

The Crucible - Miller’s Thoughts

“The Crucible was an act of desperation…. By 1950 when I began to think of writing about the hunt for Reds in America I was motivated in some great part by the paralysis that had set in among many liberals who, despite their discomfort with the inquisitor’s violations of civil rights, were fearful, and with good reason, of being identified as covert Communists if they should protest too strongly….”

Thematic Elements

moral motivation individual and society one man’s struggle “They believed that they held in their

steady hands the candle that would light the world.”

The Crucible - Characters

John Proctor– farmer– protagonist– father– Flawed– married to Elizabeth– has affair with Abigail Williams

Elizabeth Proctor

wife to John Proctor kind, but reserved mother accused of being a witch

Abigail Williams

niece of Rev. Parris initiator of “witchcraft” in woods accuses many of being witches ring leader

Reverend Parris

father to Betty Abigail’s uncle authority in the town likes money

Betty Parris

Reverend Parris’ daughter affected by the goings on in woods

Reverend Hale

from Beverly near 40 book learned earnest

Thomas and Ann Putnam

prominent citizens daughter - Ruth fight with Nurses

Francis Nurse

upstanding member of community land holder warring with Putnams

Rebecca Nurse

midwife respected woman accused of being a witch

Giles Corey

asset to both sides in trial until a point pressed to death