the crucible

The CrucibleThe Crucible

Hon. English IIIHon. English III

Overview…Overview…

The play is based on actual events The play is based on actual events that, in 1692, led to the Salem Witch that, in 1692, led to the Salem Witch Trials.Trials.

However, the play was actually However, the play was actually written as a response to written as a response to McCarthyism, when the US McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted communists.government blacklisted communists.

About Our AuthorAbout Our Author

Arthur MillerArthur MillerSome consider him the greatest Some consider him the greatest

dramatist of the twentieth century.dramatist of the twentieth century.Other famous works include Other famous works include Death of Death of

a Salesman, All My Sons, a Salesman, All My Sons, and and A View A View from the Bridge.from the Bridge.

The CrucibleThe Crucible is his most frequently is his most frequently performed work.performed work.

What Inspired Miller…What Inspired Miller…

HUAC (House of Unamerican Activities HUAC (House of Unamerican Activities Committee)Committee) This was an investigative committee of the This was an investigative committee of the

United States House of Represenatives. They United States House of Represenatives. They sought to discover communist activity in the sought to discover communist activity in the USA.USA.

Many actors, writers, and producers were Many actors, writers, and producers were accused of being Communist and brought before accused of being Communist and brought before the committee. This led to a Hollywood Blacklist, the committee. This led to a Hollywood Blacklist, where members of the entertainment industry where members of the entertainment industry were denied employment because of their were denied employment because of their beliefs.beliefs.

McCarthy and McCarthyismMcCarthy and McCarthyism

Joe McCarthy, a US senator from Joe McCarthy, a US senator from Wisconsin, was very vocal in his Wisconsin, was very vocal in his pursuit of Communist activity. pursuit of Communist activity.

For that reason, the term For that reason, the term “McCarthyism” was coined. Today, it “McCarthyism” was coined. Today, it means the politically motivated means the politically motivated practice of making accusations of practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.without proper regard for evidence.

So what?So what?

A friend of Miller’s testified before A friend of Miller’s testified before the HUAC. He told Miller of his the HUAC. He told Miller of his experience which inspired Miller to experience which inspired Miller to travel to Salem and research the travel to Salem and research the Salem Witch Trials.Salem Witch Trials.

After After The CrucibleThe Crucible was first was first performed, Arthur Miller himself was performed, Arthur Miller himself was deemed suspicious and called before deemed suspicious and called before the HUAC, eventually making him a the HUAC, eventually making him a “witch hunt” victim.“witch hunt” victim.

The Puritans…The Puritans…

The play centers around a group of The play centers around a group of people known as people known as Puritans.Puritans.Believe that women should be punished Believe that women should be punished

due to Eve’s orginial sin—seen and not due to Eve’s orginial sin—seen and not heard.heard.

Belief in predestinationBelief in predestination

Characters…Characters…

Rev. Samuel Parris- Poorly respected Rev. Samuel Parris- Poorly respected minister of Salem’s church. More minister of Salem’s church. More concerned about his reputation than his concerned about his reputation than his sick daughter, Betty.sick daughter, Betty.

Tituba- Rev. Parris’ slave. She claims to be Tituba- Rev. Parris’ slave. She claims to be from Barbados.from Barbados.

Abigail Williams-Rev. Parris’ niece. She Abigail Williams-Rev. Parris’ niece. She was once a maid for the Proctor house but was once a maid for the Proctor house but was fired. She is dramatic, manipulative, was fired. She is dramatic, manipulative, and the villain of our play (or is she?)and the villain of our play (or is she?)


Thomas Putnam- Currently having Thomas Putnam- Currently having land disputes with Giles Corey.land disputes with Giles Corey.

Mercy Lewis- Servant of the Mercy Lewis- Servant of the Putnams. One of the girls who Putnams. One of the girls who testifies in court.testifies in court.

Mary Warren-Serves as a maid at the Mary Warren-Serves as a maid at the Proctors since the departure of Proctors since the departure of Abigail. One of the girls who testifies Abigail. One of the girls who testifies in court.in court.


John Proctor- Hard-working farmer. John Proctor- Hard-working farmer. Has made a mistake, and tries to Has made a mistake, and tries to justify his wrongdoing. Makes an justify his wrongdoing. Makes an honorable decision in the end.honorable decision in the end.

Giles Corey- 81-year-old man Giles Corey- 81-year-old man constantly involved in a land dispute. constantly involved in a land dispute. He was executed by being crushed to He was executed by being crushed to death.death.

Rebecca Nurse-a highly respected Rebecca Nurse-a highly respected woman accused of witchcraft.woman accused of witchcraft.


Rev. John Hale- A well-respected minister and Rev. John Hale- A well-respected minister and an expert on witchcraft.an expert on witchcraft.

Elizabeth Proctor- John Proctor’s wife and a Elizabeth Proctor- John Proctor’s wife and a resident of Salem.resident of Salem.

Ezekial Cheever- Works for the city of Salem.Ezekial Cheever- Works for the city of Salem. Judge Hathorne-The presiding judge over the Judge Hathorne-The presiding judge over the

Salem Witch Trials.Salem Witch Trials. Deputy Gov. Danforth-Another judge. More Deputy Gov. Danforth-Another judge. More

concerned about public opinion than concerned about public opinion than anything.anything.

the crucible

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