the puritan perspective: salem, massachusetts in the...

The Puritan Perspective: Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600s

Salem can be found on the East coast of colonial North America.

The landscape is dominated by heavy bushland.

There is a strong history of frequent and violent encounters with Native

American Indians here. The Indians were angry about the white

settlers confiscating their land.

Therefore, the Puritans had to “stick together” and protect each other

from the Indians. They were dedicated to upholding strong Christian

values.

Their religion centred on the Bible and the strict interpretation of

God‟s word. They believed in sexual repression and all women were

subordinate to men.

Women had a low status, especially young, unmarried women.

Only a small area was suitable for farming. Thus, it made it difficult for

large families to survive with each passing generation and squabbles over

territory increased.

The Puritans believed that any entertainment or recreation was a “vain,

earthly pursuit”. They believed people should live and work for God and

the church.

Several ministers had already left Salem as a result of factionalism in

the village.

Think & Write!

1. Do you think this would be a nice place to live?

Explain why/why not.

2. What are 5 adjectives you would use to

describe Salem?

3. What are 5 adjectives you would use to

describe the Puritans?

4. Why might have some ministers left Salem?

5. Write a 5-6 sentences describing Salem and

the Puritans during this time. Words you

might like to include: theocracy, factionalism,

subordinate, crisis, insular, isolated, narrow-

minded, authoritarian, dominance, prejudiced.

Salem and belonging ideas

“The need to belong is a powerful, fundamental and extremely pervasive motivation.”

Read the

information and

quotes about Salem

during the 17th

Century. Why might

the need to belong

have been so

extreme during this

time?

Salem, Masachusetts during the late 1600s.

Increasing family sizes fuelled disputes over land between neighbours and

within families, especially on the frontier where the economy was based on

farming.

Changes in the weather or blights could easily wipe out a year‟s crop. A farm

that could support an average-sized family could not necessarily support the

many families of the next generation. This prompted farmers to push

farther into the wilderness to find land.

The further the farmers pushed, the more they encroached on the land of

the indigenous people. The Native American Indians were feared and

despised.

The Puritans had vowed to create a theocracy in this new land. Religious

fervor added to the tension. There were many pressures on the Puritans

during this time. Loss of crops, livestock, and children, as well as earth-

quakes and inclement weather, were typically attributed to the wrath of God.

quotes about the puritans’ salem

“To the European world the whole province of Salem was a barbaric frontier inhabited by a sect of fanatics...who lived a strict and sombre existence.”

“Their creed forbade any-

thing that resembled enjoy-

ment. They did not celebrate

Christmas, and a holiday from

work meant only that they

must concentrate on even

more prayer.”

“Hard work kept the morals of the

place from spoiling, for the people

were forced to fight the land like

heroes for every grain of corn, and

no man had very much time for

fooling around.”

“The edge of the wilderness was close by. The American continent stretched endlessly west,

and it was full of mystery for them. It stood, dark and threatening, over their shoulders...out of it Indian

tribes marauded from time to time, and some people in the town had lost relatives to these heathen. The Salem folk believed the forest

was the Devil’s home base...the forest was the last place on earth that was not paying homage and respect to God.”

“They believed...they held the candle that

would light the world. They were a dedicated

folk, and they had to be to survive in this

country.”

“The people of Salem developed a theocracy, a

combine of state and religious power whose

function was to keep the community together.”

“However, the leaders who vowed to protect

began to persecute, in their own quest for

individual power and freedom.”

“Long held hatreds of neighbours

could now be openly expressed.

Vengeance could be taken. The lust for land could now be

realised. One could cry witch

against his neighbour and

end the bickering.

Old scores could

be settled.”

The crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27

SETTING

Describe the setting:

character: reverend parris

Describe Rev. Parris:

character: tituba

Describe Tituba:


SETTING

Describe the setting:

small, upper bedroom

narrow window

lightly furnished room

candle by the bed

exposed wooden beams

character: reverend parris

Describe Rev. Parris: in his mid-40s

a widower with no interest in children

has a Negro slave: Tituba

his house was in the town

uncle to Abigail Williams

he appears exasperated, confused, anxious

“he cut a villainous path” - very little good was said about him

he believed he was being persecuted wherever he went

worried about the factions in the town: “Abigail, do you understand that I

have many enemies? There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my

pulpit.”

character: tituba

Describe Titbua:

black slave from Barbados

uneducated; uses the wrong grammar when she speaks, “Me Betty.”

subservient; has no rights


character: Abigail williams

Describe Abigail:

“strikingly beautiful girl”

orphan

“endless capacity for dissembling”

she is worried and apprehensive

she quavers as she sits

she lowers her eyes when Parris is yelling at her

tempermental

she stands on tiptoe, wide-eyed when Proctor arrives

quotes by Abigail williams

List 5 quotes Abigail says: “Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it - and

I‟ll be whipped if I must be. But they‟re speakin‟ of witch-

craft. Betty‟s not witched.”

“It were sport, Uncle!”

“My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my

name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!”


What others say about/to Abigail:

Parris says; “Child. Sit you down.”

Parris: “Your name in the town - it is entirely white, is

it not?”

Betty: “You drank blod, Abby! You drank a charm to

kill John Proctor‟s wife!”

“Now look you. All of you. We danced...Let either of

you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the

other things, and I will come to you in the black of

some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning

that will shudder you. And you know I can do it; I saw

Indians smash my dear parents‟ heads on the pillow

next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done

at night...”

“She hates me, uncle, for I would not be her slave.”



Describe Abigail:

quotes by Abigail williams

List 5 quotes Abigail says:


What others say about/to Abigail:


the putnams Their daughter, Ruth is also sick like Betty.

They have buried 7 babies in the past.

Thomas hates Rev. Parris.

Thomas Putnam is the eldest son of the richest man

in the village.

Thomas also contested his father‟s will, because his

father had left a huge amount to Thomas‟ step-

brother.

His wife‟s brother-in-law, James Bayley was re-

jected as Salem‟s minister. A man named George

Burroughs became minister instead. When George‟s

wife died and he had to borrow money to pay for

the funeral, Thomas Putnam and his brother John

had George jailed because of debts the man owed.

Thomas has had grievances and gripes against many

people in Salem. The historical records show his

name many times; he made numerous accusations

against people. The court documents show he was a

witness often, and he always supported the super-

natural testimonies.

quotes Mrs Putnam: “They were murdered, Mr Parris!”

Thomas: “There is a murdering witch among us,

bound to keep herself in the dark. Let your ene-

mies make of it what they will, you cannot blink it

more.”


the putnams

quotes


character: mary warren

Describe Mary:

“subservient, naive lonely girl”

quotes by mary warren

List 8 quotes Mary says:

“I just come from the farm; the whole country‟s talkin‟

witchcraft! They‟ll be callin‟ us witches, Abby!”

“Witchery‟s a hangin‟ error.”

character: mary warren

What others say about/to Mary:

The crucible: act 1 - pages 27 -

character: john proctor

Describe John: a farmer in his mid-30s

he was smart and had a sharp and biting commentary for

people he didn‟t like, or people he thought were hypocrites

he wasn‟t easily led or convinced by people

he had a powerful body and presence

he was a sinner and he recognised that

he is respected and even feared in Salem

he appears as quietly confident, a hidden force within him

quotes by john proctor

List 8 quotes John says:

“Abby, I never give you hope to wait for me. Put it out of

mind.”

“Child. I may think of you softly from time to time. But I

will cut off my hand before I‟ll ever reach for you again.

We never touched, Abby.”


What others say about/to John:

Abigail: “You are no wintry man. I know you, John.”

* John: (angered - at himself as well) “You‟ll speak nothing

of Elizabeth!”

* “Abby, you‟ll put it out of mind. I‟ll not be comin‟ for you

more.”

The crucible: act 1 - pages 27 -


Describe John:

quotes by john proctor

List 8 quotes John says:


What others say about/to John:

The crucible: act 1 - pages 29-3 - belonging ideas

Abigail: “She is blackening my name in the vil-

lage! She is telling lies about me! She is a

cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to her!...I

look for John Proctor that took me from my

sleep and put knowledge in my heart!...You

loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is,

you love me yet!”

Technique & Explanation:

John: (angered - at himself as well) “You‟ll

speak nothing‟ of Elizabeth!”


Abigail: “I have a sense for heat, John, and

yours has drawn me to my window, and I have

seen you looking up, burning in your

loneliness...You are no wintry man.”


The crucible: act 1 - pages 29-3 - belonging ideas

Abigail: “She is blackening my name in the vil-

lage! She is telling lies about me! She is a

cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to her!...I

look for John Proctor that took me from my

sleep and put knowledge in my heart!...You

loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is,

you love me yet!”


Metaphor: “blackening my name”; “put knowledge in my

heart”

Emotive language: “you loved me”

John: (angered - at himself as well) “You‟ll

speak nothing‟ of Elizabeth!”


Stage directions: “angered - at himself as well”

John is angry that he is a sinner; he has to live with the

frustration that his morality has been compromised; he is no

longer a „pure‟ Christian.

Abigail: “I have a sense for heat, John, and

yours has drawn me to my window, and I have

seen you looking up, burning in your

loneliness...You are no wintry man.”


Symbolism: “burning in your loneliness”

Metaphor & parallelism: “no wintry man” - this is paralleled

to Elizabeth who‟s “justice could freeze beer” and who is la-

belled “cold” by Abigail.

TEE Table for Act 1 Technique Example Effect

Metaphor

Symbolism

Simile / Sexual imagery

Stage Directions

characterisation

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