context Flashcards
when was it set
1692 spring - autumn
where was it set
salem, massachusetts
explain puritans
led strict and dutiful lives
dedicated their lives to being good christians
very simple life - saw entertainment as sinful
greatly feared hell and thought the devil was trying to corrupt them
explain the community in salem
the shared hardships creates a strong scene of community
the community was a theocracy
- this meant the laws were enforced by ppl who were seen to be guided by god (eg Parris)
- this gave some members of the community a lot of power
how does miller present society
how dangerous it can be when religious intolerance and fear of difference take over ppl’s minds
if anyone challenged anyone in authority (eg Parris) is mistrusted as they are suggesting God can be challenged
lies and secrets are abundant as ppl are scared of being judged by their neighbours & God
one small lie has the potential to become a very large one (eg girls dancing in the woods)
why is reputation important to many in salem
if one member of community seems to offend God, ppl
fear for their collective reputation and cast them out
reverend Parris is more concerned about his rep than Betty’s health
abigail can’t get a job bc of the rumours about the affair
- she accuses others of witchcraft to protect her rep
why was witchcraft so unfair
almost impossible to prove your innocence over higher authority & power
if you didn’t confess you were hanged
why were women more commonly accused
puritans believed women were weaker than men, so would give in more easily to the temptations of the devil
how do rumours of witchcraft spread so quickly
FEAR
- others to escape blame: fake confessions (eg girls when caught for dancing)
- makes ppl hysterical & abandon common sense
- jealousy of others more fortunate lives
(eg abigail of elizabeth)
name a similar real-life occurrence to the witch-hunts
McCarthyism
hysteria about communism
HUAC invested ppl believed to be linked w communism - used intimidation & threat to make ppl confess
very little evidence
ruined lives - lead to distrust & paranoia
play written during this campaign
name a parallel between McCarthyism and the play
Reputations ruined in the McCarthy Era
- Elizabeth & Rebecca Nurse have good reps at start of play but are treated as criminals after false accusations
explain Elia Kazan
a film director who admitted to HUAC for being a communist and gave several names of his friends to escape trial
this shocked Miller and partly inspired The Crucible
Miller opposed this and when in trial gave no names - same attitude as Giles Corey and John Proctor in the play
what did Arthur Miller write plays about
social & moral issues
- lived through WW2, Wall Street Crash and The Great Depression
- saw the impacts of these events which influenced his views on society
give an example when a character behaves differently and how this creates suspicion about them
Proctor forgets one of the 10 commandments (ironically about adultery)
- makes Rev Hale auspicious of his ‘Christian character’
when and where was The Crucible 1st performed in America
on Broadway, 1953
