Historical InaccuraciesHistorical InaccuraciesIn Arthur Miller’s In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”``“The Crucible”``

Linnae ThrelfallLee Radley

Walter ThomasMackenzie Turner

The Inaccuracies of the crucible…

• Are mostly related to details about the actual lives of the historical characters used in the play

• Partly relate to the fabrication of events to add drama

• Partly relate to technical details about the witch trials themselves

Character ComparisonsHistorical Characters vs. Characters of the Play

A few of the inaccuracies that are important to the plot of “The

Crucible” are the changes made to the John Proctor and Abigail

Williams characters……..

John Proctor

In Real Life• 60 years old at

beginning of Salem witch trials

In the Play• Portrayed as young

enough to have an affair with Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams

In Real Life• 11 years old at the

time of the Salem witch trials

In the Play• Portrayed as an older

girl (about 17) acting as a servant in the Proctors’ household

More Differences!

History vs. The Play

Differences in the Characters’ Lives

• Betty Paris’ mother was alive Betty Paris’ mother was alive during the actual events of the during the actual events of the witch trailswitch trails

• There’s no conclusive proof There’s no conclusive proof that Abigail Williams was that Abigail Williams was actually Rev. Parris’ nieceactually Rev. Parris’ niece

• Betty Parris and Abigail Betty Parris and Abigail Williams were the first to Williams were the first to become afflicted, not Ann become afflicted, not Ann PutnamPutnam

• John Proctor was not a farmer John Proctor was not a farmer – instead, he was a tavern – instead, he was a tavern keeper with a keeper with a 15-year-old15-year-old daughter anddaughter and two sons (ages two sons (ages 17 and 33)17 and 33)

• The Putnam’s daughter was The Putnam’s daughter was named Ann, like her mother, named Ann, like her mother, instead of Ruth (as her name instead of Ruth (as her name is in the play)is in the play)

• The Parris family included an The Parris family included an older brother named Thomas older brother named Thomas and a younger sister named and a younger sister named Susannah, instead of just the Susannah, instead of just the daughter Bettydaughter Betty

• Rev. Parris never graduated Rev. Parris never graduated from Harvard – he dropped outfrom Harvard – he dropped out

• Ann/Ruth was only one of six Ann/Ruth was only one of six children inchildren in the Putnam family the Putnam family

Differences Relating to the Witch Trials

• Those accused of witchcraft Those accused of witchcraft were not only adolescent girls, were not only adolescent girls, but also grown men and but also grown men and womenwomen

• The events that the play is The events that the play is based off of were not actual based off of were not actual trials but examinations in the trials but examinations in the special courtspecial court of "Oyer andof "Oyer and Terminer.” The trialsTerminer.” The trials began began later on, in June oflater on, in June of 16921692

• Betty Parris and Abigail Betty Parris and Abigail Williams were the first to Williams were the first to become afflicted, become afflicted, not Annnot Ann PutnamPutnam

• Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor, and Martha Corey were not all and Martha Corey were not all hanged on the same dayhanged on the same day

• The accused girls were The accused girls were afflicted with violent fits, afflicted with violent fits, instead of coma-like sleep, as instead of coma-like sleep, as portrayed in the playportrayed in the play

• Reverend Hale could not have Reverend Hale could not have signed “death warrants” as he signed “death warrants” as he had no clergy to do so. They had no clergy to do so. They were were instead signed by William instead signed by William StoughtonStoughton

In Conclusion…

Because of the scale of the inaccuracies in “The Crucible,” the play

should be considered a work of HISTORICAL FICTION, not

biographical fact!

Sources

• http://www.wikipedia.org –

Online encyclopedia

• http://www.sparknotes.com – Online literary reference guide

• http://www.17thc.us/docs/fact-fiction.shtml -- Online recourse of information about 17th century New England and the Salem Witch Trials