THE CRUCIBLEBy Arthur Miller

Persecution and Ignorance

• Despite the evidence, some women persecuted during the Salem witch trials were completely innocent; some of them engaged in practices that led to their convictions

• A number of historians argue that some traditional folk practice did take place in Salem, and were misinterpreted as witch craft by the puritans

• The most convincing of the accused, such as Tituba, came from cultural or religious backgrounds with which the puritans were unfamiliar

Saints and Sinners

• According to the beliefs of Calvinism, which the puritans adhered to, people were only saved by God’s grace, which was granted to those known as the Elect.

• In most Puritan congregations in early Massachusetts, less than half of those who attended church were considered worthy of full membership.

• It was also forbidden to extend the privilege of baptism to anyone but the children of “Proven saints.”

Religious Tolerance• Although the Puritan settlers of

Massachusetts were persecuted for their religious beliefs while they lived in England, they showed very little tolerance to non-Puritans who settled among them in their new colony.

• A number of historians have suggested that some of he accusations of witchcraft in colonial New England were used to enforce Puritan religious orthodoxy.

The First Witchcraft Trial

• First trial for witchcraft in the colonies took place in 1648

• Margaret Jones was found guilty and hanged• Among the charges that were taken against her: 1. She had a touch with made people fall ill.

2. that she practiced medicine and prescribed remedies3. She put a curse on people who would not use her medicines.4.She foretold the future5. A supernatural child had appeared and then disappeared in her prison cell.

King Phillip’s War

• Took place in 1675.• First attack was in 1675 by

Matacom’s warriors.• The English called Matacom

“King Phillip” possibly because of the grand clothes he wore.

• King Phillip was killed by a Native American who was friendly to the witches.

• King Phillips war contributed to the siege mentality of the puritans, which led them to look for supernatural as well as human enemies.

Natural or Supernatural Causes• A number of recent theories

claim that a number of the girls who claimed they were tortured were suffering the effects of a powerful narcotic.

• The narcotic was called Ergot Fungus, it had STRONG hallucinogenic properties.

• This drug may have contaminated the grain supply of Salem during the witch trials.

• Some historians argue that this kind of substance would have had a strong effect on the adolescent girls brains.

Puritan Bestsellers

• Puritans frowned upon leisure reading.

• The bible was required reading.

• Michael Wigglesworth wrote a book in the 17th century called Day of Doom this book detailed what god would impose on the wicked.

Jamestown--- Another Story

• Jamestown was founded in 1607 by English colonists.

• Jamestown had the same problems as Salem such as weather, disease and lack of supplies.

•Also Native Americans who represented their presence.•Jamestown's settlers were usually ritzy, well to do men.

The Death Penalty• “There shall not be found among you

anyone that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter or witch” -Deuteronomy 18:10

• This is the laws the puritans based their lives on.

• This law was called the Old Testament.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!

• Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, and in classical mythology, his presence was said to inspire wild celebrations.

• Dionysus was the Greek god of wine.

• His presence was to inspire wild celebrations.

Vocabulary• Diabolism-the worship of the devil• Incubi-evil spirits which were thought to

torment their victims while they slept• Succubi-female demons that were

believed to seduce sleeping men• Demonology- the study of demonic

practices, especially witchcraft or black magic

• Enthrall-to captivate or bewitch• Abomination-a foul or immoral act

Salem’s Mistreated Ministers

• Reverend Parris was not the first minister to feel abused by the Salem congregation.

• Before Parris came James Bayley and George Burroughs.

• Each of these men lived in virtual poverty because of the reluctance of the Salem congregation to contribute the funds to support them.

Colonial Economics

• In Plymouth, the Pilgrims originally worked their lands in common and shared the wealth

• Village elders decided this system did not provide enough incentive to work, so they began to encourage the private ownership of land

• This led to land disputes that created antagonism among neighbors

Women’s Medicine

• The “witches brew” in The Crucible fits the stereotypical image of witchcraft

• Many women used herbs to heal, not harm

• During the European witch trials, many of these women faced persecution because of their special skills

That Old Black Magic

• There is evidence that Puritans were almost obsessed with the supernatural

• Members of the Salem community were constantly reprimanded for practicing palm reading and fortune telling because it was against the Puritan religion

In God We Trust

• Massachusetts colony was a theocracy, a state governed by religious beliefs

• Before the American Revolution, the English colonies were not required to make a division between church and state

• Religious and civic leaders were often one and the same

Puritan Harvard

• Many judges in the Salem witch trials were Harvard graduates

• However, there was no legal program, so most judges were trained ministers

• Often theologians were the ones called upon to make important legal decisions

The Salem Girls Go On Tour

• Many Massachusetts communities sent letters to the girls asking them to visit

• The girls would accuse various people of witchcraft and those people would be put in jail to wait for their trial

• Citizens of Andover nearly rioted when many of their best citizens were jailed

Golden Candlesticks

• Through the middle of the 17th century, laws were passed in Massachusetts forbidding any kind of elaborate decoration in Puritan churches

• Puritans believed they were “purifying” their religious practices by stripping away what they saw as distracting decoration

Thou Shalt Not

• Pontius Pilate – Roman governor of

A Friend Indeed

• Many critics have drawn comparisons between Proctor’s behavior towards Judge Danforth and Arthur Miller’s own testimony when he was called before the House Committee on Un-American activities in 1956

• Miller refused to give testimony which would implicate his friends and ruin their reputations, just like John Proctor

Familiars

• Familiars were believed to be spirits that personally served a witch and usually took the shape of an animal – a bird, dog or most commonly a black cat

• This eventually led to the superstitions surrounding black cats and the bad luck they are supposed to bring

I OBJECT!

• Defendant – person sued or accused in court

• Deposition – written or spoken testimony given under oath

• Forfeit – to loose something as a penalty for an offense

• Ipso facto – Latin term meaning “by the very fact”; often used in legal proceedings to indicate the relationship between two events

• Perjury – the act of lying after taking an oath to tell the truth

• Plaintiff – the party that brings a suit into a court of law

• Prosecutor – a person who brings a criminal or civil charge against another person

Calm Down

• Hysterical – wildly emotional• Dumbfounded – shocked into silence• Apprehensive – fearful or uneasy• Placid – at ease, calm• Contentious – easily driven to dispute• Solemn – serious • Befuddled – confused

Barbados, Here We Come

• Tituba describes Barbados in glowing terms, describing the sunshine and easy living conditions