The Crucible by Arthur Miller 1953 A witch hunt and an allegory.
The Crucible Witch Hunt, Allegory and the Domestic Tragedy.
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The Crucible Witch Hunt, Allegory and the Domestic Tragedy
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Transcript of The Crucible Witch Hunt, Allegory and the Domestic Tragedy.
The CrucibleWitch Hunt, Allegory and the Domestic Tragedy
Salem Witch Trialso Where?
o When?
o Who?
o What?
o Why?
Mass Hysteria Witch Hunto The cause is often a baseless belief
that begins small but, like a hurricane, travels and becomes more devastating as it picks up speed.
o If people are aware of the phenomenon and know its features, they will be better able to overcome the main obstacle: accepting that there is may be no actual basis for their fear.
Communist Hearingso Where?
o When?
o Who?
o What?
o Why?
Why Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible”
o Experienced Communist hysteria of the era
o Criticism of McCarthy’s personal mission
o House Un-American Activities Committee
The McCarthy Hearingso Accused: actors, writers, media, armyo Naming names for leniencyo Political repression in civil arenao Resistance to discuss social or political
issues
o Miller’s way of protesting the HUACo Compared Communist hearings to
witch hunts of Salemo Credibility/Impact of gossip, rumor,
fearo “Witch Hunt”—any activity where
people are looking for a scapegoat or they are using accusations for revenge, personal gain, or attention
“The Crucible” and Witch Hunts
The Crucibleo Salem Witch Trials of 1692
Used trial documents (Sarah Good), but fictionalized
Combined, created or changed characters
Major trial events are relatively accurateo Thinly veiled criticism of the House
Committee on Un-American Activities
Makings of a Witch Hunto WWII rise of Communist Party in the USo Cold War becomes intense after USSR
gains atomic powero Truman initiates disloyalty lawso House of Un-American Activities Committee reinvigorated
n Investigates communist activityn Hollywood Blacklist & The Hollywood Tenn McCarthy and his accusationsn Others pressured to name others as
communists
Results of both Witch Huntso Colonial Salem
20 innocent people were executed Dozens more were imprisoned One was stoned to death Families lost their land and livelihood
o 1950’s Hundreds unjustly lost their jobs 10 were jailed for 6 months to 2 years 1 was sentenced to 5 years in prison 2 were executed
Tragic Hero in Classical Literature
o Noble Stature or Ranko Potential for greatness but doomed to
failo Trapped in a situation where he cannot
wino Tragic flaw, causing his fall from
greatnesso Even though he is a fallen hero, he still
wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on.
Domestic Tragedyo Emerges during Shakespearean
timeo Misfortunes of ordinary peopleo The “every man”o Impact of fate (personal vs.
national)o “What is an American?”o American Ideal: Everyone is valued
