Puritan New England The Plymouth & Massachusetts Bay Colonies.
The Puritan Perspective: Salem, Massachusetts in the...
Transcript of 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:
The crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27
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
The crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27
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!”
character: Abigail williams
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.”
The crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27
character: Abigail williams
Describe Abigail:
quotes by Abigail williams
List 5 quotes Abigail says:
character: Abigail williams
What others say about/to Abigail:
The crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27
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 crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27
the putnams
quotes
The crucible: act 1 - pages 13-27
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.”
character: john proctor
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 -
character: john proctor
Describe John:
quotes by john proctor
List 8 quotes John says:
character: john proctor
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!”
Technique & Explanation:
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.”
Technique & Explanation:
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:
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!”
Technique & Explanation:
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.”
Technique & Explanation:
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