Is the Crucible based on a true story?
Was The Crucible based on a true story? The Crucible is based on a true story; however, while many of the play’s characters and details are inspired by real historical figures and events, Arthur Miller fictionalized many elements of the plot in order to tell the story he wanted to tell.
What is the Crucible really about?
The Crucible, is about the abuse of power and authority. It is about persecuting others and destroying their lives without having substantial proof of their guilt. It is about convicting the innocent based on assumptions, rumour and gossip without presenting actual proof.
What is a short summary of the Crucible?
“The Crucible” is about the Salem witch trials in 1692. Several young girls claim to be afflicted by witchcraft, starting with Reverend Paris’s daughter Betty. The afflicted girls accuse people in the town of witchcraft, often choosing victims who they or their families dislike.
What is the historical context of the Crucible?
The Crucible Early in the year 1692, in the small Massachusetts village of Salem, a collection of girls fell ill, falling victim to hallucinations and seizures. In extremely religious Puritan New England, frightening or surprising occurrences were often attributed to the devil or his cohorts.
What is some background information on The Crucible?
The Crucible is a 1952 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692 and 1693. Miller wrote the play as an allegory to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists.
What was the main inspiration for The Crucible?
During the tense era of McCarthyism, celebrated playwright Arthur Miller was inspired to write a drama reflecting the mass cultural and political hysteria produced when the U.S. government sought to suppress Communism and radical leftist activity in America.
What is the purpose of The Crucible?
A crucible is a container made of a substance that can resist great heat ; a crucible is also defined as a severe test. Within the context of the play the term takes on a new meaning: not only is the crucible a test, but a test designed to bring about change or reveal an individual's true character.
What is The Crucible summary?
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a fictional play based on the Salem witch trials which took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It tells the story of a village that becomes embroiled in a witch hunt. The people of Salem live in a constant state of fear as more and more people are accused of witchcraft.
Was The Crucible based on a true story?
It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the United States government persecuted people accused of being communists.
How historically accurate is The Crucible?
It is not much beyond the names of some of the people. Abigail Williams was an eleven-year-old and John Proctor was sixty, so much of the Miller's tale of sexual revenge does not work as history. Miller is a writer who can tell a story of complexity with some profundity, but The Crucible is not historically accurate.
Why was Betty screaming in The Crucible?
Why does Betty start screaming? She starts screaming because she hears a church song and can't bear to hear the Lord's name.
What are the themes in The Crucible?
ThemesIntolerance. The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the religion is a strict, austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism. ... Hysteria. ... Reputation. ... Goodness. ... Judgment. ... Social Status. ... Ownership and Property. ... Justice.More items...
Why is it called The Crucible?
Miller intended "The Crucible" as an allegory to McCarthyism. The events that took place during the time the play was written were very similar to the Salem witch hunts. This is why Miller named the book "The Crucible" after the Salem Witch Trials.
Why did Arthur Miller write The Crucible quizlet?
Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible because he wanted to write a play that related to the current social issues that were occurring, including witch trials.
What are the major themes of The Crucible?
ThemesIntolerance. The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the religion is a strict, austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism. ... Hysteria. ... Reputation. ... Goodness. ... Judgment.
What message is Arthur Miller trying to convey in The Crucible?
Arthur Miller wanted to send a message about intolerance and hysteria in "The Crucible." He wanted to highlight how both can lead to being illogical and inhumane towards people. In the play, people lose their freedom and lives because they do not conform to norms and because people are swept away by fear and anxiety.
How does The Crucible relate to modern day?
The award-winning movie teaches modern high school students invaluable morals and emphasizes sensitive issues of the the past — such as the role of religion and politics — that are still relevant to the present society.
What is the central theme of the Crucible?
The central theme of Miller’s plays generally revolves around social issues, or an individual at the mercy of society. Miller’s play, The Crucible, 1953, reveals the witchcraft trials held in Salem, focusing on paranoid hysteria as well as the individual’s struggle to remain true to ideals and convictions. Miller also wrote the screenplay of The ...
What was Arthur Miller's play inspired by?
Arthur Miller’s was inspired by the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. His play “The Crucible” highlights inconsistencies of the witch trials held in Salem causing extreme behavior resulted from malicious desires and hidden plan.
Why did Miller find the dancers dancing in the woods?
Miller lights on the discovery of some teenage girls dancing in the woods in attempt to conjuring spirits. He highlights the point that rather than having severe punishment, the girls accused other individuals of practicing witchcraft.
What is the Crucible about?
It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692 and 1693 . Miller wrote the play as an allegory to McCarthyism, when the US government blacklisted accused communists. Miller himself was questioned by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s US House of Representatives’ Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and was convicted of "contempt of Congress" for refusing to identify others present at meetings he had attended. The play was first performed on Broadway on January 22, 1953. Miller felt that this production was too stylized and cold and the reviews for it were largely hostile. Nonetheless, the production won the 1953 "Best Play" Tony Award. A year later a new production succeeded and the play became a classic. Today it is studied in high schools and universities because of its status as a revolutionary work of theatre and for its allegorical relationship to testimony given before the Committee on Un-American Activities during the 1950s. It is a central work in the canon of American drama.
What is the meaning of the word "crucible"?
It is a central work in the canon of American drama. The Title. The word crucible is a pun (a play on words). It refers simultaneously to the severe struggles faced by the inhabitants of Salem, as well as to the mixing of religious and secular aspects of society during the trial.
What did Miller do in creating a play for the stage?
In creating a work for the stage, Miller made no attempt to represent the real, historical people on whom his characters are based; he developed them to meet the needs of the play. The surviving records offer little evidence about the historical people’s personalities on which a playwright might draw.
What was McCarthy's witch hunt?
The “witch hunt” climaxed in April 1954, when McCarthy accused the Secretary of the Navy of sheltering Communist spies. The secretary mounted a vigorous and effective defense, which exposed McCarthy’s ruthless tactics and questionable motives.
Why was Abigail's age increased from 11 to 17?
Abigail's age was increased from 11 to 17 to allow a relationship with Proctor, of which there is no historical evidence. Most of the historical roles, however, are accurately represented and the judicial sentences pronounced on the characters are mostly the same as those given to their real-life counterparts.
When was the Crucible first performed?
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage production seen in London's West End in 2006 was recorded for the V&A Theatre & Performance Department's National Video Archive of Performance. The play was adapted by composer Robert Ward into an opera, The Crucible, which was first performed in 1961 and received the Pulitzer Prize.
Was McCarthy censured?
As a result, McCarthy was censured by the Senate and his influence declined. (see Notes on McCarthyism on this website) Adaptations. The play was adapted for film twice, by Jean-Paul Sarte in 1957 and by Miller himself in 1996.
Who wrote the Crucible?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For other uses, see The Crucible (disambiguation). The Crucible is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93.
How old was Abigail Williams in the Crucible?
Abigail Williams' age was increased from 11 or 12 to 17, probably to add credence to the backstory of Proctor's affair with Abigail. John Proctor himself was 60 years old in 1692, but portrayed as much younger in the play, for the same reason.
What did Cheever find in Elizabeth's table?
Cheever picks up the poppet on Elizabeth's table and finds a needle inside. He informs John that Abigail had a pain-induced fit earlier that evening and a needle was found stuck into her stomach; Abigail claimed that Elizabeth stabbed her with the needle through witchcraft, using a poppet as a conduit.
What is the setting of Act 2 of The Proctors?
The remainder of Act Two is set in the Proctors‘ home. John and Elizabeth are incredulous that nearly forty people have been arrested for witchcraft based on the pronouncements of Abigail and the other girls. John knows their apparent possession and accusations of witchcraft are untrue, as Abigail told him as much when they were alone together in the first act, but is unsure of how to confess without revealing the affair. Elizabeth is disconcerted to learn her husband was alone with Abigail. She believes John still lusts after Abigail and tells him that as long as he does, he will never redeem himself.
How old is Samuel Parris' daughter?
The ten-year-old daughter of Samuel Parris and one of the primary accusers.
What is the setting of the Salem Witch Trials?
Salem witch trials, McCarthyism. Genre. Tragedy. Setting. Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Crucible is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93.
What is the narrator's theory about the colony?
The narrator speculates that the lack of civil liberties, isolation from civilization, and lack of stability in the colony caused latent internal tensions which would contribute to the events depicted in the play. The remainder of Act One is set in the attic of local preacher Reverend Samuel Parris.
Who wrote the Crucible?
Drawing on research on the witch trials he had conducted while an undergraduate, Miller composed The Crucible in the early 1950s. Miller wrote the play during the brief ascendancy of Senator Joseph McCarthy, a demagogue whose vitriolic anti-Communism proved the spark needed to propel the United States into a dramatic and fractious anti-Communist fervor during these first tense years of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Led by McCarthy, special congressional committees conducted highly controversial investigations intended to root out Communist sympathizers in the United States. As with the alleged witches of Salem, suspected Communists were encouraged to confess and to identify other Red sympathizers as means of escaping punishment. The policy resulted in a whirlwind of accusations. As people began to realize that they might be condemned as Communists regardless of their innocence, many “cooperated,” attempting to save themselves through false confessions, creating the image that the United States was overrun with Communists and perpetuating the hysteria. The liberal entertainment industry, in which Miller worked, was one of the chief targets of these “witch hunts,” as their opponents termed them. Some cooperated; others, like Miller, refused to give in to questioning. Those who were revealed, falsely or legitimately, as Communists, and those who refused to incriminate their friends, saw their careers suffer, as they were blacklisted from potential jobs for many years afterward.
How many people were convicted of witchcraft in 1692?
By the time the fever had run its course, in late August 1692, nineteen people (and two dogs) had been convicted and hanged for witchcraft. More than two centuries later, Arthur Miller was born in New York City on October 17, 1915. His career as a playwright began while he was a student at the University of Michigan.
What was the first tragedy in the history of the United States?
Many critics described Death of a Salesman as the first great American tragedy, and Miller gained an associated eminence as a man who understood the deep essence of the United States. Drawing on research on the witch trials he had conducted while an undergraduate, Miller composed The Crucible in the early 1950s.
What happened in 1692?
Early in the year 1692, in the small Massachusetts village of Salem, a collection of girls fell ill, falling victim to hallucinations and seizures. In extremely religious Puritan New England, frightening or surprising occurrences were often attributed to the devil or his cohorts. The unfathomable sickness spurred fears of witchcraft, and it was not long before the girls, and then many other residents of Salem, began to accuse other villagers of consorting with devils and casting spells. Old grudges and jealousies spilled out into the open, fueling the atmosphere of hysteria. The Massachusetts government and judicial system, heavily influenced by religion, rolled into action. Within a few weeks, dozens of people were in jail on charges of witchcraft. By the time the fever had run its course, in late August 1692, nineteen people (and two dogs) had been convicted and hanged for witchcraft.
Is the Crucible a historical account?
In an odd way, then, The Crucible is best read outside its historical context— not as a perfect allegory for anti-Communism, or as a faithful account of the Salem trials, but as a powerful and timeless depiction of how intolerance and hysteria can intersect and tear a community apart. In John Proctor, Miller gives the reader a marvelous tragic hero for any time—a flawed figure who finds his moral center just as everything is falling to pieces around him.
Did the Communists refuse to incriminate their friends?
Those who were revealed, falsely or legitimately, as Communists, and those who refused to incriminate their friends, saw their careers suffer, as they were blacklisted from potential jobs for many years afterward.
Was the Crucible a direct attack on McCarthyism?
At the time of its first performance, in January of 1953 , critics and cast alike perceived The Crucible as a direct attack on McCarthyism (the policy of sniffing out Communists). Its comparatively short run, compared with those of Miller’s other works, was blamed on anti-Communist fervor. When Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were accused of spying for the Soviets and executed, the cast and audience of Miller’s play observed a moment of silence. Still, there are difficulties with interpreting The Crucible as a strict allegorical treatment of 1950s McCarthyism. For one thing, there were, as far as one can tell, no actual witches or devil-worshipers in Salem. However, there were certainly Communists in 1950s America, and many of those who were lionized as victims of McCarthyism at the time, such as the Rosenbergs and Alger Hiss (a former State Department official), were later found to have been in the pay of the Soviet Union. Miller’s Communist friends, then, were often less innocent than the victims of the Salem witch trials, like the stalwart Rebecca Nurse or the tragic John Proctor.
What is the Crucible about?
The Crucible is a play about the Salem Witch Trials written by Arthur Miller. The play debuted on Broadway in January of 1953 and has since become an American classic. Although the play is based on the Salem Witch Trials , it was intended to be an allegory for the Red Scare during the 1940s and 50s. Miller later explained ...
How old was Abigail Williams in the Salem Witch Trials?
Abigail Williams is described as being a 17-year-old during the Salem Witch Trials when she was actually 12 years old. Mary Warren is described as being a 17-year-old when she was actually 20 years old. John Proctor is described as being in his mid-30s when he was actually 60 years old.
Why Did Miller Make These Changes?
Miller most likely changed these small details for a variety of reasons, such as to better fit his narrative, reduce the number of characters, simplify the timeline, make the relationships between the characters clearer and basically just to make the story flow better.
Why was Williams fired from the Proctor family?
Miller said he found this gesture to be curious and imagined a scenario where Williams had been a servant for the Proctor family but was fired by Elizabeth for sleeping with John Proctor thus prompting Abigail to accuse Elizabeth of witchcraft.
How many people were involved in the Salem Witch Trials?
The actual events of the Salem Witch Trials were very complicated and there were hundreds of people involved so it is a challenge sometimes to retell the story without confusing the audience. It would make sense that Miller might change some things to make the story simpler and easier to understand.
What is the play about when people turn on each other?
But mostly, at the heart of it, the play is about what happens to a community when people start to turn on each other. Miller saw examples of this in both the Red Scare, during which officials tried to force Miller himself and many other people into naming suspected communists, and also in the Salem Witch Trials, ...
Where did Miller go to find the Red Scare?
To gather material for the play, Miller visited Salem, Massachusetts in the spring of 1952 and spent a week researching the Salem Witch Trials court records at the courthouse.
What is the Crucible about?
Inspired by the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, focuses on the inconsistencies of the Salem witch trials and the extreme behavior that can result from dark desires and hidden agendas. Miller bases the play on the historical account of the Salem witch trials. In particular he focuses on the discovery ...
What is the meaning of the Crucible?
Within the context of the play the term takes on a new meaning: not only is the crucible a test, but a test designed to bring about change or reveal an individual's true character. The witch trials serve as a metaphorical crucible, which burns away the characters' outer shells to reveal their true intentions and character beneath. Throughout the play, Miller carefully peels away the layers of each character so that the audience not only can identify the character's motivation, but also can reevaluate the character through his or her actions. In other words, the audience observes the character as he or she is tested, and the audience ultimately determines if he or she passes the test.
How did Miller change the Salem Witch Trials?
Reading about the Salem witch trials and the paranoid frenzy going on at the time is one thing, but witnessing the trials first hand is quite another experience. Miller permits the audience to do just that by transforming the faceless names from history into living, breathing characters with desires, emotions, and freewill. Miller did make adjustments to the ages, backgrounds, and occupations of several of the individuals mentioned in the historical records, however. For example, he lowers the age gap between John Proctor and Abigail Williams from sixty and eleven, respectively, to thirty-five and seventeen, enabling the plot line of an affair between the two. Proctor and his wife Elizabeth ran an inn as well as a farm, but Miller eliminates this detail. Proctor's friend Giles Corey was actually pressed to death a month after Proctor's execution; however, Miller juxtaposes his death and Proctor's. Finally, Miller chose to omit the fact that Proctor had a son who was also tortured during the witch trials because he refused to confess to witchcraft.
How does the play Abigail affect audiences?
The play continues to affect audiences by allowing them to see how dark desires and hidden agendas can be played out. Abigail is a young woman who seizes an opportunity to reverse fate. She has had an affair with Proctor, who now refuses to continue the affair out of a mixture of guilt and loyalty to his wife.
Why did Miller remove Act 2 Scene 2?
The original version of the play included an encounter between John Proctor and Abigail in the woods; however, Miller chose to remove Act II, Scene 2, as it changed the dynamics of the play. This scene is generally included in the appendix of publications, but is rarely included in production of the play.
How many people were executed in the Salem court?
By the end of 1692, the Salem court had convicted and executed nineteen men and women. Miller creates an atmosphere and mood within the play reminiscent of the historical period and of Puritan culture. The inhabitants of Salem lived in a restrictive society.
What was the dark period in American history?
On one hand Miller addresses a particularly dark period in American history — a time in which society believed the Devil walked the streets of Salem and could become manifest in anyone, even a close neighbor or, worse yet, a family member.
What is the historical context of the Crucible?
The Crucible is a fictionalized account of the Salem Witch trials of 1692, in which 19 innocent men and women were killed by hanging and hundreds convicted before the panic subsided. Yet while The Crucible depicts one witch-hunt, it was written during another.
When was The Crucible written?
When Written: 1950-52. When Published: 1953. Literary Period: Realist Drama. Genre: Tragic Drama. Setting: Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, when it was a Puritan colony. Climax: The Crucible has an odd structure, in which each of the four acts ends on a climax. Act I: the girls scream out the names of witches.
Who was the real Salem Witch Trials?
The Real Salem Witch Trials. In his depiction of the witch trials, Miller took many major departures from fact. For instance, John Proctor was nearly 60 and Abigail Williams only 11 at the time of the witch trials. Any affair between the two is highly unlikely, to say the least.
