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The Crucible By: Arthur Miller

Using the historical subject of the Salem Witch trials, Arthur Miller's play //The Crucible// (1953) presents an allegory for events in contemporary America. The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, and were based on the accusations of a twelve-year-old girl named Anne Putnam. Putnam claimed that she had witnessed a number of Salem's residents holding black sabbaths and consorting with Satan. Based on these accusations, an English-American clergyman named Samuel Parris spearheaded the prosecution of dozens of alleged witches in the Massachusetts colony. Nineteen people were hanged and one pressed to death over the following two years.

Before You Read Watch the video below and post a response to the discussion board. media type="custom" key="10208373" Web Quest This activity is designed to introduce you to the events associated with the Salem Witch trials of 1692. Use the websites provided to answer the following questions. [|www.nationalgeographic.org/salem] [|www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTM] []
 * 1) Was witchcraft actually practiced in Salem? Explain.
 * 2) What led to the first accusations of witchcraft? What led to later accusations?
 * 3) Who were the primary accusers? What might explain their accusations?
 * 4) In the witch trials, what was accepted as evidence? Provide at least two examples.
 * 5) What happened to someone who confessed to witchcraft? What happened to someone who maintained his/her innocence? How might this have affected the behaviors of those who are accused?
 * 6) What happened to John Proctor? Rebecca Nurse? Abigail Williams? Explain.
 * 7) How many people died as a result of the Salem Witch trials? What finally ended the trials?
 * 8) Identify a couple of ways Arthur Miller changed the facts of the witch trials when he wrote the fictional __Crucible__.

As You Read Answer all of the study questions on a seperate piece of paper. **Act I.**
 * 1) According to Miller, what are the psycological reason's for the "witch hunt"?
 * 2) What do we learn in the exposition of the play about what happened in the woods before the play begins? About Abigail's past relationship with Proctor's family?
 * 3) Describe Reverand Hale. Why has Hale come to town? What does he hope to achieve?
 * 4) What happens when Hale interrogates Tituba? How does he confuse her? What does the final scene of Act I make you expect for the following acts of the play?
 * 5) What motivates the girls’ accusations?
 * 6) How does Rebecca Nurse act as the voice of reason in this act? How does she attempt to apply reason to the situation?


 * Act II.**
 * 1) What is the present state of the Proctors’ marital relationship? How can you tell?
 * 2) What does Elizabeth report to her husband about the trials in Salem, and what does she urge John to do? How does he respond to her requests?
 * 3) What is Mary Warren’s attitude since going to Salem? How is this different from her attitude before going to Salem?
 * 4) What are Elizabeth’s suspicions regarding Abigail?
 * 5) What evidence of witchcraft does the court accept? What charges and evidence have been accepted in regards to Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey? What information from Act I does Miller expect us to remember in connection with each set of charges?
 * 6) Why does John say to Hale, "Pontius Pilate! God will not get you wash your hands of this!"
 * 7) What theological argument does Hale use to explain the causes of the events in Salem? How does John respond to this explanation?
 * 8) What conflict does John face at the end of Act II?
 * 9) At the end of Act II, Miller wrote an additional scene, set about one week after Elizabeth’s arrest. Before production of the play, however, he deleted it. Why? What are the effects of including the deleted scene?
 * 10) Who is the voice of reason in this act? Why?


 * Act III.**
 * 1) How does the attitude toward the court differ from the attitude toward children shown earlier in the play and in early Salem in general? How might this contrast of attitudes explain the events thus far?
 * 2) What is Mary Warren now prepared to tell the court?
 * 3) What compromise does Danforth offer John? What decision does Danforth’s offer force John to make?
 * 4) How does Danforth respond to the deposition that lists 91 supporters of Rebecca, Martha, and Elizabeth? How does his response illustrate his basic attitude about the authority of the court?
 * 5) What does Giles allege in his deposition about the behavior and motives of Thomas Putnam?
 * 6) How does Abigail threaten Danforth? Why does he allow himself to be intimidated by her?
 * 7) What confession does John make in open court? How does Danforth test the truth of this confession? What is the ironic result?
 * 8) What evidence is presented in Act III which demonstrates Abigail’s control over the girls?
 * 9) How does Hales’ attitude toward the court change from the end of Act II to the end of Act III?
 * 10) How are Danforth and Proctor alike?
 * 11) Although Act III centers on the subjects of hypocrisy and hysteria as illustrated by the court proceedings, we are also presented with several examples of courage and integrity. How are the following characters linked to the idea of courage: Mary Warren, John Proctor, Giles Corey and John Hale?
 * 12) Who is the voice of reason in this act? Why?


 * Act IV.**
 * 1) What is the setting for Act IV? How much time has elapsed since the end of Act III?
 * 2) Why has Parris disintegrated?
 * 3) Why is Danforth nervous about rumors concerning Andover?
 * 4) What are Hale’s and Parris’ personal reasons for wanting to obtain a confession? Despite these, why does Danforth remained insistent?
 * 5) According to Hale, what is the present condition of the countryside?
 * 6) What philosophical conclusions has Hale arrived at as a result of the Salem ordeal?
 * 7) Why does John have a problem deciding whether or not to sign the confession?
 * 8) What happens when John turns to Elizabeth for advice? Why?
 * 9) Why does John decide to confess? Why does he then tear up his confession?

1. Give a complete character analysis for the following characters from the Crucible. Use the tips below to help you create each analysis. Tips:
 * The Play as a Whole**
 * John Proctor
 * Abigail Williams
 * Elizabeth Proctor
 * Reverand John Hale
 * Deputy Governor Danforth
 * Reverand Parris
 * 1) Pay attention to the character’s ethics. Does the character make just or unjust choices?
 * 2) Decide whether the character’s actions are wise or unwise.
 * 3) What is the character’s motivation?
 * 4) Consider the effects of the character’s behavior on other characters.
 * 5) Be aware of items associated with the character.
 * 6) Is the character “flat” or “round”? A character is considered flat (or static) when he or she does not experience change of any kind, does not grow from beginning to end. Round characters are those who do experience some sort of growth.
 * 7) Consider the historical time period of the character. Refrain from making modern judgments about the past; put the character’s actions and thoughts in context.

2. An allegory is a story in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or abstract ideas or qualities. Arthur Miller's opening admits the __The Crucible__ is an allegory. Miller clearly intended his audience to recognize parallels between the events in Salem in 1692 and the witch-hunts of the McCarthy period in the early 1950s. Both concern mass hysteria and its effects. Using the T-chart from earlier, write an extended response answer based on the information you gathered and put together.

3.One of Miller’s major subjects in the play is the nature of authority. How do the following characters represent different sources, uses, and misuses of authority: John Hale, Deputy Governor Danforth, and Reverend Samuel Parris? 4. The word ‘crucible’ can be defined in all the following ways: a test, a trial, an ordeal, something formed by fire, or a vessel baked to resist heat. Using these definitions, explain how the symbol of the crucible relates to John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey.
 * Honors Only**: