The Crucible

Fires Within Fires

A. Grew up during Depression; saw America at its lowest.

B. Won Pulitzer for Death of a SalesmanC. Associated with many communists and was put

on trial before House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

D. Married Marilyn Monroe; divorced her just prior to her death

E. Was an atheist

I. Arthur Miller (1915-2005)

Modernist Atheist

Communist

A. 1950’s “Red Scare”B. Senator McCarthy targeted numerous celebrities,

government employees, and rival politicians and accused them of being communists. In 1950, Joseph McCarthy claimed 205 communists were working in the State Department

C. Went too far when he turned on the militaryD. Miller himself is blacklisted by H.U.A.C. after first

production of The Crucible

II. Historical Context

McCarthy

It All Goes Wrong:Army-McCarthy Hearing

"Are We Lost?"

A. The abuse of power and manipulation of citizens by fear is timeless

1. Puritan Witch Trials = McCarthyism = Post 9-11 Paranoia

2. Any means to a desired end

B. Absurdity of organized religion1. Faith presented as a weapon of fear2. Miller’s atheism seen through mockery of

religious figures in play

III. Themes

C. Honor and integrity can exist in the midst of chaos and destruction1. John Proctor2. Giles Corey

III. Themes (cont.)

Both men flawed, imperfect, and destroyed, but refuse to compromise

their values.

A. Conflict of individual vs. societyB. “Making New” a classic story to teach a

contemporary lessonC. Rejection of realist belief that heroes cannot

exist – there is hope and redemption, even in failure

IV. Modernist Qualities

A. Crucible = device which, using heat and pressure, melts metals down to their base elements.

B. American Society = like a crucible. A man’s individuality and honor are determined by how they respond to the test.

V. Significance of title

A. Most essential question of Miller’s work.B. Like Hale and Proctor, Miller views

American society as “bewildered”C. Miller believes America can be “found”

again within a new, individualistic, and honorable hope.

VI. Are We Lost?

“Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with

the right regrets.”