The Crucible by Arthur Miller Historical & Cultural Context.

The CrucibleThe Crucibleby Arthur Millerby Arthur Miller

Historical & Cultural ContextHistorical & Cultural Context

Arthur Miller (1915-2005)Arthur Miller (1915-2005)

Born in 1915 in New YorkBorn in 1915 in New YorkHis father was a clothing His father was a clothing

manufacturer and store owner who manufacturer and store owner who experienced significant loss after the experienced significant loss after the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Stock Market Crash of 1929.

Miller attended Abraham Lincoln High Miller attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, and was a gifted School in Brooklyn, and was a gifted athlete and an average student. athlete and an average student.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) Attended the University of Attended the University of

Michigan in 1934Michigan in 1934 studied drama and studied drama and

journalism. journalism. He graduated in 1938 He graduated in 1938

with a Bachelor’s degree with a Bachelor’s degree in English.in English.

Two years later, he Two years later, he published his first play, published his first play, the relatively the relatively unsuccessful unsuccessful The Man The Man Who Had All the LuckWho Had All the Luck and and married his college married his college girlfriend Mary Slattery, girlfriend Mary Slattery, with whom he later had with whom he later had two children, Robert and two children, Robert and Jane.Jane.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) Miller’s first prominent play was Miller’s first prominent play was All All

My Sons My Sons (1947), a tragedy about a (1947), a tragedy about a factory owner who knowingly sold factory owner who knowingly sold faulty aircraft parts during World faulty aircraft parts during World War II. War II.

All My SonsAll My Sons won the Drama Critics won the Drama Critics Circle Award and two Tony Awards. Circle Award and two Tony Awards.

His 1949 play His 1949 play Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman was also an enormous critical was also an enormous critical success, winning the Drama Critics success, winning the Drama Critics Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and several Tony Awards, including Best several Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Author, and Best Director. Play, Best Author, and Best Director.

To this day, To this day, Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman remains one of his most famous and remains one of his most famous and respected works. respected works.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) In 1950, Miller’s troubles began. After directing a In 1950, Miller’s troubles began. After directing a

production of Henrik Ibsen’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the PeopleAn Enemy of the People, , Miller began getting negative attention for his very Miller began getting negative attention for his very public political and social commentary. public political and social commentary.

In 1953 In 1953 The CrucibleThe Crucible opened on Broadway, depicting a opened on Broadway, depicting a deliberate parallel between the Salem Witch Trials and deliberate parallel between the Salem Witch Trials and the Communist Red Scare that America was the Communist Red Scare that America was experiencing at the time. experiencing at the time.

In June of 1956, he was called to testify in front of the In June of 1956, he was called to testify in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), for House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), for which he was found in contempt of court for his refusal which he was found in contempt of court for his refusal to cooperate and identify names of Communist to cooperate and identify names of Communist sympathizers. sympathizers.

This ruling was later overturned by the United States This ruling was later overturned by the United States Court of Appeals, but damage to his reputation had Court of Appeals, but damage to his reputation had taken place nonetheless.taken place nonetheless.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) That same year, he divorced his That same year, he divorced his

wife and married actress and wife and married actress and American icon Marilyn MonroeAmerican icon Marilyn Monroe

They divorced in 1961. They divorced in 1961. His plays His plays After the Fall After the Fall (1964) and (1964) and

Finishing the Picture Finishing the Picture (2004) are (2004) are said to loosely depict their said to loosely depict their turbulent and unhappy marriage. turbulent and unhappy marriage.

Miller then married Inge Morath, Miller then married Inge Morath, with whom he had a son, Daniel, with whom he had a son, Daniel, in 1962, and a daughter, Rebecca, in 1962, and a daughter, Rebecca, in 1963. in 1963.

There have been unconfirmed There have been unconfirmed reports that Miller’s son Daniel reports that Miller’s son Daniel was diagnosed with Down was diagnosed with Down Syndrome shortly after he was Syndrome shortly after he was born and that Miller born and that Miller institutionalized Daniel and never institutionalized Daniel and never saw or spoke to him again, even in saw or spoke to him again, even in his poignant autobiography his poignant autobiography Timebends Timebends (1987). (1987).

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.)

He received the Tony He received the Tony Award for Lifetime Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1999 Achievement in 1999 and the National Book and the National Book Foundation’s medal Foundation’s medal for his contribution to for his contribution to American literature in American literature in 2001.2001.

Arthur Miller died of Arthur Miller died of heart failure in heart failure in February of 2005 at February of 2005 at his Connecticut home. his Connecticut home. He was 89 years old. He was 89 years old.

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy TrialsScare and McCarthy Trials

In 1950, Arthur Miller wrote In 1950, Arthur Miller wrote The The CrucibleCrucible as a parallel between the as a parallel between the Salem Witch Trials and the current Salem Witch Trials and the current events that were spreading throughout events that were spreading throughout the United States at the time. A similar the United States at the time. A similar “witch hunt” was happening in the “witch hunt” was happening in the United States—and this time, the United States—and this time, the accused were those who were a part of accused were those who were a part of the Communist Party or who were the Communist Party or who were Communist sympathizers.Communist sympathizers.

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The CrucibleThe Crucible

Historical Context WebQuestHistorical Context WebQuest

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy Trials Scare and McCarthy Trials

(cont.)(cont.) Shortly after the end of World Shortly after the end of World

War I, a “Red Scare” took hold War I, a “Red Scare” took hold of the nation. Named after the of the nation. Named after the red flag of the USSR (now red flag of the USSR (now Russia), the “Reds” were seen Russia), the “Reds” were seen as a threat to the democracy as a threat to the democracy of the United States. Fear, of the United States. Fear, paranoia, and hysteria paranoia, and hysteria gripped the nation, and many gripped the nation, and many innocent people were innocent people were questioned and then jailed for questioned and then jailed for expressing any view which expressing any view which was seen as anti-Democratic was seen as anti-Democratic or anti-American. or anti-American.

In June of 1940, Congress In June of 1940, Congress passed the Alien Registration passed the Alien Registration Act, which required anyone Act, which required anyone who was not a legal resident of who was not a legal resident of the United States to file a the United States to file a statement of their occupational statement of their occupational and personal status, which and personal status, which included a record of their included a record of their political beliefs. The House Un-political beliefs. The House Un-American Activities Committee American Activities Committee (HUAC), which was established (HUAC), which was established in 1938, had the job of in 1938, had the job of investigating those who were investigating those who were suspected of overthrowing or suspected of overthrowing or threatening the democracy of threatening the democracy of the U.S. As the Alien the U.S. As the Alien Registration Act gathered the Registration Act gathered the information, the HUAC began information, the HUAC began hunting down those who were hunting down those who were believed to be a threat to believed to be a threat to American beliefs.American beliefs.


(cont.)(cont.) The HUAC established that The HUAC established that

Communist beliefs were being Communist beliefs were being spread via mass media. At this spread via mass media. At this time, movies were becoming time, movies were becoming more liberal, and therefore, more liberal, and therefore, were believed to be a threat; were believed to be a threat; many felt that Hollywood was many felt that Hollywood was attempting to propagandize attempting to propagandize Communist beliefs. In Communist beliefs. In September of 1947, the HUAC September of 1947, the HUAC subpoenaed nineteen subpoenaed nineteen witnesses (most of whom were witnesses (most of whom were actors, directors, and writers) actors, directors, and writers) who had previously refused to who had previously refused to comment, claiming their Fifth comment, claiming their Fifth Amendment rights. Eleven of Amendment rights. Eleven of the seventeen were called to the seventeen were called to testify; only one actually spoke testify; only one actually spoke on the stand—the remaining on the stand—the remaining ten refused to speak and were ten refused to speak and were labeled the “Hollywood Ten.” labeled the “Hollywood Ten.”


(cont.)(cont.) After these infamous ten refused to speak, After these infamous ten refused to speak,

executives from the movie industry met to decide executives from the movie industry met to decide how best to handle the bad press. They decided how best to handle the bad press. They decided to suspend all ten without pay. Although the to suspend all ten without pay. Although the initial intention was to save their box office initial intention was to save their box office reputation, what eventually resulted was as reputation, what eventually resulted was as decade-long blacklist. Hundreds of people who decade-long blacklist. Hundreds of people who worked in the industry were told to point the worked in the industry were told to point the finger naming those who had any affiliation with finger naming those who had any affiliation with the Communist party. As a result, over 200 the Communist party. As a result, over 200 people lost their jobs and were unable to find people lost their jobs and were unable to find anyone who would hire them. The Communist anyone who would hire them. The Communist with-hunt ruined the careers of hundreds, and with-hunt ruined the careers of hundreds, and ruined the reputation of hundreds more. ruined the reputation of hundreds more.


(cont.)(cont.) In February of 1950, a In February of 1950, a

Republican senator from Republican senator from Wisconsin names Joseph Wisconsin names Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a McCarthy claimed to have a list of over 200 card-carrying list of over 200 card-carrying members of the Communist members of the Communist party. By 1951, a new party. By 1951, a new flourish of accusations flourish of accusations began and a new wave were began and a new wave were subpoenaed to “name subpoenaed to “name names”—to snitch on those names”—to snitch on those who were Communists or who were Communists or believed to be Communist believed to be Communist sympathizers. Later, the sympathizers. Later, the terms terms McCarthy TrialsMcCarthy Trials and and McCarthyism McCarthyism were coined, were coined, which described the anti-which described the anti-Communist movement and Communist movement and trials of the 1950s. trials of the 1950s.


(cont.)(cont.) Arthur Miller wrote Arthur Miller wrote The The

Crucible Crucible in 1953, after in 1953, after witnessing first-hand the witnessing first-hand the modern witch-hunt that modern witch-hunt that had taken place in the had taken place in the United States. Miller wrote United States. Miller wrote the controversial play as the controversial play as an allegory, a play which an allegory, a play which represents something represents something much deeper. In this case, much deeper. In this case, the story is about the the story is about the Salem witch trials of the Salem witch trials of the 1690s, but warns of history 1690s, but warns of history repeating these tragic repeating these tragic events on the 1950s.events on the 1950s.

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Read Arthur Miller’s Read Arthur Miller’s

““Why I Wrote Why I Wrote The CrucibleThe Crucible””

Miller Reacts to a Witch HuntMiller Reacts to a Witch Hunt

““I had known about the Salem witchcraft I had known about the Salem witchcraft phenomenon since my American history phenomenon since my American history class at [the University of] Michigan, but it class at [the University of] Michigan, but it had remained in my mind as one of those had remained in my mind as one of those inexplicable mystifications of the long-dead inexplicable mystifications of the long-dead past when people commonly believed that past when people commonly believed that the spirit could leave the body…”the spirit could leave the body…”

““As though it had been ordained, a copy of As though it had been ordained, a copy of Marion Starkey’s book Marion Starkey’s book The Devil in The Devil in Massachusetts Massachusetts fell into my hands, and the fell into my hands, and the bizarre story came back as I had recalled it, bizarre story came back as I had recalled it, but this time in remarkably well-organized but this time in remarkably well-organized detail.”detail.”

Miller Reacts to a Witch HuntMiller Reacts to a Witch Hunt ““At first I rejected the idea of a play on the subject. My own At first I rejected the idea of a play on the subject. My own

rationality was too strong, I thought, to really allow me to capture rationality was too strong, I thought, to really allow me to capture this wildly irrational outbreak. A drama cannot merely describe an this wildly irrational outbreak. A drama cannot merely describe an emotion, it has to become that emotion. But gradually, over emotion, it has to become that emotion. But gradually, over weeks, a living connection between myself and Salem, and weeks, a living connection between myself and Salem, and between Salem and Washington, was made in my mind—for between Salem and Washington, was made in my mind—for whatever else they might be, I saw that the hearings in whatever else they might be, I saw that the hearings in Washington were profoundly and avowedly ritualistic. After all, in Washington were profoundly and avowedly ritualistic. After all, in almost every case the Committee knew in advance what they almost every case the Committee knew in advance what they wanted the witness to give them: the names of his comrades in wanted the witness to give them: the names of his comrades in the [Communist] Party. The FBI had long since infiltrated the the [Communist] Party. The FBI had long since infiltrated the Party, and informers had long ago identified the participants in Party, and informers had long ago identified the participants in various meetings. The main point of the hearings, precisely as in various meetings. The main point of the hearings, precisely as in seventeenth-century Salem, was that the accused make public seventeenth-century Salem, was that the accused make public confession, damn his confederates as well as his Devil master, and confession, damn his confederates as well as his Devil master, and guarantee his sterling new allegiance by breaking disgusting old guarantee his sterling new allegiance by breaking disgusting old vows—whereupon he was let loose to rejoin the society of vows—whereupon he was let loose to rejoin the society of extremely decent people. In other words, the same spiritual extremely decent people. In other words, the same spiritual nugget lay folded within both procedures—an act of contrition nugget lay folded within both procedures—an act of contrition done not in solemn privacy but out in public air.”done not in solemn privacy but out in public air.”

Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt (cont.)(cont.)

““The Salem prosecution was actually on The Salem prosecution was actually on more solid legal ground since the more solid legal ground since the defendant, if guilty of familiarity with the defendant, if guilty of familiarity with the Unclean One [the Devil], had broken a law Unclean One [the Devil], had broken a law against the practice of witchcraft, a civil as against the practice of witchcraft, a civil as well as a religious offense; whereas the well as a religious offense; whereas the offender against HUAC could not be offender against HUAC could not be accused of any such violation but only of a accused of any such violation but only of a spiritual crime, subservience to a political spiritual crime, subservience to a political enemy’s desires and ideology. He was enemy’s desires and ideology. He was summoned before the Committee to be summoned before the Committee to be called a bad name, but one that could called a bad name, but one that could destroy his career.”destroy his career.”

Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt (cont.)(cont.)

““In effect, it came down to In effect, it came down to a governmental decree of a governmental decree of moral moral guilt that could guilt that could easily be made to easily be made to disappear by ritual speech: disappear by ritual speech: intoning names of fellow intoning names of fellow sinners and recanting sinners and recanting former beliefs. This last former beliefs. This last was probably the saddest was probably the saddest and truest part of the and truest part of the charade, for by the early charade, for by the early 1950s there were few, and 1950s there were few, and even fewer in the arts, who even fewer in the arts, who had not left behind their had not left behind their illusions about the illusions about the Soviets.”Soviets.”

““It was this immaterial It was this immaterial element, the surreal element, the surreal spiritual transaction, that spiritual transaction, that now fascinated me, for the now fascinated me, for the rituals of guilt and rituals of guilt and confession followed all the confession followed all the forms of a religious forms of a religious inquisition, except, of inquisition, except, of course, that the offended course, that the offended parties were not God and parties were not God and his ministers but a his ministers but a congressional congressional committee…”committee…”

Notes from Christopher Bigsby’s Notes from Christopher Bigsby’s Introduction to the play:Introduction to the play:

““The question is not the reality of The question is not the reality of witches but the power of authority to witches but the power of authority to define the nature of the real, and the define the nature of the real, and the desire, on the part of individuals and desire, on the part of individuals and the state, to identify those whose the state, to identify those whose purging will relieve a sense of anxiety purging will relieve a sense of anxiety and guilt. What lay behind the and guilt. What lay behind the procedures of both witch trial and procedures of both witch trial and political hearing was a familiar political hearing was a familiar American need to assert a recoverable American need to assert a recoverable innocence even if the only guarantee innocence even if the only guarantee of such innocence lay in the of such innocence lay in the displacement of guilt onto others. To displacement of guilt onto others. To sustain the integrity of their own sustain the integrity of their own names, the accused were invited to names, the accused were invited to offer the names of others, even though offer the names of others, even though to do so would be to make them to do so would be to make them complicit in procedures they despised complicit in procedures they despised and hence to damage their sense of and hence to damage their sense of themselves. And here is a theme that themselves. And here is a theme that connects virtually all of Miller’s plays: connects virtually all of Miller’s plays: betrayal, of the self no less than of betrayal, of the self no less than of others.”others.”

Notes (continued):Notes (continued): “…“…in Miller’s plays there usually comes a moment in Miller’s plays there usually comes a moment

when the central character cries out his own when the central character cries out his own name, determined to invest it with meaning and name, determined to invest it with meaning and integrity. Almost invariably this moment occurs integrity. Almost invariably this moment occurs when he is on the point of betraying himself and when he is on the point of betraying himself and others. A climactic scene in others. A climactic scene in The CrucibleThe Crucible occurs occurs when John Proctor, on the point of trading his when John Proctor, on the point of trading his integrity for his life, finally refuses to pay the integrity for his life, finally refuses to pay the price, which is to offer the names of others to buy price, which is to offer the names of others to buy his life…Three years later, Miller himself was his life…Three years later, Miller himself was called before the Committee. His reply, when called before the Committee. His reply, when asked to betray others, was a virtual paraphrase asked to betray others, was a virtual paraphrase of the one offered by Proctor. He announced, “I of the one offered by Proctor. He announced, “I am trying to, and will protect my sense of myself. I am trying to, and will protect my sense of myself. I could not use the name of another person and could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him.’”bring trouble on him.’”

Notes (continued):Notes (continued): “[The Crucible] is Arthur Miller’s most

frequently produced play not, I think, because it addresses affairs of the state nor even because it offers us the tragic sight of a man who dies to save his conception of himself and the world, but because audiences understand all too well that the breaking of charity is no less a truth of their own lives than it is an account of historical processes…The Crucible reminds us how fragile is our grasp on those shared values that are the foundation of any society.”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) ““Beyond anything else Beyond anything else The The

Crucible Crucible is a study in power and is a study in power and the mechanisms by which power the mechanisms by which power is sustained, challenged, and is sustained, challenged, and lost…In the landscape of lost…In the landscape of The The CrucibleCrucible, on the one hand stands , on the one hand stands the church, which provides the the church, which provides the defining language within which all defining language within which all social, political, and moral debate social, political, and moral debate is conducted. On the other stand is conducted. On the other stand those usually deprived of power—those usually deprived of power—the black slave Tituba and the the black slave Tituba and the young children—who suddenly young children—who suddenly gain access to an authority as gain access to an authority as absolute as that which had absolute as that which had previously subordinated them…previously subordinated them…Those socially marginalized move Those socially marginalized move to the very center of social to the very center of social action…action…The CrucibleThe Crucible is a play is a play about the seductive nature of about the seductive nature of power…”power…”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) The Crucible The Crucible is both an is both an

intense psychological drama intense psychological drama and a play of epic and a play of epic proportions…this is a drama proportions…this is a drama about an entire community about an entire community betrayed by a Dionysian betrayed by a Dionysian surrender to the irrational; it surrender to the irrational; it is also, however, a play about is also, however, a play about the redemption of an the redemption of an individual and, through the individual and, through the individual, of a society. Some individual, of a society. Some scenes, therefore, people the scenes, therefore, people the stage with characters, while stage with characters, while others show the individual others show the individual confronted by little more than confronted by little more than his own conscience. That his own conscience. That oscillation between the public oscillation between the public and the private is a part of and the private is a part of the rhythmic pattern of the the rhythmic pattern of the play.”play.”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) “…“…the play’s success now owes little to the play’s success now owes little to

the political and social context in which it the political and social context in which it was written. It stands, instead, as a study was written. It stands, instead, as a study of the debilitating power of guilt, the of the debilitating power of guilt, the seductions of power, the flawed nature of seductions of power, the flawed nature of the individual and of the society to which the individual and of the society to which the individual owes allegiance. It stands as the individual owes allegiance. It stands as a testimony to the ease with which we a testimony to the ease with which we betray those very values essential to our betray those very values essential to our survival, but also the courage with which survival, but also the courage with which some men and women can challenge what some men and women can challenge what seems to be a ruling orthodoxy.” seems to be a ruling orthodoxy.”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued)

““Like so many of Miller’s other Like so many of Miller’s other plays, it is a study of a man plays, it is a study of a man who wishes, above all, to who wishes, above all, to believe that he has invested believe that he has invested his life with meaning, but his life with meaning, but cannot do so if he betrays cannot do so if he betrays himself through betraying himself through betraying others. It is a study of a others. It is a study of a society that believes in its society that believes in its unique virtues and seeks to unique virtues and seeks to sustain that dream of sustain that dream of perfection by denying all perfection by denying all possibility of its imperfection…possibility of its imperfection…America is to believe that it is America is to believe that it is at the same time both guilty at the same time both guilty and without flaw.”and without flaw.”

SourcesSources

The CrucibleThe Crucible Literature Guide. Literature Guide. Secondary Solutions, 2006. Secondary Solutions, 2006.

The CrucibleThe Crucible. Latitudes. Perfection . Latitudes. Perfection Learning, 1995. Learning, 1995.

Christopher Bigsby’s Introduction in Christopher Bigsby’s Introduction in the Penguin Books version of the Penguin Books version of The The Crucible, 1995. Crucible, 1995.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller Historical & Cultural Context.

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Transcript of The Crucible by Arthur Miller Historical & Cultural Context.