The CrucibleThe Crucible

Overture NotesOverture Notes

In the 1600s, Puritans settled on the East In the 1600s, Puritans settled on the East coast of the United States. They brought coast of the United States. They brought with them the hope of religious freedom, with them the hope of religious freedom, but instead became embroiled in hysteria but instead became embroiled in hysteria over the existence of witches. They had been over the existence of witches. They had been persecuted in their native England, but they persecuted in their native England, but they created a theocracy and eventually created a theocracy and eventually persecuted others.persecuted others.

Why did it happen?Why did it happen?

It began as a way for the oppressed girls to avoid It began as a way for the oppressed girls to avoid being punished.being punished.

It then became an ideal way to get revenge on It then became an ideal way to get revenge on anyone whom you disliked.anyone whom you disliked.

People started accusing their neighbors of being People started accusing their neighbors of being witches so they could steal their farmland.witches so they could steal their farmland.

People accused others of being witches if they People accused others of being witches if they wanted to steal their husbands or wives or wanted to steal their husbands or wives or possessions.possessions.

Most of those accused of being witches were Most of those accused of being witches were women. women.

Many were healers, and used plants to heal Many were healers, and used plants to heal people. people.

Many were without family, and this made Many were without family, and this made them easy targets. them easy targets.

They were people who did not fit in with the They were people who did not fit in with the mainstream for some reason.mainstream for some reason.

Those accused of being witches were most often Those accused of being witches were most often found guilty. Sometimes they were sentenced to found guilty. Sometimes they were sentenced to be tied to a rock dunked in a pond, and if they be tied to a rock dunked in a pond, and if they sank, they were declared innocent. Innocent. If sank, they were declared innocent. Innocent. If they somehow survived the dunking, they were they somehow survived the dunking, they were obviously witches, and they were executed. obviously witches, and they were executed.

Most of those found guilty of witchcraft were Most of those found guilty of witchcraft were hung. hung.

One man was pressed to death with rocks because One man was pressed to death with rocks because he refused to plead guilty or innocent, insuring he refused to plead guilty or innocent, insuring that his sons still inherited his lands.that his sons still inherited his lands.

How did it start?How did it start?

In 1692, several girls in the village of Salem, Massachusetts In 1692, several girls in the village of Salem, Massachusetts became intrigued when a West Indian servant told them became intrigued when a West Indian servant told them stories of magic and voodoo from her native land. stories of magic and voodoo from her native land.

Bored and restricted by the oppressive Puritan life, the girls Bored and restricted by the oppressive Puritan life, the girls slipped into the woods one night and “conjured” love slipped into the woods one night and “conjured” love charms and hexes.charms and hexes.

One girl, Betty Parris, slipped into unconsciousness when her One girl, Betty Parris, slipped into unconsciousness when her father caught them. She wouldn’t wake up, and this father caught them. She wouldn’t wake up, and this started the discussion of witchcraft. To avoid punishment, started the discussion of witchcraft. To avoid punishment, the girls created the story of the “witches” who made them the girls created the story of the “witches” who made them dance and conjure the spells.dance and conjure the spells.

SalemSalem established 40 years beforeestablished 40 years before work ethic leads to work ethic leads to

increasing economic increasing economic productivityproductivity

no literature- seen as “vain no literature- seen as “vain enjoyment”enjoyment”

holidays= time for worshipholidays= time for worship idle people sent to courtidle people sent to court

EnvironmentEnvironment harsh wilderness harsh wilderness threats from Indian threats from Indian

attacksattacks

Puritan AttitudesPuritan Attitudes Indians were “heathens” who Indians were “heathens” who

could not be convertedcould not be converted Intolerant of other religions Intolerant of other religions

(even though they were (even though they were persecuted)persecuted)

Belief that they were Belief that they were “chosen”“chosen”

Puritan SocietyPuritan Society Theocracy- combination of Theocracy- combination of

state and religion, leaders state and religion, leaders are divinely guidedare divinely guided

Theocracy established to Theocracy established to maintain unity, protect maintain unity, protect Puritan beliefs, and enforce Puritan beliefs, and enforce orderorder

Reverend ParrisReverend ParrisParris is a wormy little character. Miller says in his notes that he found nothing redeemable about the historical Parris. As a result, he evidently felt no need to make his fictional version any better. First of all Parris is greedy. The Reverend gives weak justifications, but never denies any of the accusations. Very concerned about his reputation

Thomas PutnamThomas Putnam

Turned down as a ministerTurned down as a minister

Daughter, Ruth, “afflicted”Daughter, Ruth, “afflicted”

Wife lost seven of eight childrenWife lost seven of eight children

Resentment felt toward villageResentment felt toward village

Son of the richest man in villageSon of the richest man in village

John ProctorJohn Proctor

Farmer in mid-thirtiesFarmer in mid-thirties Reveals hypocritesReveals hypocrites Has an affair with Abigail WilliamsHas an affair with Abigail Williams Proctor was a stand-up guy who spoke his mind. Around town, his name was synonymous with

honor and integrity. He took pleasure in exposing hypocrisy and was respected for it. Most importantly, John Proctor respected himself.

AbigailAbigail

Villain Extraordinaire Abigail is vengeful, selfish, manipulative, and

a magnificent liar. This young lady seems to be uniquely gifted at

spreading death and destruction wherever she goes. She has an eerie sense of how to manipulate others, to gain control over them. All these things add up to make her a marvelous antagonist.

Reverend HaleReverend Hale Considered and expert in the ways of the DevilConsidered and expert in the ways of the Devil Called to Salem by Reverend Paris to investigateCalled to Salem by Reverend Paris to investigate This guy has trained and trained to be the best

witch-hunter ever, and he's psyched to finally get a chance to show off his stuff.

Though he's probably a little full of himself, but ultimately his goal is to valiantly fight the Devil. What could be wrong with that? Well, a whole lot.

Giles CoryGiles Cory

Often blamed for hardshipsOften blamed for hardships In his eightiesIn his eighties Giles Corey is a strong old man and has only recently Giles Corey is a strong old man and has only recently

converted to Christianity. He's likeable, but is not too converted to Christianity. He's likeable, but is not too bright. bright.

His biggest bumble in the play is when brings up the His biggest bumble in the play is when brings up the fact that his wife reads strange books.fact that his wife reads strange books.

To Giles, any book is strange and the idea of a woman To Giles, any book is strange and the idea of a woman wanting to read totally blows his mind. His mention of wanting to read totally blows his mind. His mention of this fact leads to an accusation that his wife is a witchthis fact leads to an accusation that his wife is a witch

.

Goody PutnamGoody Putnam

Lost seven of eight childern in infancyLost seven of eight childern in infancy Convinced the Devil took her childrenConvinced the Devil took her children Resents Rebecca Nurse Resents Rebecca Nurse

TitubaTituba

Reverend Parris’s slave from BarbadosReverend Parris’s slave from Barbados The first one to confess to witchcraftThe first one to confess to witchcraft Conjures spirits with the girls in the woods Conjures spirits with the girls in the woods