The CrucibleBy Arthur Miller

Biography of Arthur Miller

1915-2005 (Born almost 100 years ago!

Died at what age?

PlaywrightWhat did he do?

Liked to write about issues in society

Cool fact… Miller married three times, his second marriage was to Marilyn Monroe

The Crucible

Written about the Puritans…

Extremely strict religion

Make an inference about how women were seen/treated. Common names included…

Patience

Silence

Fear

Prudence (well-behaved)

The Salem Witch Trials

The story of a few teenage girls that sparked a witch hunt in Salem Massachusetts.

At first, the girls only accuse a few people to avoid getting in trouble, but then, the hysteria spreads!!!

More about the PuritansChurch was required!

You miss church, you must pay $$$$Harsh punishment for those who were bad

Adulterer (someone who cheated on their husband/wife OR a woman who had a child without being married) were humiliated. Were allowed to have small parties, sang songs

What was the Crucible REALLY about?

The Crucible was Written during The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union

What made the war cold?

The US and the Soviets never actually fought, it was more of a fierce competition…

What was The Crucible REALLY about?

McCarthyism"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?"

Does this sound familiar?

Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that over 200 communists had “infiltrated” the US.

In the end, over 300 artists were “blacklisted” and for many, this meant the end of their careers

This interrogation did not end until McCarthy accused many decorated Army veterans of being communists

What is a communist?

Imagine a world with no social classes…

Where all money is shared by all…

Sounds pretty great right? Then what’s the problem?

The Founders of Communis

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Essential Vocabulary

RhetoricLanguage that persuades, but is not always meaningful/sincere.

Think commercials or political statements…

Essential Vocabulary

Allegorya story, poem, or picture that can be analyzed to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Examples of Allegory

The Chronicles of Narnia

Asland (the lion) is Jesus and Edmund is Judas

The Wizard of OzThe scarecrow= the pastThe lion = cowardiceThe tin man = the future

Wall-E and Avatar = ?

The Hunger Games?

Would you?

Would you accuse an innocent person to avoid being thrown in jail, tortured, or killed?