By Arthur MillerBy Arthur Miller

BackgroundBackground

Salem, Mass. - 1692Theocracy- government ruled by God

through religious officialsMoral and state laws are oneSinning was a public matter &

punishments were publicState officials governedNo free speech

Salem, Mass. - 1692Theocracy- government ruled by God

through religious officialsMoral and state laws are oneSinning was a public matter &

punishments were publicState officials governedNo free speech

BackgroundBackground

Salem was divided into a prosperous town—second only to Boston—and a farming village. The two bickered again and again.

Townspeople were hard workers and were mandated to attend church

Salem was divided into a prosperous town—second only to Boston—and a farming village. The two bickered again and again.

Townspeople were hard workers and were mandated to attend church

What happened…What happened…

Salem in seemed confused -

It was under British rule and was awaiting a new governor, but by the time the governor William Phips arrived the jails were filled with alleged witches.

Salem in seemed confused -

It was under British rule and was awaiting a new governor, but by the time the governor William Phips arrived the jails were filled with alleged witches.

Some more problemsSome more problems

In 1689 the villagers won the right to establish their own church and chose the Reverend Samuel Parris, a former merchant, as their minister. His rigid ways and seemingly boundless demands for compensation—including personal title to the village parsonage—increased the friction.

Many villagers vowed to drive Parris out, and they stopped contributing to his salary in October 1691.

In 1689 the villagers won the right to establish their own church and chose the Reverend Samuel Parris, a former merchant, as their minister. His rigid ways and seemingly boundless demands for compensation—including personal title to the village parsonage—increased the friction.

Many villagers vowed to drive Parris out, and they stopped contributing to his salary in October 1691.

Witchcraft was a major belief

Witchcraft was a major belief

Puritans believed in witches and in witchcraft. They believed that witchcraft was "entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil.”

A sin and a crime, since it used the devil's power to perform cruel acts against others.

Puritans believed in witches and in witchcraft. They believed that witchcraft was "entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil.”

A sin and a crime, since it used the devil's power to perform cruel acts against others.

Two girls?Two girls?

Betty Parris & Abigail Williams accuse the following women:TitubaSarah GoodSarah OsborneAre you a witch? Have

you seen the devil? How do you explain the afflictions of these girls?

Betty Parris & Abigail Williams accuse the following women:TitubaSarah GoodSarah OsborneAre you a witch? Have

you seen the devil? How do you explain the afflictions of these girls?

Results of accusationsResults of accusations

After initially maintaining her innocence, Tituba eventually confessed to being a witch and claimed that she, Good, and Osborne had all made pacts with the devil and had even flown through the air on poles. Tituba's confession showed Salem that their suspicions were valid. For the next year the villagers, fueled by their paranoia and hysteria, searched for witches amongst themselves tirelessly.

After initially maintaining her innocence, Tituba eventually confessed to being a witch and claimed that she, Good, and Osborne had all made pacts with the devil and had even flown through the air on poles. Tituba's confession showed Salem that their suspicions were valid. For the next year the villagers, fueled by their paranoia and hysteria, searched for witches amongst themselves tirelessly.

Witchcraft in SalemWitchcraft in Salem

In the following months, many more were accused of witchcraft.

Overloaded with all the new trials, Governor William Phips created a special court to hear the witch cases.

The trials quickly spiraled out of control, and a number of suspected witches were convicted and hanged.

Those who stood trial for the crime of witchcraft could be convicted based on gossip or hearsay.

Practically the only way to avoid execution was to admit to being a witch. During 1692, nineteen people refused to confess and died as a result.

In the following months, many more were accused of witchcraft.

Overloaded with all the new trials, Governor William Phips created a special court to hear the witch cases.

The trials quickly spiraled out of control, and a number of suspected witches were convicted and hanged.

Those who stood trial for the crime of witchcraft could be convicted based on gossip or hearsay.

Practically the only way to avoid execution was to admit to being a witch. During 1692, nineteen people refused to confess and died as a result.

Miller’s PlayMiller’s Play

Based on these events!Not all is accurate in play- there are

many distortionsCrucible - refers to a test or hard trial

that people undergoYou will read and explore ideas focuses

on Private sins; paranoia, hysteria, & religious

intolerance

Based on these events!Not all is accurate in play- there are

many distortionsCrucible - refers to a test or hard trial

that people undergoYou will read and explore ideas focuses

on Private sins; paranoia, hysteria, & religious

intolerance

Characters in the Beginning of Act ICharacters in the Beginning of Act I

Parris: A minister in Salem who is more worried about his reputation than the life of his daughter or the lives of his parishioners

Betty: Parris's young daughter; stricken at the beginning of the play; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial

Abigail: Orphan; niece of Parris; tauntress; mistress of Proctor; leads "crying out" during the trial

Tituba: Parris's slave from Barbados; first accused witch Putnam: Vindictive, bitter villager who believes he has been

wronged and cheated; leading village voice against the witches

Mrs. Putnam: Wife of (Thomas) Putnam; first plants the idea that Betty has been bewitched

Susanna: Doctor's messenger; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial

Parris: A minister in Salem who is more worried about his reputation than the life of his daughter or the lives of his parishioners

Betty: Parris's young daughter; stricken at the beginning of the play; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial

Abigail: Orphan; niece of Parris; tauntress; mistress of Proctor; leads "crying out" during the trial

Tituba: Parris's slave from Barbados; first accused witch Putnam: Vindictive, bitter villager who believes he has been

wronged and cheated; leading village voice against the witches

Mrs. Putnam: Wife of (Thomas) Putnam; first plants the idea that Betty has been bewitched

Susanna: Doctor's messenger; one of the girls who "cry out" during the trial

Act IAct I

Act One begins with the Rev. Samuel Parris praying for his daughter Betty who lies faint in her bed, suffering from a strange malady. Betty and Abigail, Parris's niece, and some of the other village girls had been surprised by Parris in the forest as they were engaged in a voodoo ritual led by Tituba, Parris's black slave. Betty fainted and still had not recovered.

Act One begins with the Rev. Samuel Parris praying for his daughter Betty who lies faint in her bed, suffering from a strange malady. Betty and Abigail, Parris's niece, and some of the other village girls had been surprised by Parris in the forest as they were engaged in a voodoo ritual led by Tituba, Parris's black slave. Betty fainted and still had not recovered.

Act IAct I

Ann and Thomas Putnam, prosperous villagers, arrive and claim that the children are suffering from "the Devil's touch" at the hands of witches.When the adults leave to pray with townspeople who have heard rumors of witchcraft, Abigail and Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren wake Betty.

Ann and Thomas Putnam, prosperous villagers, arrive and claim that the children are suffering from "the Devil's touch" at the hands of witches.When the adults leave to pray with townspeople who have heard rumors of witchcraft, Abigail and Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren wake Betty.

Act IAct I

Betty accuses Abigail of "drinking blood" and says that Abigail will be whipped. Abigail threatens the other girls with grievous harm if they admit too much to the elders.At this point, John Proctor, a farmer who had an affair with Abigail, enters. Abigail tells John of her continuing love and desire, but Proctor rejects her saying nothing happened between them.

Betty accuses Abigail of "drinking blood" and says that Abigail will be whipped. Abigail threatens the other girls with grievous harm if they admit too much to the elders.At this point, John Proctor, a farmer who had an affair with Abigail, enters. Abigail tells John of her continuing love and desire, but Proctor rejects her saying nothing happened between them.

Act IAct I

Soon the Rev. John Hale, a specialist in witch hunting arrives and examines Betty who has fainted again. He then questions Abigail and Tituba. Tituba, afraid of being hung as a witch, professes faith in God and confesses that two townswomen, Goody Good and Goody Osburn, came to her with the Devil. Abigail and then Betty claim they have been bewitched but now turn to God. The act closes as the girls ecstatically chant the names of the townspeople whom they accuse of consorting with the Devil.

Soon the Rev. John Hale, a specialist in witch hunting arrives and examines Betty who has fainted again. He then questions Abigail and Tituba. Tituba, afraid of being hung as a witch, professes faith in God and confesses that two townswomen, Goody Good and Goody Osburn, came to her with the Devil. Abigail and then Betty claim they have been bewitched but now turn to God. The act closes as the girls ecstatically chant the names of the townspeople whom they accuse of consorting with the Devil.