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The Crucible by Arthur MillerDiscussion Questions/Answers & Teaching NotesNotes“the breaking of charity is no less a truth of their own lives than it is an account of historical process” JP’s death to save himself, the conception of himselfShared values = foundation of society => rights are fluid & up to supreme court to decide how they apply to the people & at which times Not just McCarthyism that took away rights: Suffrage movement, Holocaust & Patriot ActNational/Religious/Racial identity is reinforced by eliminating those who might “contaminate” itCultural Revolution of 1960s – young vs. old (how the play was presented to Communist China)Church provides the language within which all social, political, and moral debate is conductedSome gain power not (often) given to them naturally – young (girls), slaves (Tituba), females and therefore become catalysts for the plot of the story… based on their greed? Personal motives?When Abigail “sees” a hawk => not devil but a reflection of her own guilt & desire… this shows the power of emotionsArthur Miller put himself into this personally as his characters examine their own consciences. Politically, too, when he stood before the House Un-American Activities Committee, he was stung into insisting on his patriotism while defending his right to challenge the direction of American policy & thoughtPlay held 197 performances (compared to 742 for Death of a Salesman) on Broadway w/actors that took a paycutA View from the Bridge held 149 performancesThen, no new plays from Arthur MillerMeanwhile, The Misfits (he wrote it but did not produce nor direct it) received a fine for contempt of Congress + a corresponding prison sentence (was squashed on appeal) =>shows how Miller was ostracized“Majority rises from formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion” – Alexis de Tocqueville, friend of MillerAct 1 Discussion Questions/AnswersWhat were some of the entertainments forbidden by the Puritans in 1692 Salem?Dancing in the forest, nakedness, naked dancing, casting spells, disobedient children (Rev. Parris)List some of the reasons why the Puritans failed to convert the Indians.Pg 5 (tan) – preferred to take land from the heathen than from fellow ChristiansVirgin forest was Devil’s last preserve – citadel of his final stand => fear & not good place for paying homage to GodHow had the Puritans failed to learn from the persecution of their ancestors?They thought they were special – “hold a candle that would light the world” – do or die mentalityWhy did the witch-hunts occur?Perverse magnification of panic which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom => lack of balance between order and freedomWitch hunt -> not repressive completely but rather an opportunity for people to express guilt & sins publicly but under the cover of accusations against the victimsWhy does a conflict exist between Reverend Sam Parris and his niece Abigail?She has a tendency to dissent… and he’s concerned about his own reputation in the village as a new minister who came to term in questionable ways. He wants to gain the respect of the townspeople, and Abigail has a questionable reputation.“Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character. I have given you a home, child, I have put clothes on your back – now give me upright answer. Your name in the town – it is entirely white, is it not?”Why does Parris exhibit uneasiness in the beginning of Act 1?He’s concerned about his daughter, Betty, who’s lying inert, and he knows he saw the girls dancing in the forest the night before. He’s concerned about how this will look for him, but he knows he needs to get his daughter help. What actions did Abigail, Betty, and the other girls perform prior to the play’s beginning?They met in the forest (Devil’s territory) with the intent on casting love spells with the foreign slave Tituba. They danced, Mercy Lewis may have shed her clothes, and they performed “magic.”For what reason did Parris send for Reverend Hale?He wants Rev. Hale of Beverly to prove that the Devil is not in his town: “A wide opinion’s running in the parish that the Devil may be among us, and I would satisfy them that they are wrong.”Who was James Bayley, and what position had he desired?Bayley was Ann Putnam’s brother-in-law who had been turned down as minister of Salem despite having the qualifications and a 2/3 vote into the bargain. Thomas Putnam’s man for the Salem ministry… the Nurse clan had been in the faction that prevented Bayley’s taking office. Through their alliances with several prominent families in the village, the Nurses prevented Putnam’s man from taking office. Also, the Nurses, their extended family, and their neighbors separated to form Topsfield, a new and independent entity that old Salemites resented. The Topsfield-Nurse entity refused to attend the Salem church, and it is no wonder that the first outcries of witchery towards them were from Edward and Jonathan Putnam.How had Thomas Putnam antagonized Minister Borroughs?Thomas Putnam and his brother John had Burroughs jailed for debts Burroughs didn’t owe. Burroughs had to borrow money for his wife’s funeral, and since the parish was remiss in his salary, he was soon bankrupt.What happened to Thomas & Ann Putnam’s family?Their name (reputation) was besmirched in the village as the vindictive Thomas accused many individuals of witchcraft. Also, his wife had several miscarriages that armed the Putnams with the artillery needed to cry out witchcraft against their midwife and Tituba.Why did Ann Putnam send Ruth to Tituba?Ann wanted Tituba to speak to the dead to find out who murdered her babies.Explain the relationship between Abigail Williams and John Proctor.Abigail was the Proctor’s servant/maid, and Elizabeth Proctor dismissed her from their employment. John and her had an affair. He committed lechery, and she committed adultery. She now loves him even though he is looking to end the relationship. Give several reasons why the Putnams resented the Nurses.Land boundaries – the Nurses rented 300 acres of land, and as they paid it off, their family grew and inhabited different parts of it. The Putnams are neighbors and constantly argue over the boundaries.Power in office – Putnams wanted Bayley to take office, but the Nurses prevented itReligious debate – Nurses didn’t attend Salem church for awhile; Putnams called them out for their blasphemyExplain the conflict between Proctor and Reverend Parris.Proctor doesn’t attend church b/c Parris preaches too much about hellfire, damnation, and getting golden candlesticks for the alter.Also- Proctor is a sharp man with a “biting way with hypocrites” – people felt their dishonesty (if it existed) in his presence, and as a result, he was called out for slander often. His moral compass doesn’t point due north, but he knows right from wrong. At the time, the Salemites didn’t have a means of forgiveness or absolution of sins, so he has to live with his until his Judgment Day. He also feels as though Parris should be the one absolving the village of the Devil, and that by calling in a separate “official” (Hale), he is showing weakness as a leader. *reference to America’s weak leader during the McCarthy hearings (Eisenhower)???Why did Putnam oppose Proctor?Putnam confronted Proctor about harvesting his land; he accuses Proctor of dragging lumber out of Putnam’s forest. Proctor bought the forested lands by the river from Good Nurse’s husband five months prior; Putnam still believes that the Nurses’ land is rightfully Putnam’s. Proctor snaps back to point out that Putnam tried to amend his grandfather’s will to include more land than he originally intended. This only angers Putnam further, and Putnam states he will fight Proctor and insists he will “clap a writ” on Corey for helping Proctor.Describe Reverend Hale and his background.“Nearing 40, light skinned, and eager-eyed intellectual” He feels he has a unique knowledge about the devil and witchcraft and is empowered by his reputation of being able to eliminate evil. Role of Religion, as reinforced by Hale’s character – The Devil is a necessary part of a greater theological observation. That is, there has to exist a unity between the positive and negative forces, of which good and evil are relative, in order to preserve the balance of the universe. These thoughts, though not clearly reinforced by the physical sciences, have to be adaptable over time and across cultures. According to Miller: “When it is recalled that until the Christian era the underworld was never regarded as a hostile area, that all gods were useful and essentially friendly to man despite occasional lapses; when we see the steady and methodical inculcation into humanity of the idea of man’s worthlessness – until redeemed – the necessity of the Devil may become evident as a weapon, a weapon designed and used time and time again in every age to whip men into a surrender to a particular church or church-state.” Miller is saying that society is effectively organized by the idea that a man must prove himself worthy by defying and denying the evil force. Christianity calls this force the Devil, and they use it as a fear tactic and a motive for organizing society. Society, if built upon this principle, shows that humans are not basically good and therefore need motives and boundaries for preserving basic rights that would keep us all safe.Act 2 Discussion Questions/AnswersContrast settings at the conclusion of acts 1 & 2.Chaos concludes Act 1 while the girls are calling out names in exorcism hysteria. Act 2 begins in a quiet, uncomfortable dinner setting in the Proctors’ home.What is the present state of the Proctors’ marital relationship?Elizabeth’s patience wears thin with John’s temperamental behavior. He knows he has wronged Elizabeth, and he wishes to please her. Her cold, distrusting demeanor hinders him from feeling even remotely forgiven. Their conversations pertain to the local happenings and their children. They are the type of couple who would probably get divorced once the kids go off to college, if it were modern day. What is Mary Warren’s attitude since going to Salem?Mary Warren feels empowered and as if she’s solely responsible for cleansing the town of Lucifer. She acts like a child who wants to be treated like an adult.What is the significance of Reverend Hale’s questioning Proctor?Reverend Hale questions Proctor to find out if there be anything unholy about his household. He is questioning Proctor in the first place to utilize the evidence in a legal setting. However, he finds that John cannot quote all ten commandments, and that Elizabeth has a poppet (doll), as Abigail accused her of having. (Abigail saw Mary Warren making the doll in court, and she saw Mary Warren stick the sewing needle into its stomach. Abigail then presents herself with a needle in the stomach. The “poppet” is like voodoo doll, in the eyes of the public.)Proctor and Elizabeth are also positioned, like Miller was, to say that they are not working with the Devil (practicing Communism, in Miller’s case), and that they do not agree with the direction the government is taking the accusations. They try to remain true to themselves. John, especially, feels his need to be honest after having had strayed from the morality in the past.What does Elizabeth want John to do? Why does he hesitate?Elizabeth wants John to go Abigail and “tell her she’s a whore. Whatever promise she may sense – break it, John, break it.” He grows angry at her suggestion because he feels she calls him base (having no moral standards). He says that her accusation speaks to his deceit, but he is honest. What kind of evidence does the court admit in order to convict the people as witches?Hale says that theology is a fortress and a crack in the fortress, no matter how small, still weakens it. They feel as though they need to completely eliminate Lucifer in order to preserve their religious fortress.What forces John Proctor’s involvement with the court? What are the risks?Elizabeth has been mentioned, and that indicates she may be accused of witchery. John Proctor may prove the courts wrong (biased) by pointing out how Abigail may be manipulating the community to get closer to him. He would have to reveal his lecherous affair in order to save his wife. ................
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