Arthur Miller 1915-2005 "By whatever means it is accomplished, the prime business of a play is to arouse the passions of its audience so that by the route of passion may be opened up a new relationship between a man and men, and between men and Man. Drama is akin to the other inventions of man in that it ought to help us know more, and not merely to spend our feelings.
Influencing Factors! Born in Manhattan in 1915 to Jewish immigrants! Miller was shaped by the failure of his father s garment manufacturing business during the 1920 s! Tremendous impact on Miller and his writing! Witnessing the social decay caused by the Depression! His father's desperation! Miller s work condemned the American ideal of prosperity! Few can pursue it without making dangerous moral compromises.
Pioneer of American drama! Miller gained fame with his plays! All My Sons (1947)! Death of a Salesman (winner of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama)! His work examines the disillusioned terrain of the human heart as well as "the work of the individual conscience when pitted against the uniform thinking of the mob" (New Yorker).! Miller condemned the American ideal of prosperity on the grounds that few can pursue it without making dangerous moral compromises.
Miller & Monroe*! In 1964, After the Fall was influenced by Miller's tumultuous five-year marriage (1956-1961) to pop-icon Marilyn Monroe.! Miller s most recent play, Finishing the Picture--based on the making of the 1961 film The Misfits, which he wrote for Monroe--premiered in October 2004.
The Red Scare! Shortly after the end of World War I, a Red Scare took hold of the nation.! Named after the red flag of the USSR (now Russia), the Reds were seen as a threat to the democracy of the United States.! Fear, paranoia, and hysteria gripped the nation! Many innocent people were questioned and then jailed for expressing any view which was seen as anti-democratic or anti-american.! In June of 1940, Congress passed the Alien Registration Act.! Required anyone who was not a legal resident of the United States to file a statement of their occupational and personal status, which included a record of their political beliefs.! Established in 1938, The House Un- American Activities Committee (HUAC) had the job of investigating these individuals.
HUAC-ing Hollywood! As the Alien Registration Act gathered the information, the HUAC began hunting down those who were believed to be a threat to American beliefs.! The HUAC established that Communist beliefs were being spread via mass media.! Movies were becoming more liberal and were believed to be a threat.! Many felt that Hollywood was attempting to propagandize Communist beliefs.! September 1947- the HUAC subpoenaed 19 witnesses who had refused to comment, claiming their 5 th Amendment rights (most of whom were actors, directors, and writers).! Eleven of the seventeen were called to testify! Only one actually spoke on the stand! The remaining ten refused to speak and were labeled the Hollywood Ten.
! After these infamous 10 refused to speak, executives from the movie industry met to decide how best to handle the bad press.! They decided to suspend all ten without pay.! What eventually resulted was as decade-long blacklist.! Hundreds of people who worked in the industry were told to point the finger naming those who had any affiliation with the Communist party.! Over 200 people lost their jobs and were unable to find anyone who would hire them.! The Communist witch-hunt ruined the careers and reputations of hundreds.
Joseph McCarthy! He claimed to have a list of over 200 card-carrying members of the Communist party.! By 1951, a new flourish of accusations began and a new wave were subpoenaed to name names.! The terms McCarthy Trials and McCarthyism were coined, which described the anti-communist movement and trials of the 1950s.
McCarthyism! McCarthyism came to mean false charges of disloyalty.! In September 1950, goaded by McCarthy, Congress passed the McCarran Internal Security Act, which established a Subversive Activities Control Board to monitor Communist influence in the United States.
Giving birth to FEAR! Miller penned his third major play, The Crucible (1953), as a response to these McCarthy trials.! Miller was called to testify before the HUAC and was convicted of contempt of Congress.! He refused to name those he knew to have Communist sympathies (he was eventually cleared of the charges).
Fallout! Miller admitted to the HUAC that he had attended meetings, but denied that he was a Communist.! He had attended, among others, four or five writer's meetings sponsored by the Communist Party in 1947, supported a Peace Conference at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, and signed many appeals and protests.! Refusing to name others who had associated with leftist or suspected Communist groups, Miller was cited for contempt of Congress
McCarthyism! McCarthy s influence continued until 1954, when the Senate censured him for abusing his colleagues.! His career collapsed.! Fears of subversion continued though. Communities banned books! Teachers, academics, civil servants, and entertainers lost jobs! Unwarranted attacks ruined lives.
Crucible! A crucible is a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting a substance that requires a high degree of heat! a severe test! a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development
Universal Connections! Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory,! An allegory is a work that represents something much deeper! Between the 1690 Salem witch trials and the current events that were spreading throughout the United States at the time.! The play warned that a similar witch hunt was happening in the United States! and this time, the accused were those who were a part of the Communist Party or who were Communist sympathizers.
The Puritans
Who were the Puritans?! Puritans were a branch of the Protestant church! Their movement began in the 16 th and 17 th centuries! Although they preferred to be called the godly, they were given the name Puritans for their struggle to reform or purify the Church of England
Two Types of Puritans: Separatists! Held irreconcilable differences with the Church of England; they thought the church was corrupt and that they must distance themselves from it! Were persecuted under various monarchies in England! First fled from England to Holland Non-Separatists! Held less extreme views of the Church of England! Believed in church reform rather than an overthrow of the church! Came to America in 1630 and founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony! Later, came to found the Plymouth Colony in America in 1620
Doctrine of Election /! Man is innately sinful; original sin means that we are incapable of any depravity! Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) are saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or good works! The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to follow the will of God! The chosen will follow the path of righteousness Predestination:
Predestination continued! No one knew who was or was not saved.! Puritans believed that you must have a conversion experience in order to be accepted by God.! God s grace was given to the chosen, and this grace was demonstrated through one s behavior.! Puritans would, therefore, reflect upon themselves (self-examination) for signs of this grace.! So, even though they did not believe good works helped one get into heaven, they believed that living a godly life was evidence of being chosen.
As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:! Were always looking for signs! Scrutinized daily events! Thought there was always a reason for everything! Felt that God s hand was in everything, no matter how insignificant
Puritan Beliefs & Values:! Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible.! They believed in precise readings of the Bible, as opposed to church doctrines.! They did not believe in excess worship.! They wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, no cushioned pews, no singing, and no music.! They wanted to keep things simple so that they could concentrate on God.! There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satan.! God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
Education & Work Ethic: They believed in! living a virtuous, self-examined life Children were not allowed to play games boys were taught to go hunting and fishing girls were taught how to run a household Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally Eve was the first sinner Literature for pleasure was highly censored! strict discipline and had a strong work ethic! qualities that led to economic success as virtuous! education! Harvard was founded in 1636 to train ministers! giving their children an environment free from the evils of the Church of England
Puritan Literature & Writings:! They did not write for pleasure or entertainment.! Struggling to built their settlement! Considered works of fiction frivolous and possibly immoral! Types of texts: - Historical documents: preserving their history and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over leaving relatives behind in England - Personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ examination and as a way to look for signs of salvation - Poetry: all highly inspired by religious beliefs - Religious pamphlets, articles, etc.
Puritan Plain Style:! Plain Style: a mode of expression characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation.! Broad cultural relevance! Shaping the language of prose and poetry! Influenced the design of furniture and architecture, painting and other visual arts! Rejected ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as it was sinful vanity! Plain stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions! Didn t show off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves.! This aesthetic appealed to both Puritans and Quakers.
Synopsis! Set in the village of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692! The Crucible tells the story of what happens when the town's pastor, Reverend Parris, spies his young daughter, Betty, and a group of other girls from his church, dancing in the woods.! Betty is in a coma and her cousin, Abigail, admits that they were indeed dancing and accuses Betty of faking her illness to escape punishment.! A neighbor, Ann Putnam arrives and says that her daughter is behaving strangely also, and that she has heard the rumor that Betty has been seen flying like a witch.! Putnam declares her suspicion that Parris's slave, Tituba has been introducing the girls to native spiritual rituals and practices.! Reverend Hale is called in for a consultation on whether this is a case of some evil invading the community.! Once the charge of possible witchcraft is leveled, there is no turning back for the people of Salem.! As the play progresses we learn of the disputes and jealousies that resided in this farming community whose law is the dogma of their faith and whose judges must uphold not only the law but the authority and power of the church.
Major Characters! Abigail Williams An orphan and Rev. Parris' 19-year-old niece, she leads the other girls in the accusations. She has recently been fired from the service of the Proctors after Elizabeth discovers she and Proctor were having an affair.! Reverend Samuel Parris Salem s minister who has not found popularity in the small town, especially with John Proctor.! Betty Parris 10-year-old daughter who is caught dancing in the woods. After she falls ill, rumors of witchcraft blaze through town.! Tituba Rev. Parris' slave from Barbados who has taught the girls about spirits.! Thomas Putman A mean spirited and wealthy landowner who covets his neighbors' property. He is accused of coercing his daughter to accuse people in order to gain their land.! Ann Putman His wife, who is embittered by the still births of seven babies. She blames supernatural forces for their deaths.! Rebecca Nurse A much revered woman in the town who is a midwife and mother of 17 children.! John Proctor He is outspoken and well respected. He has stopped going to church and wrestles with telling the truth or protecting his wife Elizabeth.! Elizabeth Proctor John's wife who has discovered his affair. She is a virtuous woman but struggles to show Proctor affection after her discovery.! Danforth deputy governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Honest and scrupulous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.! Mary Warren Proctors servant; she struggles to tell the truth during the trial.! Reverend John Hale A self appointed expert on witchcraft, he is the minister who is first called in to investigate the happenings in Salem.! Giles Corey A farmer and one of the oldest and most outspoken men in the community.! Francis Nurse One of the most respected elders in town, he is the husband to Rebecca.