The Crucible Witch Hunt, Allegory and the Domestic Tragedy
Salem Witch Trials o Where? o When? o Who? o What? o Why?
Mass Hysteria Witch Hunt o o The cause is often a baseless belief that begins small but, like a hurricane, travels and becomes more devastating as it picks up speed. If people are aware of the phenomenon and know its features, they will be better able to overcome the main obstacle: accepting that there is may be no actual basis for their fear.
Communist Hearings o Where? o When? o Who? o What? o Why?
Why Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” o o o Experienced Communist hysteria of the era Criticism of Mc. Carthy’s personal mission House Un-American Activities Committee
The Mc. Carthy Hearings o o Accused: actors, writers, media, army Naming names for leniency Political repression in civil arena Resistance to discuss social or political issues
“The Crucible” and Witch Hunts o o Miller’s way of protesting the HUAC Compared Communist hearings to witch hunts of Salem Credibility/Impact of gossip, rumor, fear “Witch Hunt”—any activity where people are looking for a scapegoat or they are using accusations for revenge, personal gain, or attention
The Crucible o Salem Witch Trials of 1692 þ þ þ o Used trial documents (Sarah Good), but fictionalized Combined, created or changed characters Major trial events are relatively accurate Thinly veiled criticism of the House Committee on Un-American Activities
Makings of a Witch Hunt o o WWII rise of Communist Party in the US Cold War becomes intense after USSR gains atomic power Truman initiates disloyalty laws House of Un-American Activities Committee reinvigorated n n Investigates communist activity Hollywood Blacklist & The Hollywood Ten Mc. Carthy and his accusations Others pressured to name others as communists
Results of both Witch Hunts o Colonial Salem þ þ o 20 innocent people were executed Dozens more were imprisoned One was stoned to death Families lost their land livelihood 1950’s þ þ Hundreds unjustly lost their jobs 10 were jailed for 6 months to 2 years 1 was sentenced to 5 years in prison 2 were executed
Tragic Hero in Classical Literature o o o Noble Stature or Rank Potential for greatness but doomed to fail Trapped in a situation where he cannot win Tragic flaw, causing his fall from greatness Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on.
Domestic Tragedy o o o Emerges during Shakespearean time Misfortunes of ordinary people The “every man” Impact of fate (personal vs. national) “What is an American? ” American Ideal: Everyone is valued
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