Arthur Miller. The Crucible. Arthur Miller

Transcription

1 Arthur Miller The Crucible Arthur Miller 1

2 Introduction The witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts, during the 1690s have been a blot on the history of America, a country which has come to pride itself on the concepts of free speech and justice as well as on its religious principles. Guilt by association, unexamined testimony, judges blinded by their biases, and individuals determined to use the system of justice when no evidence of a crime existed these kinds of social or political problems did not go away with the completion of those trials. 2

3 Introduction U.S. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy s relentless determination to find un-american citizens and communists in all areas of American life in the early 1950s prompted Arthur Miller to write The Crucible, a play about the Salem witch trials which has similarities to McCarthyism. The play no doubt prompted the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 to call Miller for questioning, but Miller refused to cooperate when asked to identify writers who had once been communists. Richard H. Rovere calls Miller the leading symbol of the militant, risk-taking conscience of that time. Although the play does not parallel the McCarthy investigations exactly, Miller as a socially conscious writer, is clearly making a statement about conscience and political morality relevant to the McCarthy period or any period. 3

4 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Drama is literature in play form. It is meant to be performed live. Understanding the conventions, or typical features, of drama can help you visualize the performance when you read a script. 4

5 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Hero (protagonist): Typically, the play s main character. Types of Characters Stage Directions Dialogue Plot Villain (antagonist): A character who opposes the hero. Foil: A character whose qualities contrast with those of other characters, often with those of the hero. Instructions that describe the settings and tell actors how they should move, speak, and behave onstage. The lines that the characters speak. The dialogue moves the plot forward and reveals character traits. The sequence of events. The plot is driven by a conflict that builds throughout each act. 5

6 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Characters in drama reveal their personality traits through their words and actions. The descriptions in the stage directions can also provide insight into these characters. As you read The Crucible, draw conclusions about the play s main characters. Record their important traits and the evidence that reveals these traits on a chart (handout). Be sure to add characters to the chart as you encounter them. 6

7 Vocabulary in Context Arthur Miller uses the following terms to help convey the atmosphere of the Salem witch trials. adamant anarchy contentious corroborate deference immaculate imperceptible iniquity subservient (review terms) 7

8 Summary In this play, Arthur Miller traces the hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, as several girls begin to accuse their neighbors of associating with the Devil. Suspicion and ill will spread as the townspeople bring up current disputes and past grudges, implicate one another in the charge of witchcraft, and witness court proceedings against those so charged. By the time the witch trials end, Salem has been forever stained. 8

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10 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Examine the Cast of Characters on page 137. All the characters in a drama usually are presented in a list at the beginning of the play. If you were watching this play in a theater, which character would you expect to see first on the stage? 10

11 Targeted Passage: Background (137) This passage introduces the play s historical context and Miller s approach to the culture and troubled tone of Salem in that era. What events provide the historical basis for this play? What is spectral evidence? Why was no one safe in Salem during the time period covered in the play? Are the characters in the play purely fictional, or are they based on real people? 11

12 Act ONE: Summary Act one opens with Reverend Parris praying for his sick daughter, Betty. An essay explains the historical setting; then Parris reveals that the illness is thought to be due to bewitchment. Among the townspeople who discuss the matter is John Proctor, who had an affair with Parris s niece, Abigail. Reverend Hale comes to purge the town of witches; but in the conversations that follow, innocent people are accused of witchcraft. 12

13 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Read An Overture on pages The stage directions describe the set and identify the play s setting. They also identify the characters on stage and provide direction about what these characters should be doing. Let s practice! (handout) 13

14 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Read Background on page 137, then read An Overture on pages Practice drawing conclusions by making a list of Reverend Parris actions, words, and traits. (record conclusions on the handout) What is Parris motivation for his concern? 14

15 Tiered Discussion Prompts: pages Connect Have you ever encountered someone who pried into what you were doing? How did the experience affect you? Interpret Why does a constant interest in other people s business have the potential to make people suspicious of each other? Synthesize On the basis of your own experiences and what you know about the play so far, do you think that minding other people s business is an example of unity, which keeps a community safe, or an example of a judgmental mindset, which breeds intolerance? 15

16 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Read the italicized stage directions on page 141 (lines 1 13). In the stage directions, Miller provides concrete instructions for the characters movements, but he also presents clues about the characters emotions. What emotions do these stage directions suggest? 16

17 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Begin reading the play on pages What conclusions can you draw about Abigail s character, given Parris s remarks and her responses in lines ? (record conclusions on the handout) 17

18 Tiered Discussion Prompts: page 145 Connect Think about a time when you or someone you know tried but failed to change someone s opinion. How might it feel to have your argument rejected and to know that the other person continues to hold a view that you do not? Analyze Why does Parris speak with dwindling conviction now (line 192)? Synthesize On the basis of what you have learned about these characters so far, what do you think is the significance of Mrs. Putnam s observation that Reverend Hale found a witch in Beverly last year (lines )? 18

19 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Read pages According to the stage directions in lines , why does Putnam continue to talk about witches? Given the information, how might you interpret Putnam s advice to Parris in lines and ? 19

20 Targeted Passage: lines This passage reveals the growing speculation and the girls differing responses to it. According to Mary, who is talking about witchcraft? On the basis of Mercy s comment, what do you think the girls had planned to do? Why is that plan not working? What does Mary want the girls to do? How will that plan benefit her? 20

21 Analyze Visuals: page 147 Take a close look at this photograph from the 1996 film version of The Crucible. From what you can see of the body language and facial expressions of the people, what do you think is the mood of this crowd? Does it match the mood of the text? Explain. 21

22 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Read pages What conclusions can you draw about Abigail s character, given her comments in lines ? (record conclusions on the handout) 22

23 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama On the basis of Miller s mini essay, what role do you think John Proctor will play: hero, villain, major figure, minor figure, foil, etc.? Explain. 23

24 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Reread the stage directions in lines What does Proctor s facial expression reveal about his attitude toward Abigail as he first addresses her? 24

25 Tiered Discussion Prompts: page 149 Summarize Why does Abigail grow angry with Proctor? Analyze What caused Abigail to lose her job with the Proctors? Synthesize Why might Abigail resist Proctor s decision to end their affair? 25

26 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters As Proctor responds to Abigail s insults about Elizabeth in lines , what do his words and the stage directions suggest about his view of his marriage? Cite evidence to explain your response. 26

27 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Read pages Miller s mini essays create two worlds: the world inhabited by the play s characters, and the world that contains him and his readers. Notice how this time (pages ) Miller begins by speaking of we, as if he and his readers are talking behind the characters backs. Is Miller s strategy of inviting the reader into his confidence effective? Why or why not? 27

28 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama The relationship between Francis and Rebecca Nurse and Thomas Putnam is complicated and unfriendly. Using the mini essay on pages , review the main reasons for the families conflict. 28

29 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters In what sense do Rebecca Nurse s words in lines set her character apart from the others? (record conclusions on the handout) 29

30 Tiered Discussion Prompts: page 152 Recall What does Reverend Parris complain about in lines ? Analyze What do Parris s complaints suggest about how he thinks of himself? Explain. Synthesize How might Parris s attitude harm his ability to deal effectively with the witchcraft scare? 30

31 Tiered Discussion Prompts: page 154 Connect Have you ever been in a situation in which someone blurted out a confession or other piece of secret information What happened as a result of the revelation? Analyze What can you infer about Proctor s personality and attitudes from his remark in line 646? Synthesize What do you think Rebecca means when she says, You are another kind, John (line 653)? Explain. 31

32 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Read pages Reread the first 16 lines of Miller s mini-essay. What character traits of Reverend Hale s can you add to your handout (Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters)? What evidence can you identify to support your conclusions? 32

33 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama How does Miller draw attention to the fact that this drama is something separate from the real world (how do you know this is a play and NOT real life)? 33

34 Tiered Discussion Prompts: page 156 Restate According to the paragraph that begins this page, why is the Devil a weapon? Analyze How is the political inspiration of the Devil at work in Salem? Evaluate Compare this mini-essay to other mini-essays in The Crucible. In your opinion, is this mini-essay as helpful as the others? Why or why not? 34

35 Targeted Passage: page 156 (Miller s mini-essay, second column) In this passage, Miller explains how a fear similar to the one that gripped Salem is possible in the world today. What political system demonizes capitalism? Why is it useful for governments to cast their political opponents as diabolical? 35

36 Reading Skill: Draw Conclusions about Characters Compare the concluding paragraph of this mini-essay to the opening paragraph on page 155. How would you describe Hale s view of himself and his goal in Salem? 36

37 Tiered Discussion Prompts: page 158 Recall What heavy items has Reverend Hale brought with him to Salem, and why? Analyze What evidence suggests that Hale may not be as quick to believe a charge of witchcraft as some of the Salemites seem to be? Synthesize Do you think that Hale will maintain his sensible attitude as the story unfolds? Why or why not? 37

38 Text Analysis: Conventions of Drama Where does Miller position his mini-essay about Giles Corey? How does the placement affect the dialogue? Imagine this mini-essay is being presented as part of the play. Which speech device best fits this situation (refer to your notes!)? Reread lines , but skip over the mini-essay this time. How might your understanding of Giles s character be different if you did NOT possess the information found in the mini-essay? 38

39 Tiered Discussion Prompts: lines Connect Have you ever known someone who claimed to do or see something that he or she might not really have done or seen? How would that memory help you identify with this seen? Analyze What are Hale and Parris trying to get Tituba to do, and why? Evaluate How effective is Miller in creating suspense in this scene? Explain. 39

40 Targeted Passage: lines In this passage, the climax of Act One, accusations boost the plot complexity and emotional intensity of the play. Whose example finally compels Betty to risk and speak? What does she say? Why does Betty cry out with great relief? Why does Hale seem relieved? Why does Hale want the marshal to come with irons? Which Salemites do you think the marshal will visit? 40