The play premiered on January 22, 1953, as Senator Joseph McCarthy was accusing actors, composers, academics, military officers, union leaders, writers, and, most notably, political colleagues of being communists. Therefore, the main idea of the play is to encourage people to remain calm during crisis situations and to not jump to the worst conclusions Why was The Crucible a controversial play?Ĭritics see the piece as a polemic against the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. The play was originally written as a direct criticism of McCarthyism, the practice of making accusations without proper regard for evidence. What is the most important message of The Crucible? The major internal conflict is John trying to decide between saving himself and family from being hanged, or accept the death penalty for false accusations against him. The major external conflict is John Proctor trying to save his wife from being hanged by the town officials for supposedly being a witch. What is the main problem in The Crucible?

The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the religion is a strict, austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism. One clear example of mass hysteria within The Crucible, is in act one when Abigail reacts to Reverend Hale questioning her about conjuring a spirit onto Betty, she then proceeds to utilize Tituba as a scapegoat for her own safety. How is hysteria shown in The Crucible Act 1? However, since she confessed to being a witch and she shouted random names, she is safe. How does Tituba defend herself? She has no rights because she is a slave, so if she confesses to making the charm she will be accused of witchcraft, but if she doesn’t confess to making the charm she will be whipped. The x26quot unseenx26quot scene in the woods, which takes place before the action of the play, figuratively sets the stage. In Act I, Scene 1, Miller sets the stage for The Crucible by introducing the four most important themes: deception, possession, greed, and the quest for power. I have eleven children, and I am twenty-six times a grandma, and I have seen them all through their silly season, and when it come on them they will run the devil bowlegged keeping up with their mischief (16). I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you (13). What is the message of Act 1 of The Crucible? Read back over the following quotes, and using context clues, rewrite the phrases in modern language (same meaning, but in a way that is more understandable to us). What role did fear play in creating authority?.

What elements existed or were created within the community to allow Abigail and the other girls to gain power?.What is the state of the community at the beginning of the play, as the play progresses and at the end of the play?.What are some discussion questions for The Crucible?

The crucible pdf