The CrucibleThe Crucibleby Arthur Millerby Arthur Miller

Historical & Cultural Context Historical & Cultural Context InformationInformation

Advanced Composition & NovelAdvanced Composition & NovelMrs. SnipesMrs. Snipes

Arthur Miller (1915-2005)Arthur Miller (1915-2005) Known and respected for his intimate and Known and respected for his intimate and

realistic portrayal of the working class, Arthur realistic portrayal of the working class, Arthur Miller remains one of the most prolific Miller remains one of the most prolific playwrights of his time. At the peak of his playwrights of his time. At the peak of his career immediately following World War II, career immediately following World War II, American theater was transformed by his American theater was transformed by his profound ability to capture the heart of the profound ability to capture the heart of the common man and make his audiences common man and make his audiences empathize with his plight as he attempts to empathize with his plight as he attempts to find his war in an often harsh and find his war in an often harsh and unsympathetic world. unsympathetic world.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) Arthur Miller was born in 1915 in Arthur Miller was born in 1915 in

New York, into a middle-class New York, into a middle-class Jewish immigrant family. His father Jewish immigrant family. His father was a clothing manufacturer and was a clothing manufacturer and store owner who experienced store owner who experienced significant loss after the Stock significant loss after the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Miller Market Crash of 1929. Miller attended Abraham Lincoln High attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, and was a School in Brooklyn, and was a gifted athlete and an average gifted athlete and an average student. After being rejected the student. After being rejected the first time, Miller was finally first time, Miller was finally accepted into the University of accepted into the University of Michigan in 1934, where his studies Michigan in 1934, where his studies focused on drama and journalism. focused on drama and journalism. He graduated in 1938 with a He graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. Two Bachelor’s degree in English. Two years later, he published his first years later, he published his first play, the relatively unsuccessful play, the relatively unsuccessful The Man Who Had All the LuckThe Man Who Had All the Luck and and married his college girlfriend Mary married his college girlfriend Mary Slattery, with whom he later had Slattery, with whom he later had two children, Robert and Jane.two children, Robert and Jane.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) Miller’s first prominent play Miller’s first prominent play

was was All My SonsAll My Sons(1947), a (1947), a tragedy about a factory owner tragedy about a factory owner who knowingly sold faulty who knowingly sold faulty aircraft parts during World aircraft parts during World War II. War II. All My SonsAll My Sons won the won the Drama Critics Circle Award Drama Critics Circle Award and two Tony Awards. His and two Tony Awards. His 1949 play 1949 play Death of a Death of a SalesmanSalesman was also an was also an enormous critical success, enormous critical success, winning the Drama Critics winning the Drama Critics Circle Award, the Pulitzer Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and several Tony Prize, and several Tony Awards, including Best Play, Awards, including Best Play, Best Author, and Best Best Author, and Best Director. To this day, Director. To this day, Death of Death of a Salesmana Salesman remains one of remains one of his most famous and his most famous and respected works. respected works.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) In 1950, Miller’s troubles began. After directing a In 1950, Miller’s troubles began. After directing a

production of Henrik Ibsen’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the PeopleAn Enemy of the People, Miller , Miller began getting negative attention for his very public political began getting negative attention for his very public political and social commentary. In 1953 and social commentary. In 1953 The CrucibleThe Crucible opened on opened on Broadway, depicting a deliberate parallel between the Broadway, depicting a deliberate parallel between the Salem Witch Trials and the Communist Red Scare that Salem Witch Trials and the Communist Red Scare that America was experiencing at the time. This production America was experiencing at the time. This production brought more suspicion onto Miller at a very unstable time brought more suspicion onto Miller at a very unstable time in American history, and in June of 1956, he was called to in American history, and in June of 1956, he was called to testify in front of the House Committee on Un-American testify in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), for which he was found in contempt of Activities (HUAC), for which he was found in contempt of court for his refusal to cooperate and identify names of court for his refusal to cooperate and identify names of Communist sympathizers. This ruling was later overturned Communist sympathizers. This ruling was later overturned by the United States Court of Appeals, but damage to his by the United States Court of Appeals, but damage to his reputation had taken place nonetheless. reputation had taken place nonetheless.

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) That same year, he divorced his That same year, he divorced his

wife and married actress and wife and married actress and American icon Marilyn Monroe; American icon Marilyn Monroe; however, his marriage to Monroe however, his marriage to Monroe did not last long—they divorced in did not last long—they divorced in 1961. His plays 1961. His plays After the Fall After the Fall (1964) and (1964) and Finishing the Picture Finishing the Picture (2004) are said to loosely depict (2004) are said to loosely depict their turbulent and unhappy their turbulent and unhappy marriage. After divorcing Monroe, marriage. After divorcing Monroe, Miller married Inge Morath, with Miller married Inge Morath, with whom he had a son, Daniel, in whom he had a son, Daniel, in 1962, and a daughter, Rebecca, in 1962, and a daughter, Rebecca, in 1963. There have been 1963. There have been unconfirmed reports that Miller’s unconfirmed reports that Miller’s son Daniel was diagnosed with son Daniel was diagnosed with Down Syndrome shortly after he Down Syndrome shortly after he was born and that Miller was born and that Miller institutionalized Daniel and never institutionalized Daniel and never saw or spoke to him again, even saw or spoke to him again, even in his poignant autobiography in his poignant autobiography Timebends Timebends (1987). (1987).

Arthur Miller (cont.)Arthur Miller (cont.) Miller’s other plays include: Miller’s other plays include: Incident Incident

at Vichy (at Vichy (1965),1965), The Price The Price (1968),(1968), The Creation of the World and Other The Creation of the World and Other Business Business (1972), (1972), The American The American Clock Clock (1980), (1980), The Ride Down Mount The Ride Down Mount Morgan Morgan (1991),(1991), Broken Glass Broken Glass (1994),(1994), and and Resurrection Blues Resurrection Blues (2002). He also wrote a novel, (2002). He also wrote a novel, Focus Focus (1945), a book of short stories in (1945), a book of short stories in 1967, several screenplays and 1967, several screenplays and television movies, andtelevision movies, and Echoes Down Echoes Down the Corridor the Corridor (2000), a collection of (2000), a collection of essays. In addition, he collaborated essays. In addition, he collaborated with Inge (who was a photographer) with Inge (who was a photographer) on several books. He received the on several books. He received the Tony Award for Lifetime Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1999 and the Achievement in 1999 and the National Book Foundation’s medal National Book Foundation’s medal for his contribution to American for his contribution to American literature in 2001.literature in 2001.

Arthur Miller died of heart failure in Arthur Miller died of heart failure in February of 2005 at his Connecticut February of 2005 at his Connecticut home. He was 89 years old. home. He was 89 years old.

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy TrialsScare and McCarthy Trials

In 1950, Arthur Miller wrote In 1950, Arthur Miller wrote The CrucibleThe Crucible as a parallel between the Salem Witch as a parallel between the Salem Witch Trials and the current events that were Trials and the current events that were spreading throughout the United States spreading throughout the United States at the time. A similar “witch hunt” was at the time. A similar “witch hunt” was happening in the United States—and happening in the United States—and this time, the accused were those who this time, the accused were those who were a part of the Communist Party or were a part of the Communist Party or who were Communist sympathizers.who were Communist sympathizers.

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy Trials Scare and McCarthy Trials

(cont.)(cont.) Shortly after the end of World Shortly after the end of World

War I, a “Red Scare” took hold War I, a “Red Scare” took hold of the nation. Named after the of the nation. Named after the red flag of the USSR (now red flag of the USSR (now Russia), the “Reds” were seen Russia), the “Reds” were seen as a threat to the democracy as a threat to the democracy of the United States. Fear, of the United States. Fear, paranoia, and hysteria paranoia, and hysteria gripped the nation, and many gripped the nation, and many innocent people were innocent people were questioned and then jailed for questioned and then jailed for expressing any view which expressing any view which was seen as anti-Democratic was seen as anti-Democratic or anti-American. or anti-American.

In June of 1940, Congress In June of 1940, Congress passed the Alien Registration passed the Alien Registration Act, which required anyone Act, which required anyone who was not a legal resident of who was not a legal resident of the United States to file a the United States to file a statement of their occupational statement of their occupational and personal status, which and personal status, which included a record of their included a record of their political beliefs. The House Un-political beliefs. The House Un-American Activities Committee American Activities Committee (HUAC), which was established (HUAC), which was established in 1938, had the job of in 1938, had the job of investigating those who were investigating those who were suspected of overthrowing or suspected of overthrowing or threatening the democracy of threatening the democracy of the U.S. As the Alien the U.S. As the Alien Registration Act gathered the Registration Act gathered the information, the HUAC began information, the HUAC began hunting down those who were hunting down those who were believed to be a threat to believed to be a threat to American beliefs.American beliefs.

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy Trials Scare and McCarthy Trials

(cont.)(cont.) The HUAC established that The HUAC established that

Communist beliefs were being Communist beliefs were being spread via mass media. At this spread via mass media. At this time, movies were becoming time, movies were becoming more liberal, and therefore, more liberal, and therefore, were believed to be a threat; were believed to be a threat; many felt that Hollywood was many felt that Hollywood was attempting to propagandize attempting to propagandize Communist beliefs. In Communist beliefs. In September of 1947, the HUAC September of 1947, the HUAC subpoenaed nineteen witnesses subpoenaed nineteen witnesses (most of whom were actors, (most of whom were actors, directors, and writers) who had directors, and writers) who had previously refused to comment, previously refused to comment, claiming their Fifth Amendment claiming their Fifth Amendment rights. Eleven of the seventeen rights. Eleven of the seventeen were called to testify; only one were called to testify; only one actually spoke on the stand—actually spoke on the stand—the remaining ten refused to the remaining ten refused to speak and were labeled the speak and were labeled the “Hollywood Ten.” “Hollywood Ten.”

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy Trials Scare and McCarthy Trials

(cont.)(cont.) After these infamous ten refused to speak, After these infamous ten refused to speak,

executives from the movie industry met to decide executives from the movie industry met to decide how best to handle the bad press. They decided to how best to handle the bad press. They decided to suspend all ten without pay. Although the initial suspend all ten without pay. Although the initial intention was to save their box office reputation, intention was to save their box office reputation, what eventually resulted was as decade-long what eventually resulted was as decade-long blacklist. Hundreds of people who worked in the blacklist. Hundreds of people who worked in the industry were told to point the finger naming those industry were told to point the finger naming those who had any affiliation with the Communist party. who had any affiliation with the Communist party. As a result, over 200 people lost their jobs and were As a result, over 200 people lost their jobs and were unable to find anyone who would hire them. The unable to find anyone who would hire them. The Communist with-hunt ruined the careers of Communist with-hunt ruined the careers of hundreds, and ruined the reputation of hundreds hundreds, and ruined the reputation of hundreds more. more.

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy Trials Scare and McCarthy Trials

(cont.)(cont.) In February of 1950, a In February of 1950, a

Republican senator from Republican senator from Wisconsin names Joseph Wisconsin names Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a McCarthy claimed to have a list of over 200 card-carrying list of over 200 card-carrying members of the Communist members of the Communist party. By 1951, a new party. By 1951, a new flourish of accusations began flourish of accusations began and a new wave were and a new wave were subpoenaed to “name subpoenaed to “name names”—to snitch on those names”—to snitch on those who were Communists or who were Communists or believed to be Communist believed to be Communist sympathizers. Later, the sympathizers. Later, the terms terms McCarthy TrialsMcCarthy Trials and and McCarthyism McCarthyism were coined, were coined, which described the anti-which described the anti-Communist movement and Communist movement and trials of the 1950s. trials of the 1950s.

Historical Context: The Red Historical Context: The Red Scare and McCarthy Trials Scare and McCarthy Trials

(cont.)(cont.) Arthur Miller wrote Arthur Miller wrote The The

Crucible Crucible in 1953, after in 1953, after witnessing first-hand the witnessing first-hand the modern witch-hunt that modern witch-hunt that had taken place in the had taken place in the United States. Miller wrote United States. Miller wrote the controversial play as the controversial play as an allegory, a play which an allegory, a play which represents something represents something much deeper. In this case, much deeper. In this case, the story is about the the story is about the Salem witch trials of the Salem witch trials of the 1690s, but warns of history 1690s, but warns of history repeating these tragic repeating these tragic events on the 1950s.events on the 1950s.

Miller Reacts to a Witch HuntMiller Reacts to a Witch Hunt ““I had known about the Salem witchcraft I had known about the Salem witchcraft

phenomenon since my American history phenomenon since my American history class at [the University of] Michigan, but it class at [the University of] Michigan, but it had remained in my mind as one of those had remained in my mind as one of those inexplicable mystifications of the long-dead inexplicable mystifications of the long-dead past when people commonly believed that past when people commonly believed that the spirit could leave the body…”the spirit could leave the body…”

““As though it had been ordained, a copy of As though it had been ordained, a copy of Marion Starkey’s book Marion Starkey’s book The Devil in The Devil in Massachusetts Massachusetts fell into my hands, and the fell into my hands, and the bizarre story came back as I had recalled it, bizarre story came back as I had recalled it, but this time in remarkably well-organized but this time in remarkably well-organized detail.”detail.”

Miller Reacts to a Witch HuntMiller Reacts to a Witch Hunt ““At first I rejected the idea of a play on the subject. My own At first I rejected the idea of a play on the subject. My own

rationality was too strong, I thought, to really allow me to capture rationality was too strong, I thought, to really allow me to capture this wildly irrational outbreak. A drama cannot merely describe an this wildly irrational outbreak. A drama cannot merely describe an emotion, it has to become that emotion. But gradually, over emotion, it has to become that emotion. But gradually, over weeks, a living connection between myself and Salem, and weeks, a living connection between myself and Salem, and between Salem and Washington, was made in my mind—for between Salem and Washington, was made in my mind—for whatever else they might be, I saw that the hearings in whatever else they might be, I saw that the hearings in Washington were profoundly and avowedly ritualistic. After all, in Washington were profoundly and avowedly ritualistic. After all, in almost every case the Committee knew in advance what they almost every case the Committee knew in advance what they wanted the witness to give them: the names of his comrades in wanted the witness to give them: the names of his comrades in the [Communist] Party. The FBI had long since infiltrated the the [Communist] Party. The FBI had long since infiltrated the Party, and informers had long ago identified the participants in Party, and informers had long ago identified the participants in various meetings. The main point of the hearings, precisely as in various meetings. The main point of the hearings, precisely as in seventeenth-century Salem, was that the accused make public seventeenth-century Salem, was that the accused make public confession, damn his confederates as well as his Devil master, and confession, damn his confederates as well as his Devil master, and guarantee his sterling new allegiance by breaking disgusting old guarantee his sterling new allegiance by breaking disgusting old vows—whereupon he was let loose to rejoin the society of vows—whereupon he was let loose to rejoin the society of extremely decent people. In other words, the same spiritual extremely decent people. In other words, the same spiritual nugget lay folded within both procedures—an act of contrition nugget lay folded within both procedures—an act of contrition done not in solemn privacy but out in public air.”done not in solemn privacy but out in public air.”

Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt (cont.)(cont.)

““The Salem prosecution was actually on The Salem prosecution was actually on more solid legal ground since the more solid legal ground since the defendant, if guilty of familiarity with the defendant, if guilty of familiarity with the Unclean One [the Devil], had broken a law Unclean One [the Devil], had broken a law against the practice of witchcraft, a civil as against the practice of witchcraft, a civil as well as a religious offense; whereas the well as a religious offense; whereas the offender against HUAC could not be offender against HUAC could not be accused of any such violation but only of a accused of any such violation but only of a spiritual crime, subservience to a political spiritual crime, subservience to a political enemy’s desires and ideology. He was enemy’s desires and ideology. He was summoned before the Committee to be summoned before the Committee to be called a bad name, but one that could called a bad name, but one that could destroy his career.”destroy his career.”

Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt Miller Reacts to a Witch Hunt (cont.)(cont.)

““In effect, it came down to In effect, it came down to a governmental decree of a governmental decree of moral moral guilt that could guilt that could easily be made to easily be made to disappear by ritual speech: disappear by ritual speech: intoning names of fellow intoning names of fellow sinners and recanting sinners and recanting former beliefs. This last former beliefs. This last was probably the saddest was probably the saddest and truest part of the and truest part of the charade, for by the early charade, for by the early 1950s there were few, and 1950s there were few, and even fewer in the arts, who even fewer in the arts, who had not left behind their had not left behind their illusions about the illusions about the Soviets.”Soviets.”

““It was this immaterial It was this immaterial element, the surreal element, the surreal spiritual transaction, that spiritual transaction, that now fascinated me, for the now fascinated me, for the rituals of guilt and rituals of guilt and confession followed all the confession followed all the forms of a religious forms of a religious inquisition, except, of inquisition, except, of course, that the offended course, that the offended parties were not God and parties were not God and his ministers but a his ministers but a congressional congressional committee…”committee…”

Notes from Christopher Bigsby’s Notes from Christopher Bigsby’s Introduction to the play:Introduction to the play:

““The question is not the reality of The question is not the reality of witches but the power of authority to witches but the power of authority to define the nature of the real, and the define the nature of the real, and the desire, on the part of individuals and desire, on the part of individuals and the state, to identify those whose the state, to identify those whose purging will relieve a sense of anxiety purging will relieve a sense of anxiety and guilt. What lay behind the and guilt. What lay behind the procedures of both witch trial and procedures of both witch trial and political hearing was a familiar political hearing was a familiar American need to assert a recoverable American need to assert a recoverable innocence even if the only guarantee innocence even if the only guarantee of such innocence lay in the of such innocence lay in the displacement of guilt onto others. To displacement of guilt onto others. To sustain the integrity of their own sustain the integrity of their own names, the accused were invited to names, the accused were invited to offer the names of others, even though offer the names of others, even though to do so would be to make them to do so would be to make them complicit in procedures they despised complicit in procedures they despised and hence to damage their sense of and hence to damage their sense of themselves. And here is a theme that themselves. And here is a theme that connects virtually all of Miller’s plays: connects virtually all of Miller’s plays: betrayal, of the self no less than of betrayal, of the self no less than of others.”others.”

Notes (continued):Notes (continued): “…“…in Miller’s plays there usually comes a moment in Miller’s plays there usually comes a moment

when the central character cries out his own name, when the central character cries out his own name, determined to invest it with meaning and integrity. determined to invest it with meaning and integrity. Almost invariably this moment occurs when he is Almost invariably this moment occurs when he is on the point of betraying himself and others. A on the point of betraying himself and others. A climactic scene in climactic scene in The CrucibleThe Crucible occurs when John occurs when John Proctor, on the point of trading his integrity for his Proctor, on the point of trading his integrity for his life, finally refuses to pay the price, which is to offer life, finally refuses to pay the price, which is to offer the names of others to buy his life…Three years the names of others to buy his life…Three years later, Miller himself was called before the later, Miller himself was called before the Committee. His reply, when asked to betray others, Committee. His reply, when asked to betray others, was a virtual paraphrase of the one offered by was a virtual paraphrase of the one offered by Proctor. He announced, “I am trying to, and will Proctor. He announced, “I am trying to, and will protect my sense of myself. I could not use the protect my sense of myself. I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him.’”name of another person and bring trouble on him.’”

Notes (continued):Notes (continued): “[The Crucible] is Arthur Miller’s most

frequently produced play not, I think, because it addresses affairs of the state nor even because it offers us the tragic sight of a man who dies to save his conception of himself and the world, but because audiences understand all too well that the breaking of charity is no less a truth of their own lives than it is an account of historical processes…The Crucible reminds us how fragile is our grasp on those shared values that are the foundation of any society.”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) ““Beyond anything else Beyond anything else The The

Crucible Crucible is a study in power and is a study in power and the mechanisms by which power the mechanisms by which power is sustained, challenged, and is sustained, challenged, and lost…In the landscape of lost…In the landscape of The The CrucibleCrucible, on the one hand stands , on the one hand stands the church, which provides the the church, which provides the defining language within which all defining language within which all social, political, and moral debate social, political, and moral debate is conducted. On the other stand is conducted. On the other stand those usually deprived of power—those usually deprived of power—the black slave Tituba and the the black slave Tituba and the young children—who suddenly young children—who suddenly gain access to an authority as gain access to an authority as absolute as that which had absolute as that which had previously subordinated them…previously subordinated them…Those socially marginalized move Those socially marginalized move to the very center of social to the very center of social action…action…The CrucibleThe Crucible is a play is a play about the seductive nature of about the seductive nature of power…”power…”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) The Crucible The Crucible is both an is both an

intense psychological drama intense psychological drama and a play of epic and a play of epic proportions…this is a drama proportions…this is a drama about an entire community about an entire community betrayed by a Dionysian betrayed by a Dionysian surrender to the irrational; it surrender to the irrational; it is also, however, a play about is also, however, a play about the redemption of an the redemption of an individual and, through the individual and, through the individual, of a society. Some individual, of a society. Some scenes, therefore, people the scenes, therefore, people the stage with characters, while stage with characters, while others show the individual others show the individual confronted by little more than confronted by little more than his own conscience. That his own conscience. That oscillation between the public oscillation between the public and the private is a part of and the private is a part of the rhythmic pattern of the the rhythmic pattern of the play.”play.”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) “…“…the play’s success now owes little to the the play’s success now owes little to the

political and social context in which it was political and social context in which it was written. It stands, instead, as a study of the written. It stands, instead, as a study of the debilitating power of guilt, the seductions of debilitating power of guilt, the seductions of power, the flawed nature of the individual power, the flawed nature of the individual and of the society to which the individual and of the society to which the individual owes allegiance. It stands as a testimony to owes allegiance. It stands as a testimony to the ease with which we betray those very the ease with which we betray those very values essential to our survival, but also the values essential to our survival, but also the courage with which some men and women courage with which some men and women can challenge what seems to be a ruling can challenge what seems to be a ruling orthodoxy.” orthodoxy.”

Notes (continued)Notes (continued) ““Like so many of Miller’s other Like so many of Miller’s other

plays, it is a study of a man plays, it is a study of a man who wishes, above all, to who wishes, above all, to believe that he has invested believe that he has invested his life with meaning, but his life with meaning, but cannot do so if he betrays cannot do so if he betrays himself through betraying himself through betraying others. It is a study of a others. It is a study of a society that believes in its society that believes in its unique virtues and seeks to unique virtues and seeks to sustain that dream of sustain that dream of perfection by denying all perfection by denying all possibility of its imperfection…possibility of its imperfection…America is to believe that it is America is to believe that it is at the same time both guilty at the same time both guilty and without flaw.”and without flaw.”

SourcesSourcesThe CrucibleThe Crucible Literature Guide. Literature Guide.

Secondary Solutions, 2006. Secondary Solutions, 2006. The CrucibleThe Crucible. Latitudes. Perfection . Latitudes. Perfection

Learning, 1995. Learning, 1995. Christopher Bigsby’s Introduction in Christopher Bigsby’s Introduction in

the Penguin Books version of the Penguin Books version of The The Crucible, 1995. Crucible, 1995.