Understanding the Crucible

by Johnson, Claudia Durst; Johnson, Vernon E.

• ISBN13: 9780313301216
• ISBN10: 0313301212
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-09-30
• Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group

Summary

Ideal for student research and class discussion, this interdisciplinary casebook provides a rich variety of primary historical documents and commentary on The Crucible within the context of two relevant historical periods: the Salem witch-trials of 1692 and the "Red Scare" of the 1950s, when the play was written. The play is a testimony to the inherent dangers Miller sees in any community seized by hysteria. The Salem witch-hunts, which Miller uses to illustrate such a community, were echoed more than 250 years later in the hunt for subversives during the "Red Scare" of the 1950s. The authors provide literary and dramatic analysis of the play, comprehensive historical backgrounds, relevant documents of the periods, and questions and projects to help students in their understanding of The Crucible and the issues it raises. In a discussion of Puritan society of the seventeenth century, the authors explore the habits of many of the residents of Massachusetts Bay and specific events which seemed to make the witch-hunts of 1692 inevitable. The text of relevant documents illustrate their beliefs, combined with the disasters that contributed to community hysteria. A chapter on the Salem witch trials includes testimony, letters, and first person accounts by actual people on which Miller based his characters. A chapter on the "Red Scare" of the 1950s features testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, case studies of blacklisted people, and an exclusive interview with a couple who were blacklisted. The authors include a chapter on witch-hunting in the 1990s in the form of testimony from preschoolers which sent child care workers to prison on charges of sexual abuse. Students will be able to compare and contrast witch- hunting over 300 years with the materials provided here, many of which are available in no other printed form. Each section of the casebook contains study questions, topics for research papers and class discussion, and lists of further reading for examining the issues raised by the play.

Author Biography

CLAUDIA DURST JOHNSON is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Alabama, where she chaired the English Department for 12 years.VERNON E. JOHNSON is Academic Dean, California Christian University-Berkeley.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
1. Literary Analysis	1	(26)
2. Primed for Hysteria FROM:	27	(36)
John Cotton
The New Covenant (1654)	38	(3)
Jonathan Edwards
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1826)	41	(1)
The Colonial Laws of Massachusetts, reprinted from the edition of 1672	42	(3)
John Higginson
"Letter to the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather" (1683)	45	(2)
Increase Mather, An Arrow against Profane and Promiscuous Dancing (1684)	47	(2)
Michael Wigglesworth
The Day of Doom (1666)	49	(1)
Michael Wigglesworth
God's Controversy with New England Written in the Time of the Great Drought Anno 1662	50	(2)
William Hubbard
The History of the Indian Wars in New England (1865)	52	(2)
Urian Oakes
Elegy upon the Death of Mr. Thomas Shepard (1677)	54	(2)
"The Synod's Work: The Result of 1679," Massachusetts General Court (1679)	56	(7)
3. Witchcraft in Salem FROM:	63	(62)
"An Account of the Differences in Salem Village," in Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases, 1648-1706, Ed. George Lincoln Burr (1914)	79	(2)
Deodat Lawson
A Brief and True Narrative of Some Remarkable Passages, in Burr's Narratives	81	(2)
Deodat Lawson
A Brief and True Narrative of Some Remarkable Passages, in Burr's Narratives	83	(3)
Robert Calef
More Wonders of the Invisible World, 1692, in The Witchcraft Delusion in New England, Ed. Samuel G. Drake (1865)	86	(2)
"The Deposition of Ann Putnam," in Charles Upham, Salem Witchcraft (1867)	88	(2)
"The Confession of Anne Putnam, when she was received to Communion, 1706," in Charles Upham, Salem Witchcraft (1867)	90	(3)
"Examination of Giles Corey," in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	93	(3)
Giles Corey
Goodwyfe Corey
A Ballad of 1692, in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	96	(4)
Robert Calef
More Wonders of the Invisible World, 1692, in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	100	(2)
"Petition for Rebecca Nurse," in Upham's Salem Witchcraft	102	(3)
John Proctor
"Letter of John Proctor," from Calef's More Wonders of the Invisible World, 1692, in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	105	(1)
Robert Calef
More Wonders of the Invisible World, 1692, in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	106	(1)
"The Humble and Sincere Declaration," in Upham's Salem Witchcraft	107	(1)
Thomas Brattle
"Letter of Thomas Brattle, October 8, 1692," in Burr's Narratives	108	(1)
John Hale
A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft (1702)	109	(3)
"Proclamation of 1696," from Calef's More Wonders of the Invisible World, in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	112	(2)
Samuel Sewall
"Copy of the Bill," in his Diary, 1674-1700	114	(1)
"The Apology of the Jurors," from Calef's More Wonders of the Invisible World, 1692, in Drake's The Witchcraft Delusion	115	(2)
"Reversal of Attainder, October 17, 1711," in Records of Salem Witchcraft, Ed. W.E. Woodward (1864)	117	(3)
Resolve of the Massachusetts General Court, Boston, August 28, 1957	120	(5)
4. Witch-Hunts in the 1950s FROM:	125	(78)
Executive Order 9835 (March 22, 1947)	143	(4)
This Is Your House Committee on Un-American Activities (September 19, 1954)	147	(6)
Harry S Truman
"Presidential Veto of the Internal Security Act of 1950" (September 22, 1950)	153	(2)
Red Channels (June 1950)	155	(4)
United States Senate, 83d Congress, 1st Session, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation of the Committee on Government Operations, Hearings (April 29, 1953)	159	(7)
Case Studies in Personnel Security, Collected under the direction of Adam Yarmolinsky (August 1955)	166	(15)
Interview with Dave and Sophie Smith (September 1997)	181	(22)
5. 1990s Witch-Hunts FROM:	203	(32)
Officer Toppin's Testimony (1989)	213	(4)
Interview with Debbie Forrest (1997)	217	(1)
Interview with Betty Ann Phillips (1997)	218	(2)
Cross-Examination of Susie (1990)	220	(3)
Cross-Examination of Jaimie (1990)	223	(2)
Cross-Examination of Andy (1990)	225	(1)
Defense Attorney Spivey's Closing Arguments (1990)	226	(1)
Defense Attorney Miller's Closing Statement (1990)	227	(1)
Dorothy Rabinowitz
"Justice and the Prosecutor" (March 21, 1997)	228	(7)
Index	235