Vocabulary
A system of government in which deity or the church is the highest power (it ruled the Puritan Church)
What is a theocracy?
The antagonist of the play
Who was Abigail Williams?
Where Dalton Trumbo lived during this era
What is in Hollywood?
The character who felt empowered when she was able to steer the course of Elizabeth Proctor's fate by accusing her of witchcraft, and by accusing others as well.
Who was Abigail Williams?
She makes serious accusations against Elizabeth out of resentment; she's angry because John broke off their affair, and she's jealous over Elizabeth’s role in the household as his wife – a role she wants to take over.
What is Abigail's hidden agenda?
Rumors deliberately made to spread fear and anxiety
What is propaganda?
The protagonist of the play
Who was John Proctor?
A pseudonym for Dalton Trumbo
Robert Rich
She is the obedient servant to John and Elizabeth who made Elizabeth a poppet doll, not knowing what Abigail would do with it. When she went to court to help John by confessing to the lies, however, the girls turned against her and accused her of witchcraft. In order to save herself, she had to admit to doing witchcraft, and accused her employer in making her do it so she wouldn't get into trouble.
Who is Mary Warren?
Is scapegoated by Abigail Williams and the other girls. She attempts to save herself by admitting doing wrong, pretending she has been overtaken by satanic forces.
Who is Tituba?
Unfairly accusing others of treason, in particular, alliance with communism
What is McCarthyism?
The play is based in Salem, Massachusetts, in the New England of 1692, during a time when the church establishes the government and law in a nation, a form of theocracy. All rules and codes of conduct are religion-based, a culture formed by the Puritans where even the smallest of infraction could result in punishment, death, and worse
What is the setting of The Crucible?
The amount Trumbo made on his scripts before and after he was blacklisted
What is $75,000 down to only $3,000
The character whose reputation was more important than the truth. He wielded the gavel to enforce strict church laws, punish those accused, and force others to confess to wrongs never committed. Land, wealth, and power influenced the decisions he made. He tried to coerce others to confess that they practiced witchcraft in order to not receive punishment and keep him from looking foolish.
Who was Judge Danforth?
This character makes Rebecca Nurse a scapegoat when he accuses her of murdering his wife’s babies. Also, he became a wealthy landowner as he bought valuable land from those accused (his hidden agenda).
Who is Thomas Putnam?
Blaming another person for something that was out of his or her control, typically in order to protect themselves in some way
What is scapegoating?
A motive for doing something or getting something done, hidden behind another motive; a list of priority actions
What is a hidden agenda?
American politicians who cooperated in some way with Senator Joseph McCarthy
Who was Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan?
He is one of the few characters that doesn’t hold a grudge; rather, he believes he is fulfilling the will of God and furthering the mission of the courts. His empowerment comes from a moral source rather than from a desire for power over others.
Who is Reverend Hale?
They begin pointing fingers when they realize they could be found guilty of wrongdoing, but they would only be lightly punished if they were seen as victims. They could place the blame elsewhere, that is, make someone else the scapegoat.
Who are Abigail Williams and the other girls?
Hysteria, intolerance and reputation were three important universal ideas present throughout Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
What is a theme?
The inability or unwillingness to tolerate another person’s opinions, beliefs, religion, or cultural behavior
What is intolerance?
Things that could happen to actors, writers, or directors who refused to cooperate with HUAC
What is blacklisted, imprisoned and/or reputations ruined?
The character whose own daughter Betty, was one of the girls found dancing, so his version of truth had to clear his daughter in order to save his reputation. He was more concerned with his own power and influence than the well-being of his daughter?
Who was Reverend Parris?
The character who makes Proctor a scapegoat for his anger because Proctor always questions his authority as reverend and upholder of the church rules. He is worried about his reputation and his standing in the church because he realizes there are many who would use any excuse to bring him down (his hidden agenda).
Who is Reverend Parris?