The Crucible, by Arthur Miller
published in 1953 by Viking Penguin, Inc.
first produced on January 22, 1953 at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City
a drama in four acts
11 men, 10 women (flexible)
running time = 2 hours and 45 minutes
Arthur Miller was born on October 17, 1915 in New York City. Because his father was a manufacturer, the Great Depression struck his family in a very negative way. After Arthur's high school graduation he worked in a warehouse, like his father, to save up enough money to eventually attend and graduate from the University of Michigan in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts' Degree. There, he began writing and continued to until he passed away... A few of the most famous plays Arthur Miller wrote include: All My Sons (1947), Death of a Salesman (1949), and A View from the Bridge (1955). He wrote The Crucible in 1953, a year in the Era of McCarthyism, as a mirror image of the Salem witchcraft trials in the 1690s. Miller himself was black-listed for attending an "alleged communist writers' meeting," convicted of being in contempt, appealed that conviction, and finally won. In 1956 he married the generation's most well-known actress, Marilyn Monroe. They were together until 1961. Miller passed away in February of 2005 at the age of ninety. His scripts have been produced all over the world, and some have been turned into movies. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest American playwrights of all time...
Dramatists Play Service, Inc. has publication and production rights for The Crucible
Understanding the Text
witchcraft, pg. 9
the use of supernatural, magical, or evil powers
Barbados songs, pg. 11
mostly African in nature: drums, chanting, low flutes
Goody, pg. 12
a woman, esp. an older woman/housewife, of lowly social status: used as a title with the surname
psalm, pg. 17
any of the 150 songs/poems that are in the book of Psalms
most well-known psalm: (perhaps what the Reverend was referring to)
Psalm 23- "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters...... Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
a charm, pg. 19
charm: to subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence
cider, pg. 51
a fermented beverage made from apple juice
Deputy Governor, pg. 52
an official who is subordinate to a governor, also a lieutenant governor
poppet, pg. 56
a formal old English spelling of the word puppet: a doll made to represent a person/used to cast spells on that particular person
Theology, pg. 65
the study of religious faith, practice, and experience
10 Commandments, pg. 67
list of the 10 laws given to Moses for all Christians to follow
Character List
John Proctor: a farmer, mid 30s
Elizabeth Proctor: his wife, frail, mid 30s
Abigail Williams: 17, niece to Parris
Mary Warren: lonely soul, naïve, 17-19
Tituba: a slave woman, native of Barbados, mid 60s
Deputy Danforth: a judge, mid 40s
Reverend Hale: well-respected minister of Beverly, mid 30s
Reverend Parris: poorly-respected minister of Salem, mid 40s
Betty Parris: his daughter, 12-15
Susanna Walcott: friend to Abigail, 15-17
Mercy Lewis: the Putnams’ servant, 17-20
Thomas Putnam: land owner, mid 40s
Ann Putnam: his wife, tortured, mid 40s
Francis Nurse: farmer, mid 60s
Rebecca Nurse: a midwife, mid 60s
Giles Corey: land owner, mid 50s
Ezekiel Cheever: accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft, mid 40s
Marshal Herrick: Marshal of Salem, 29
Judge Hathorne: sadistic, mid 40s
Sarah Good: beggar, first accused of witchcraft, mid 50s
Hopkins: jailer, mid 30s
Hopkins: jailer, mid 30s
