The Crucible by Arthur Miller亚瑟米勒坩埚.pptVIP

The Crucible: Anticipation Guide A moral person can commit an immoral act and still remain moral. Many people get away with misusing their power. Fear can spread easily from person to person. It’s okay to be deceptive in a survival situation. Reputation is more important than being honest. History always repeats itself. It’s more important to stand up for what is right than to go with the crowd. Withholding the truth is the same thing as telling a lie. Gossiping is a harmless, but fun, way to pass time. Adultery is acceptable in today’s society. The Crucible: Essential Questions Is the life of an individual less important than the well-being of a society? What makes someone “honorable”? What circumstances are conducive to creating mass hysteria in society? How can society’s fear of nonconformity lead to injustice? How can peer pressure influence an individual? How can people use their power to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others? How do beliefs affect behavior? Why does history repeat itself? What can we learn from history? The Crucibleby Arthur Miller About the Author:Arthur Miller Born in NYC in 1915 Career as a playwright began while he was a student at the University of Michigan Married to Marilyn Monroe (1956-61) Several early works won awards All My Sons, 1947 Death of a Salesman, 1949 (Pulitzer Prize) Death of a Salesman was described by critics as the first great American tragedy Miller gained a reputation as a man who understood the deep essence of the United States The Crucible Facts Genre: tragedy, allegory Written in 1950s (during McCarthyism) Published: 1953 Setting: 1692, Salem, Massachusetts, Puritan New England (during the Salem Witch Trials) Protagonist: John Proctor Antagonist: Abigail Williams Plot: Strictly religious Puritan government prosecuted people for practicing witchcraft; nineteen people were convicted and hanged for witchcraft; fueled by a group of young girls and an affair (t