Introduction to Introduction to The CrucibleThe Crucible

Who were the Puritans?Who were the Puritans?

Came from the Old World to escape Came from the Old World to escape religious persecutionreligious persecution

Strict relationship with GodStrict relationship with GodBelieved that they were chosen to be the Believed that they were chosen to be the

religious elitereligious eliteOnly God knew the ranking so everyone had Only God knew the ranking so everyone had

to be preparedto be preparedElected officials were assumed to be elite and Elected officials were assumed to be elite and

“perfect” “perfect”

God vs. DevilGod vs. Devil

If God could select than so could the DevilIf God could select than so could the DevilLucifer as an angelLucifer as an angel

If the Devil could deceive God he could easily If the Devil could deceive God he could easily deceive a human.deceive a human.

The Devil could strike at any momentThe Devil could strike at any moment

GovernmentGovernment

Theocracy-no separation of church and Theocracy-no separation of church and statestateMust be good members of the church to be a Must be good members of the church to be a

part of the community. If not, no votepart of the community. If not, no voteMinisters were the main officers and Ministers were the main officers and

administrators of the civil gov’t.administrators of the civil gov’t.BeliefsBeliefs

Work=productive member of God’s communityWork=productive member of God’s community Work = success = spiritual eliteWork = success = spiritual elite Laziness + fun = sinLaziness + fun = sin

Salem 1692Salem 1692

Political ProblemsPolitical ProblemsA. Prosperous town vs. farming villageA. Prosperous town vs. farming village

Should the farmers separate from the town?Should the farmers separate from the town?

B. Rev. ParrisB. Rev. Parris Merchant-the villagers were trying to get away from Merchant-the villagers were trying to get away from

industryindustry Too greedyToo greedy Wants deed to the houseWants deed to the house Villagers stopped paying salaryVillagers stopped paying salary

How the witch trials beganHow the witch trials began

Betty Parris, Abigail Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Williams, Ann Putnam visit Tituba in the visit Tituba in the woods to hear storieswoods to hear stories Parris discovers themParris discovers them Girls start having fits-Girls start having fits-

blame witches and blame witches and supernaturalsupernatural

Warrant IssuedWarrant Issued Feb 29, 1692-all misfitsFeb 29, 1692-all misfits

Tituba (black servant of Tituba (black servant of ParrisParris

Sarah Good-wandered Sarah Good-wandered streets, smoked a pipestreets, smoked a pipe

Sarah Osbourne-did not Sarah Osbourne-did not attend churchattend church

OutcomeOutcome Tituba confessed and was Tituba confessed and was

whippedwhipped Both Sarah’s claimed Both Sarah’s claimed

innocenceinnocence Good accused OsbourneGood accused Osbourne

Why did the witch hunts occur?Why did the witch hunts occur?

1. Puritan religion too strict and people feared one 1. Puritan religion too strict and people feared one anotheranother

2. Theocracy-Based on God which your can not prove2. Theocracy-Based on God which your can not prove 3. Corruption within the government-only person with 3. Corruption within the government-only person with

power was the reverend. power was the reverend.