THE CRUCIBLE BY ARTHUR MILLER
Welcome to our study of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The purpose of this unit is to explore how history & social context can inform & shape literature. We will explore the author’s motivations for writing the play. Other texts include historical content from the Salem Witch Trials. Much of this unit centers on the social context of the Red Scare, as Arthur Miller wrote the play in response to senator Joseph McCarthy’s hysterical persecution of those he suspected of communism.
BIG IDEAS & ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- How does a collective fear affect the group or individuals?
- Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw?
- Why and how do religion, politics and persecution interact?
- Personal integrity versus survival.
- Does a governing body have the right to dictate morality?
- How can work of art bring about change in the world?