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FOCUS STANDARDS:

RL 11.3 ANALYZE the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama.

RL 11.6 ANALYZE a case in which grasping perspective requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant

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Victoria Batemon

I think Arthur Miller uses a Hollywood reference because technically, McCarthyism was targeting celebrities and celebrities who live in Hollywood or work in Hollywood, and so he took the 1940s modern time and put it with the Salem witch trial. Another thing I think why he uses Hollywood's perspective is because, my best friend, do you want to play a spin on the Salem witch trials and how “close-knit” Salem was to other parts of the colonies. The last thing I think why he put Hollywood with his play is because it shows how skeptics can persuade people's thoughts and how people's thinking was towards other people.

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Cypress Farmer

I personally think Arthur Miller added a lot of the "Hollywood" pieces to the play to drive home the message about McCarthyism. When watching the movie and reading the play, a lot of the exaggerated scenes made the play seem very tense and almost surreal. This idea that a 30 yr old man had an affair with a 17 yr old child makes the tension between John and Abi more palpable and it almost puts you into the scenes. Knowing the reality that John was almost 60 and Abi was 12 though, makes the plot fall apart. Another part that Miller added was that Elizabeth was more or less John's first wife, which would make sense in the plot. While John has a troubled past with Abi, he is a loyal person, so having one wife would strengthen this idea. Now knowing that Elizabeth was actually John's third wife makes his character feel less realistic in the play. Lastly, the opening scene in the woods was very much so embellished by Miller. I don't think that it actually happened, but I do believe magic was performed at some point. I was reading an article and they mentioned a magic called "Venus Glass" where basically you drop an egg in a glass of water, and the shape would tell you the future. I could definitely see a 11 yr old Abi doing this and fully believing there was witchery afoot. All in all, the Hollywood pieces were added to define and strengthen the message that Miller was making about McCarthyism.

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Shyiell M-

I believe Arthur Miller added in Hollywood additions to play in order to make it more enjoyable to watch, but also to get his point across that all it takes is one jealous spark to start accusations. This play is meant to be an allegorical representation for McCarthyism and how the accusations are akin to what happened during the witch trails. The three changes between what actually happened and the play I have chosen are;

Abigail's Age: In the play Abigail is stated to be eighteen, but the real Abigail Williams was only 12 at the time. This was changed because an affair between Abigail and John Proctor were made apparent in the play as motive for the start of the witch trials.

The affair: The affair was added to give dramatic reason and as stated before a motive to the Abigail's madness.

Rebecca Nurse: It was said that Rebecca nurse is thirty-six times a grandmother yet Goody Putnam states that Rebecca has never lost a child while she has had to bury seven of her own. I believe this was added to further support the accusation of witchcraft against Rebecca Nurse because otherwise they would have nothing against her. Rebecca was known for her good deeds around Salem, so saying that she put a hex on Goody Putnam wouldn't have been plausible without this fact.

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Twa'shae Farmer -

Three reasons I think Arthur Miller added the Hollywood aspects of the play were for dramatics, to portray the allegory for McCarthyism, and to make it more understandable for watchers. The dramatics of it all made it more interesting, the allegory to show people what the people accused of communism felt during the McCarthyism era, and to make it easier for the watchers to see what it felt like to be accused and mistreated because of difference.

He made the changes in character ages, lives, and overall stories to portray the message of what mass hysteria is like and how it can all stem from one thing, for example, a mistake like saying the wrong thing in John's case; his wrong thing was cheating with Abigail, who was crazy. I believe the only reason for her age change was purely for drama and for her accusations to have somewhere to stem from. The affair only happened to serve as a reason for revenge, and the change about Rebecca Nurse's children was to give a reason for her to be accused.

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Tezeriah S.

I think Arthur Miller made a decision to exaggerate and combine real-life figures for dramatic purposes. For instance, the character of Abigail Williams is given a more prominent and manipulative role in the play than in history. In the play, she is depicted as a vengeful instigator of the trials, driven by personal grievances and a desire to destroy Elizabeth Proctor. In reality, Abigail was a much younger girl and less central to the events than the play. By heightening her role, Miller creates a dramatic focal point through which to explore themes of power, jealousy, and the dangers of unchecked authority. Miller also uses subtle irony in the play, where characters often say one thing but mean another, revealing the gap between appearance and reality. A prime example of this is the character of Judge Danforth. He consistently states that the trials are about finding the truth and upholding justice, but his actions reveal otherwise. For example, when Proctor refuses to sign a confession, Danforth is more concerned with protecting the reputation of the court than with ensuring justice is served.

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Ianna Edwards-

Authur Miller added the major "Hollywood" pieces to the play so that the message is easier for others to understand. People understand things if it's put in a way they can take in the information. Which is why he adds an affair in the mix.

Miller wanted others to know that McCarthy was manipulating others with information that they wanted. In the play, Abigail was manipulating the town by making it seem as if her and other girls were able to pick out the witches in town. He made it as if there was a personal motive that Abigail had. Which was jealousy and the desire for power. Which is how he connected Abigail to McCarthy.

Another reason is, though it was a "diss" to McCarthy, at the time he was blacklisted so I think he needed something for people to talk about. He needed people to talk about him so he can salvage his career.

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Ashton Briggs- I believe that he added Hollywood additions to the play to further heighten the dramatic impact and make the historical event resonate more powerfully during the McCarthy era.He used the historical framework of the Salem witch trails as an allegory for the anti communist "witch hunts"of his own time,highlighting parallels between the persecution of supposed witches and the persecution of supposed communists.These themes of injustice and individual integrity were artistic decisions I believe meant to strengthen the play's message and further ensue the message that was being told in the play.

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Anariah Simpson

I believe Arthur Miller uses Hollywood pieces throughout the play mainly because of The Hollywood blacklist and his connections with being married to Marilyn Monroe. She was known for actress and model. Which probably influenced him to add Hollywood details. The Crucible was an allegory for the Hollywood blacklist and McCarthyism of the 1950's. As for the Crucible and the information that can be looked online is very different with Abigail being 12 not 18 and at the time John was 59 in real life but in the movie he was in his thirties which leads to a very different age difference. With that being said there could not have been an affair between John and Abigail. Adding this into the play and the movie made abigail less weird being age 12 in real life by putting her age 18 making her adult at the time. Another thing is Elizabeth Proctor was actually pregnant with their 7th child at the end of the movie and supposedly the play. Elizabeth Proctor was John's 3rd wife because the other two died of something. I think Arthur didn't mention this in the movie or play because maybe at the time I was as interesting to put in. Maybe the people watching or reading The Crucible won't be as interested. He did actually have kids with his other wives but the overall total would be 7 children of John Proctor.

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Izaiah.c

I believe he added it for more of the fact that most people that played in this where from Hollywood and to make it more enjoyable for other to watch. I feel like it brought more interest to it, I also felt like it was going toward people from Hollywood and making them the main priority. I also believe since it was based around the older times Hollywood would catch attention to most people just viewing or even watching making it more fun.

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Gracie Paschall

I think Arthur Miller added Hollywood references in the play because back in the 1600's McCarthyism was a huge major issue. He wanted viewers and listeners to know what I was like back when people wanting to accuse other people of witchcraft. Puritans believed that witchcraft was a form of disobeying God's plan for them. An example of McCarthyism in Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" is when it talks about Rebecca Nurse has only one kid but in real life she has 8 kids: Sarah Nurse,Samuel Nurse,Francis Nurse,Elizabeth Nurse,Benjamin Nurse,Rebecca Nurse,Mary Nurse and John Nurse. In my opinion he play made me angry and mad because this whole time I thought this actually happened in real life but it was all a hokes.

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Cosme Morales -

Reverend Hale had his book published two years after his death that provided an alternative christian theory on what actually happened during the Salem witch trials.

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Rielle P.

I believe that Arthur Miller implemented Hollywood aspects to the play to make a point. The play was not meant to be historically accurate, rather, a clear allegory for what was going on in the USA at the time with McCarthy.

Things like the switch in ages, the affair— it adds layers to his version of things not only adding drama, but raising the stakes (unfinished, I’m still writing this I'm gonna edit it)

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Cosme Morales -

I believe Arthur Miller incorporated elements reflecting Hollywood in The Crucible as not only a way to draw parallels between the Red Scare of the 1950s and the Salem witch trials, but also as an attempt to ensure the play stayed relevant even beyond its historical setting. Helping it serve as the allegory it was meant to be back then and still have it hold relevance today.