THE CRUCIBLE
(FIRST PREMIERED IN THE YEAR OF 1953 AND RELEASED AGAIN IN 1996 )
Producer Robert A. Miller & David V. Picker
Screenplay written by Arthur
Miller.
Filming Location – House of Seven Gables,
Salem, Massachusetts,
USA.
Cast
Charactesr in Play &
Movie Actors Names
John Proctor Daniel
Day-Lewis
Abigail Williams Winona
Ryder
Judge Thomas Danforth Paul
Scofield
Elizabeth Proctor Joan
Allen
Reverend Samuel Parris Bruce
Davison
Reverend John Hale Rob
Campbell
Thomas Putnam Jeffrey
Jones
Giles Corey Peter
Vaughn
Mary Warren Karron
Graves
Tituba Charlayne
Woodard
Ann Putnam Frances
Conroy
Rebecca Nurse Elizabeth
Lawrence
Judge Samuel Sewall George
Gaynes
Martha Corey Mary
Pat Gleason
This story examines the uniqueness of a situational and
prominent hysteria that led people of abject ignorance to believe in the power
of witchcraft and the atrocities that served as tests to prove the charges
levied against people being charged as being a witch and practicing witchcraft. Based upon belief of theocratism, the
isolated Puritan Colonists of Massachusetts believed in the power of Satan to
seduce, possess and compel to do works of evil and left marks and believed in
the manifestation of him in human flesh to control, torment and lead them to do
other acts. Throughout the story it
begins to intrigue and provoke an innate curiosity about the nature of man and
their acts to acquire their wants irregardless of the consequences.
The plot is written to examine a complexity
in the human man and the eternal fight against the moral structure that has
been established to retain right (good) versus evil (the lies that dances with
lust for a woman and a woman’s hate of being denied her willful way to have
another’s husband (John Proctor) and being a woman scorned.). As through all society has ever been charged
to fight evil and keep the right as God has given us. Reverend Parris one night discovers his
daughter, adopted niece (Abigail Williams) and other girls dancing naked in a
circle with his Barbadian slave, who came from the Country of Barbados, exhibiting
participation in a pagan ritual where the intent was to obtain a lover,
associate or husband and involved drinking blood from a chalice.
The investigation is initiated by Reverend
Hale due to several young girls being deep in sleep and unabled to be awakened
and expressed concern that the act of witchcraft is the crux of the matter and
possible summoning and petitioning to Satan to grant their request. During the pagan ritual the purpose was to
hurt Elizabeth Proctor and once discovered the leader (Abigail) begins to be a
catalyst in the unfortunate naming of those who she wanted to destroy with the
other girls following with support to prevent them from being named a witch as
well. As the plot picks up the frightening
control and uncanny manipulation exhibited by her is amazing and the lack of
care for anyone is blatantly obvious and appalling for the chance to
victimize his wife and turn her hatred upon the man who scorned himself for
touching her and bringing this opportunity into their unfortunate lives that
destroyed both.
Lastly, in this benevolent village, those who had an irritable
word found themselves caught up in the communicative hysteria of the
“headhunter” and the declaration that they were a witch and his associate and
should be questioned, done the rites to test for witchery and then the judgment
and execution.
Propose Extra Credit to teacher and ask if you can do an oral
presentation with students asking you questions to allow you to become used to
speaking in front of a crowd. This will teach you how to be an orator and a
great speaker one day.
The assignment is to watch the movie, answer the questions with emotional
feeling and thought and write an essay of the possible consequences of living with
the thought of yourself being caught up in a situation like this and how you
would feel when it appears to be a no win circumstance. How do you feel about this bout of justice
that evolved when he sinned possibly only once with this young woman? Do you think adultery should have been the
call and what John Proctor should have been judged as instead of witchery? Was there fairness throughout this calling
and investigation? Do you think this situation
was deliberately orchestrated to obtain monetary gains or was a chance to harm
others who had wealth or possessions or a chance to enjoy power gained by
accusing others? What has happened to
the moralistic thought of caring and why did everyone become uncaring of what
the outside world thinks or feels about Abigail being the catalyst in this sad
scenario?
By doing so you will develop stimulative comprehension, interpretative
comprehension, and thought comprehension. These are classified as starters and
teaching sessions.
Stimulative Comprehension - Consist of stimuli that encourages thought
patterns to emerge that facilitate understanding with more comprehension and
continuous thought.
Interpretative Comprehension - Consist of taking a thought and becoming more
analytical and interpretative of the intent whether clearly versed or hidden
and obtaining the intent to keep on.
Thought Comprehension - is the last step in assimilation because it takes in
account the stimuli and the reason (interpretative comprehension) and it will
facilitate considerable change and expanded thought that allows more
understanding and evolved thought patterns.
1. Generate Questions that incorporates using exploratory thought patterns and
will allow more concise assimilation.
2. Answers become more broadened, detailed and generate more interactive
ability and cognizant ability expands when continuing reading.
3. More ability to be analytical and upgradeable analysis and observational
skill will naturally expand as student grows and matures.
4. Summary and conclusionary thought of subject provide assimilative procedures
by using the supposedly common tools that are a base but is allowable to be
expanded to ensure more accurate reading and entails allowing thought processes
to increase.
QUESTIONS IN RELATION TO MOVIE (STORY)
1. What are your thoughts this movie?
2. Who is the antagonist is the movie?
3. Who are the victims of this catalyst spiral?
4. Who are the girls that were dancing in the forest naked
5. Who did they have do the spell for them?
6. Was it morning or afternoon or night when they were dancing?
7. What was the reason they were dancing for and doing the pagan ceremony?
8. John stated “Hard to give a lie to dogs.” What do you think he meant?
9. Did John believe that he would suffer for his liaison with Abigail?
10. Do you believe there were opportunists that used the witch hunt for their own ends?
11. What do you think they had to do once condemned?
12. What does his name mean to John Proctor?
13. Do you feel John was shamed that he went out of his marriage?
14. How deep is his emotional hurt?
15. Do you think he cared for his wife?
16. Did Abigail feel that she was better than John’s wife?
17. Do you think it’s ok to have an extra-marital affair?
18. How do you think Reverend Samuel Parris felt when he caught them in the forest doing a pagan ritual?
19. Did John feel remorse about his liaison deep in his soul?
20. Did John hate her for her continued attack upon his wife and himself?
21. Why do you think the girls began to name others as those who were associated with the devil?22. Who was Tituba?
23. Where did Tituba come from?
24. What was the girls’ mood when they came out to do the pagan ceremony?
25. Did they (girls) care that this behavior was out of decorum and was forbidden?
26. What names did the girls give for the man of their choice?
27. Was there symbolic writing around the fire and gathering?
28. Was the markings s or symbolic writing glowing without a fire?
29. What do you think the significance of these markings were?
30. Did Tituba sing a paganistic chant?
31. Was there a sacrificial offering?
32. What was sacrificed?
33. Who drank the blood of the sacrifice?
34. Who put Tituba in a state of shock during the ceremony? (What did she refuse to do?) Mystery Question.
35. Was there a reaction that might be attributable to shock, hysteria and fear?
36. Who was the child who cringed in Abigail’s arms?
37. Did the girls undress and behave in an uncontrolled manner?
38. Who examined the girls who were in a state of sleep? Was there a medical deduction that could be attributed to a strange malady that affected Betty and the other girls in the village?
39. What is a liar in God’s sight?
40. If you are an atheist do you condone the act of lying?
41. How do suppose an atheist would treat a liar?
42. Do you feel that a believer and non-believer would judge a liar in a similar way?
43. If a person was an atheist would they judge the girls in a more ambivalent fashion?
44. If the girls were judged in an ambivalent fashion do you believe that they would be more wanton if they were not punished?
45. Or would the acts of continued sin and misconduct continue to grow and escalate?
46. Were these girls taught the value of morality and good conduct?
47. Why do you think these girls acted outside the nature of good conduct?
48. Did Tituba think that she was committing a sin or act of unseemly behavior?
49. Is it possible that this ritual of paganistry is part of Tituba ancestry and culture and she knew no better?
50. What is a lie?
51. Is it possible to make people act in a way they don’t normally do?
52. What do you think communicative hysteria is? Give your own thoughts on this.
53. If the girls’ mood was highly excited do you think that what was forbidden attributed to an unnatural state of intoxication of doing that which was wrong?
54. Is it wrong to use a love potion or pagan ceremony to entice a man and make him unable to resist you?
55. Did all the girls have knowledge of whom Abigail wanted?
56. Why did Reverend Parris ask Abigail if she was conjuring spirits and what was her response?
57. Was Reverend Parris becoming fearful? and Why?
58. Why did Reverend Parris question Abigail’s reputation in the village?
59. What was Abigail’s response and why did she attack John’s wife and her character?
60. Does this attack on Elizabeth (John’s wife) allow suspiciousness to surface and allow a more critical look?
61. Who had the strongest will amongst the girls?
62. Did any of the girls turned upon each other and throw them on the bond fire to be consumed, judged and hanged?
63. Was there any who questioned the matter and indicate there was mischief afloat and ultimately became one who was charged for supposed wrong doing?
64. How many left the church when it was told the “witch hunter” was supposed to come and went and terrified Betty?
65. Who was the Achilles heel in the bunch of seven?
66. Who threatened the girls with possible physical harm and why?
67. How old is Abigail the instigator and initiator of the disastrous events?
68.
Did Proctor show a resistance to her wiles?
69. Did she whip him unmercifully with scorn
(verbally) when he rejected her advances and started to attack his WIFE?
70
. Why did she assert that Proctor loved her still?
71
. Do you think that she was too young to know what
love was or lust was?
72
. Is it a biological fact that the act of sexual
intercourse always have preliminaries to love or illusions to love when the act
ensue?
73.
Do you think that she had the emotional
stability to deal with a casual romp in the bed?
74. Do you feel that jealousy was the driving force
with her (Abigail)?
75
. Did she really think that Proctor would discard
his vows and also discard the familial structure and his unspoken vow to his
children?
76
. Were the villagers who were woefully ignorant give
Mr. Putnam plenty of grievous argument?
77
.
What level of education and where did Mr. Putnam
graduate from?
78
.
Do you believe the assertion that Mr. Putnam was
greedy and took advantage of the ignorant villagers?
79
.
Do you believe that possibly the level of
education was the reason that they objected ferverishly with Mr. Putnam?
80
.
Did Abigail consider the sin of adultery? Did John Proctor consider the sins of
adultery?
8
1.
Why did Ann Putnam state that there was danger
in seeking loose spirits?
82
.
Did she fear the acts to seek these spirits?
83
.
Who was Aunt Putnam and what were her
accomplishments?
84
.
What marks were Reverend John Hale looking for
when he examined the child (Betty)?
85
.
Did he have a guideline or book to find the
Devil within and out?
86
.
As Reverend Hale and the other townspeople were
walking who came and declared that he could not read his prayer because his
wife was reading a strange book? And
could only read when she (Martha) ceased and went out of the house?
87
.
When Mr. Parris was conversing with Reverend
Hale about the episodic scenario was Reverend Hall asking direct investigative
questioning about it? If so what was the
detailed accounting of the questioning?
88
.
Why did he direct his questioning to Abigail?
89
.
Who replied to his (Reverend Hale) questioning
and what were the answers?
90
.
Who do you believe was lying?
91
.
Was dancing allowed?
92
.
If a fire was added what would be the
consequential thought that would lead suspiciously to lying?
93
.
Why did Reverend Hale requests all of the girls
names?
94
.
Who confessed and gave a name of the instigator?
95
.
How many girls lay in a semi-conscious state of
affliction (comedic state)?
96
.
Was Tituba given a fair chance? Why?
Was it perhaps because she was a black slave and they were white?
97.
Who did Tituba claim implored her to do the
dance and perform the spells?
98
.
What was Abigail response to Tituba’s claims?
99
.
Who do you think they will believe? Why?
100.
Why did Tituba confess to being allegiance with the devil?
101.
What method was Reverend Hale’s line of questioning? (intimidating,
persuading, words-in-mouth, friendly, convincing, confidence inspiring)
102.
Did Tituba’s loose her hold on sanity after being beaten and give the
questioners what they wanted?
103.
When Abigail begin her confession after Tituba’s confession what do you
think this confession led to in Tituba’s situation and the other women whose
names were flung in accusation to Tituba by Mrs. Putnam.
104.
Who do you think saw power in the situation as well as absolution?
105.
Do you think this was the start of communicative hysteria?
106.
Why did the girls accuse others of being in league with the devil?
(Communicative Hysteria is a purposely
mental manipulation to compel the acts and actions of those of weaker mental
acuity or established weaker will to act as willed or will. These manipulations are used in a plaintive
format to enhance a direct act and supportive of supposed necessity to enthrall
and support a desired act. As such the
act of normalcy is eroded and the act of newness is introduced and established
to provide a new base.)
107.
Why did Proctor take up with Abigail?
108. Do you think Proctor felt tendrils
of fear because Abigail was the Accuser against his wife?
109.
Was the guilt tearing at Proctor because he had been intimate with
Abigail and was the indirect cause of this troubling malady?
110.
What did this young woman (Abigail) actions instigate throughout
Massachusetts and affective physical state of hysteria with the girls and
populace?
111.
Why did Abigail pretend to be hurt by Goody Osborne?
112.
Why was Goody Osborne charged as being a witch?
113.
Why could a twist of tongue (risky language) be your death during this
time? Give example of language that
could get you accused.
114.
Were there weird occurrences that caused support of these allegations?
115.
Why did the girls believe they were doing a good deed by driving the
devil out of Salem?
116.
Who is the girl living with the Proctors and what was her part in witch
hunting?
117.
Who accused Proctor’s wife?
118.
What did Proctor do to change her from her disastrous path?
119.
Was Proctor upset at the second meeting with Abigail?
120.
Did she gloat at the power she had to hurt Proctor’s wife?
121.
Do you think that perhaps Abigail caused Proctor’s wife illness and this
allowed entry into their home?
122.
Did she feel emotionless about her manipulations and play with people
lives?
123.
Did Proctor threaten Abigail and someone else?
124.
Why did Abigail put on a theatrical act that showed herself with a
knitting needle protruding vertically from her stomach?
125.
Did Abigail give a reason of why she was using her newly gained power?
126.
Who did they was being grievously attacked in Salem?
127.
Why did Reverend Hale come to the Proctor’s home?
128.
What did Reverend Hale ask Proctor to repeat?
129.
What blunder did Proctor make when repeating the Ten Commandments?
130.
Do you think this was a subconscious admittance to guilt or an
unconscious jab at his wife and Reverend Hale?
131.
Why did Reverend Hale state that a crack in a fortress may be accounted
small?
132.
Why did it seem that the emotive state of resentment and anger was
provoked to seize someone for witchcraft?
133.
What helped convict Proctor’s wife to be taken to further questioned and
tried?
134.
What caused Proctor’s to roar and respond with anger for his wife’s
accusation and being led into danger?
135.
Was Proctor’s wife pregnant?
136.
Do you believe they had a personal dislike for Proctor’s wife?
137.
What did Proctor do to save his wife?
138.
All thru the melee, Why do you think that sweet greed came in to be a
partner in the acts of charging witchcraft?
139.
Was the Witchcraft Courts feared throughout the country because of its
absolute power, will and authority?
140.
How many death warrants were issued?
141.
Should a child’s accusation be viewed as absolute authority in cases of
witchcraft?
142.
Do you feel that a purpose was the thrill of power was in the village as
the call of witchcraft rang every door with meaness and cruelty?
143.
Who is a given favoritism and why?
144.
Who do they believe because they gave the impression of being filled
with evil possession?
145.
Was the question of too high of standards for ignorant people of no
learning to understand given thought?
146.
Were the questions of intentional point to confuse, suffuse fear and
terror within and leaving no option but despair of being believed?
147.
Does the act of communicative hysteria need more than one to act and
being led upon? (Therefore, comes the
question of mind control and its significant others.)
148.
What was Abigail’s educational background?
149.
Was she more worldly in her mind than the other girls?
150.
Did Abigail threaten the Magistrate with challenging remarks that the devil
could get into him and tempt and possess him as well?
151.
How did the Magistrate react and respond?
152.
What diverted attention from him (Magistrate)?
153.
Is it possible to accuse a Magistrate?
154.
Will anyone act upon the accusal?
155.
If an accuser lays accusation to a Magistrate what is the act that a
Magistrate can do?
156.
Can he dismiss the charge totally and hold the accuser in contempt of
court?
157.
What did Proctor’s confession of his liaison with Abigail accomplish?
158.
What did Proctor call Abigail?
(Hint: Epithet)
159.
Do you believe Abigail was a virgin?
160.
If yes, are these the acts of a formerly innocent young woman?
161.
If no, Do you judge this as the possible consequences received when
committing adultery?
162. What did the Magistrate do to get to the truth
of the matter between Proctor and Abigail?
163.
Who did the Magistrate call to testimony?
164.
What questions did the Magistrate ask?
165.
Was Proctor’s wife truthful? Was
she faithful and true to her husband and believe in him?
166.
Why is it that Abigail acts out stating that she sees strange visions
and manifestations and uses her influence to impel acts of possession?
167.
So true that it gives questions of, What would you feel or do in this
situation?
168.
Do you believe that it is fair to act thus if refused?
169.
Who was hanged?
170.
Is this too much POWER?
The act of lying and portrayal of lies
become indeed a seductive act of revenge, malice, power and hate. How sweet to ruin a man’s or woman’s Honor,
Duty and Life. Isn’t it a shame that
people are this culpable and clever at fooling others.
