The Crucible Group

Question:

atropiano
atropiano

What aspects of society is Miller criticizing through the characters of Reverend Parris and the Putnams in Act I?

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Posted by atropiano on Wednesday December 3, 2008 at 4:32 PM and tagged with act i, crucible, putnams, reverand parris, the crucible.

Answers:

  1. dneshan
    dneshan Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    Given that "The Crucible" is Arthur Miller's commentary and criticism of the events of the 1950s Red Scare, it is most likely that the character of Reverand Parris and the Putnams would have to do with groups of people from that time period and that particular situation. The character of Parris and the Putnams in Act 1 particularly are first motivated by fear and then motivated by self-indulgence and revenge. Therefore, it is most likely that these character and their characterization from Act 1 is a direct reference to the people who were naming names of the "communists" during the Red Scare or those who were giving up names to Joseph McCarthy in order to save themselves from the blacklistings that were taking place during the time period.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/

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    Posted by dneshan on Wednesday December 3, 2008 at 5:38 PM