Crucible Discussion

1
Crucible Discussion

• Crucible Discussion
• Objectives
• Evaluate the characters actions in the movie
• Analyze the events in the movie
• Making a connection between McCarthyism ,
  Japanese Internment, and Today
• What is more important civil rights or allaying
  public fears?
• Reminders
• Chapter 37 Monday
• Cuckoo Ch 1-5 on Tuesday

2

• What connections can you make between the movie
  and the historical events that happened in the
  1940s and 50s ?
• Are some things more important than protecting
  ourselves? What is more important than
  protecting yourself?

3

1. Having seen what happens to Mary when she tries
   to tell the truth can we really look down on the
   other girls? After all, none of them can tell the
   truth eitherarent they all just innocent
   bystanders, who should take no blame for the
   people who will be executed? Explain why they
   either shouldn't be blamed or should.
2. In the context of character vs. reputation--is
   either of them worth risking your own life? Why?
3. If we believe in witches, is it wrong to hunt
   them? Can we know that we are protecting
   ourselves (and not simply abusing others?)?
4. Proctor is a man trapped by a secret fault/sin --
   a somewhat common theme in U.S. Lit. What does
   this suggest about being human? (being American?)
5. Are Mary Warren and Reverend Hale to blame for
   their actions?
6. What if they had never come for "good women" like
   Elizabeth or Rebecca? Would John have done
   anything?
7. In this play, pious and well-regarded judges
   convict people of a crime they believe is no less
   real than murder, and are opposed by an adulterer
   and his wife (who lies in a crucial moment where
   the truth might have saved both). What is
   virtue? Is anyone in this play truly good?
8. More broadly, are people naturally good or evil?
   What does this play suggest? What does American
   history suggest?
9. Hale says it would be better for Proctor to lie
   and live than die for his pride. Is he right?
   Is Proctor's final decision admirable or foolish?
   (Would you confess, in his position?)
10. Does Proctor "have his goodness now", as
    Elizabeth says at the end? If so, how did he
    acquire it? If not, why not?
11. Are any beliefs (heretical, communist, or
    otherwise) so dangerous that they can become
    criminal? Whose ideas are acceptable? Is it a
    right of the state to restrict ideas?

4

• Martin Niemöller, a German Protestant Pastor,
  recalls Germany in the 1930s...
• "They came for the Communists, and I didn't
  object, for I wasn't a Communist.
• Then they came for the trade unionists, and I
  didn't object, for I wasn't a trade unionist.
• Then they came for the sick, the so-called
  incurables, and I didn't object, for I wasn't
  mentally ill.
• Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't object,
  for I wasn't a Jew.
• Then they came for me, and there was no one left
  to object."
• What does this have to do with the Crucible?
  (Could John Proctor have said something like
  this?)
• How does this discussion connect with our
  discussion about protecting civil rights vs.
  allaying the fears of a country?
• Are we living through a modern day witch hunt?
  Please explain your answer and provide evidence
  to support it. If so what can we do about it?