In this camp we will read and discuss Arthur Miller's four-act play 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 while learning more about the Puritans, the Salem Witch Trials, and McCarthyism. We will analyze Miller's depiction of women and the sole character of color, Tituba, through feminist and anti-racist lenses. 

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 is a fictionalized dramatization of the historical Massachusetts witch trials of 1692-1693. Written in 1953, the play is an allegory for what was happening in the early 1950s in the United States. Led by Joseph McCarthy, the U.S. Senate held hearings to out and blacklist known communists living and working in the United States -- a metaphorical "witch hunt."  We will discuss both the historical witch trials, McCarthyism, and then think about how fear is still used as a tool to drive people to turn on neighbors and friends and to scapegoat marginalized and vulnerable communities. Learners will be encouraged to consider current events that might echo the events of 1692 and the 1950s.

Day 1: The first day will be lecture and discussion with an introduction of the play, Puritans and Puritan culture, the Salem Witch Trials, and McCarthyism, as well as examining the play through anti-racist and feminist lenses. We will also do casting with learners choosing the roles they will read. If more than one learner wants the same role, we will guess numbers to determine who gets the role. Learners will be encouraged to create a costume representing the character they are reading and to bring props their character will use as we read the script over the following four days. 

Ideally we will be reading on the following schedule, though this may be adapted depending on how quickly a group moves through the text and discussion of each act of the play. 

Day 1: Begin Act 1

Day 2: Reading and Discussion of Act 1-2

Day 3: Reading and Discussion of Act 2-3

Day 4: Reading and Discussion of Act 3-4

Day 5: Finish the script and wrap up discussion (Depending upon the students in a section, Day 5 may not last the entire one hour and 15 minutes. For other groups of students, we may go a little longer than the listed time on Day 5. Day 5 really depends upon how much students want to discuss the script and history.)