Black lives during the 1950s - 1960s
During this time black people were discriminated against; from public services, schools, transport, restaurants and so on. Despite the American civil war in 1865 ending slavery, equality between the races were non existence. Blacks had remained second classed citizens and were stuck in unequally worst paid jobs such as farmers and factory workers that required no trained skills.
Division and tension were strong at the time, which isnt surprising due to all the crooked laws to keep unbalance power and division. Laws such as the 'Jim Crow Laws'. Scandals such as the Linda brown case and the Rosa Parks boycotting buses lead by Martin Luther King was only the beginning of the movement. I believe it must of been incredibly hard for people to publicly voice there opinions or even stand up for themselves because the horrific consequences they'd face later on. People didn't voice there opinions because of the fear of being lynched, assassinated or even having their house burnt down.
Knowing this information is so vital in understanding Joules firery need to speak and demand her rights. The understand of injustice around the 50s and being a black female is important for me to know. There are lives at stake and black lives were so easily taken with hardly any thought or moral standing.
Male ------> Female
Joules can be somewhat intimidating to others, she is a black female who owns her own property and works. Though her job in manual labour others are unaware of her family history. It's to say that not many other black people would be in the same position as Joules and her lifestyles is quite comfortable and rare for her people. So she can been as privilege or lucky to some. Others clearly look down on her like the Putnams and even Rebecca Nurse.
The fact that we have gender swaps in our production of the Crucible is very powerful. Salem being a small place that men were heavily encharge of changes the dynamics for our strong female cast. It becomes a women's play. Instead we have working women who are equal to men. And instead of disliking Abigile you feel sorry for her. You see Salem in the eyes of women. The up rivalry and pretences that occurs in the play could be argued that they women who cried witches and demons were somewhat getting revenge on those that hurt them.
Overview
Giles Corey is a strong old man who has only recently converted to Christianity. He's likable, but is not too bright. He brings up the fact that his wife reads strange books. To Giles, any book is strange and the idea of a woman wanting to read totally blows his mind. His mention of this fact leads to an accusation that his wife is a witch. Giles feels terrible about this. He knows his wife is innocent and recognizes that his own actions have led to her incarceration and impending death. He attempts to defend his wife by going to the court and showing them proof that, in at least one case, the accusation is based on Thomas Putnam’s greed for a neighbor’s bit of land. This backfires and he is condemned himself.
Corey's incredible strength of character is shown in the end when he neither confesses to, nor denies, the charges of witchcraft. By doing so, he ensures that his sons can legally inherit his property. Even though he is brutally tortured by having crushingly heavy stones place on his chest, the only thing Giles says is "More weight".
Miller would go on to pull a "Giles Corey" of his own when he was called to testify before McCarthys Un-American Activites Committee. Despite tremendous pressure, Miller refused to name names of suspected Communists.
In our version Joules is ver family oriented and talks a little to much. She mentions her sister reading strang book to Mr Hale so carlessely out of curiosity and conversation. Which results in her sister being accused of witchery and later on results in her own death.
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