Auckland Deep Thinkers Sunday Lunch Book Club: "The Crucible"

A new venue and a new style for the new season. Let's get together once a month to discuss a book that has relevance in today's world.

This month's book is "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller that dramatizes the Salem witch trials of 1692, serving as an allegory for the McCarthyism era in the United States. It explores themes of hysteria, morality, and the consequences of fear-driven accusations within a rigid Puritan society

The Crucible is a masterclass in dramatizing moral panic, collective hysteria, and the collision between personal integrity and societal pressure.

Points for discussion:

1. Truth vs. Survival
   Characters must choose between telling the truth and preserving their lives. Is it morally justifiable to lie to save oneself?
2. Justice vs. Revenge
   The legal system is manipulated for personal vendettas. Can justice exist in a society driven by fear and retribution?
3. Guilt and Redemption
   John Proctor’s arc centres on confronting guilt and seeking redemption. Is redemption possible without public confession?
4. Mass Hysteria
   The town descends into chaos driven by fear and rumour. What fuels mass hysteria—ignorance, fear, or power?
5. Reputation and Integrity
   Many characters act to protect their social standing. Should reputation matter more than truth?
6. Fear as a Tool of Control
   Authority figures exploit fear to maintain power. Is fear a legitimate means of governance?
7. Individual vs. Authority
   Proctor and others resist the court’s unjust rulings. When is civil disobedience morally necessary?
8. Scapegoating and Social Division
   Marginalized individuals are targeted to preserve the status quo. How do societies decide who becomes the scapegoat?

CUSTOMS:
You must register and be on the “Attendees - Going” list to attend.
Please bring $2 to cover Meetup costs.

RSVP POLICY:
RSVPs and cancellations will be accepted up until 6 hours before the start of the meetup so that people who feel unwell on the day have time to change their RSVP and allow someone else to attend.

Please only click 'attend' if you are going to come, and remember to change your RSVP if you need to change plans.

No-shows will be removed from the group; i.e. being registered to attend and not attending OR cancelling your attendance after 11:00am on the day will be considered a 'No Show'.
This RSVP policy has become necessary due to the high number of last-minute withdrawals and non-attendance. This unfairly causes people on the Waiting List to miss out. Thanks for your cooperation.