“The Crucible” is a play about the unfortunate Salem Witch Trials but if one dug deeper, the events of “The Crucible” closely relate to the events of McCarthyism in the 1950’s. The people during the 1950’s were very distraught and constantly looking over their shoulders in fear in search of Communists because they were a national and social threat to the Democratic Republic. People were turning their backs on their moral and personal values to point out yet another victim to the Communist chase. The US authoritative figures conjured a hysterical fear of their government collapsing and the people losing their rights which turned them into hypocritical pursuants. Arthur Miller targets these points in “The Crucible” with his knowledge of the Salem …show more content…
I have white people belong to me.” And I look—and there was Goody Good.”(Miller, Act I, 162). This information demonstrates that Tituba, like many weak minded people, was so desperate to drive attention away from herself that she begs Reverend Hale and tries to accuse others of her wrong doing. Weak minded people are more likely to give up first in the face of adversity because they don’t want to fight for what they truly believe in. They would rather give in and confess to something they have not done just as Tituba confesses to Witchcraft. Hysteria is a coping mechanism used in most cases to make sense of a situation or to play it in one’s favor based out of fear, confusion, or desperation. This is seen a lot throughout “The Crucible” and especially in the 1950’s when McCarthyism was overtaking people's thoughts and actions and convincing them to do things they wouldn't normally do all because they were afraid and confused. In relation to McCarthyism, According to Independence Hall Association (2016) it states, ”It has not been the less fortunate or members of minority groups who have been selling this Nation out, but rather those who have had all the benefits …show more content…
One reason why hypocrisy is demonstrated in “The Crucible” is when Elizabeth judges John for lying to her about being alone with Abigail and he tells her she has no right to do so. In the play “The Crucible” it states, “You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband anymore.” (Miller, Act IV, 1196). This shows that John Proctor doesn't want his wife to judge him for lying about being alone with Abigail even though he was because he says she isn't perfect either. He doesn't want her to conclude that he is a bad unfaithful person but by saying this he is judging her therefore being a hypocrite. Finally hypocrisy is demonstrated in “The Crucible” when Elizabeth asks John to break his promise to Abby and he wants her to stop judging him for cheating on her. Miller explains in “The Crucible”, “Because it speaks deceit, and I am honest. But i'll plead no more! I see now your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never tear it free.” (Miller, Act I, 1275). This proves that John believes he is an honest and trustworthy man even though he lied about being alone with Abigail. He tries to play it off as if he is the victim
Arthur Miller was a playwright and a political activist speaking up addressing societal issues. One of his most well-known works being The Crucible, addressed McCarthyism and its absurd purpose. Miller, creator of The Crucible was blacklisted, and accused of being a communist along with many other entertainers (“Arthur Miller”). Through all this ignorance and delusional fear, Arthur Miller was inspired to explore the similarities and parallels of the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism.
In The Crucible John Proctor started the play as a hypocrite who was unwilling to admit that he was not perfect. Once Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft, John was outraged because Abigail told John that her and her friends were dancing in the woods. Infuriated that Abigail would murder innocent people John tries to turn Danforth against Abigail. When Danforth does not see a legitimate reason to stop trusting Abigail John is forced to confess his affair with Abigail. But when Elizabeth is asked about John’s affair, Elizabeth acted like she did not know what Danforth was talking about.
The Crucible is Inspired by the McCarthy time the 1950’s, Arthur Miller’s play, mainly focused the Salem witch trials, carelessness that can result from desires, and pleasure for others. Arthur Miller bases the play on historical things of the Salem witch trials. He starts of the play with Revered Samuel Parris’ daughter, his niece Abigail, the slave Tituba, and some village girls dancing in the woods. Rather than suffer punishment for their actions, the girls accused other women and men of witchcraft. The girls say that they saw the other people practicing witchcraft.
Abigail decided to start a sexual relationship with John Proctor. This led to heartbreak, compulsive lying, sneaking around, and legal trouble because she was under age at the time the affair was going on. Once John realized what he was doing was wrong, he decided to confess his sins to the court. John states, “I’ll plead my honesty no more.” This shows he thinks it’s best to confess.
“We are who are always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys to the kingdom, and a common vengeance writes the law (Miller Act II:389-390) ” This quote, by Arthur Miller in his famous play The Crucible, depicts McCarthyism as the Salem witch trials. Miller shows the resemblance of both events when people are being falsely accused with little to no evidence, and the trails were prejudicial and horrific. Using this approach has its strengths, weaknesses, and ideas that differs between the two. Depicting McCarthyism as the Salem witch trials strengthens the resemblance.
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, he does whatever he can throughout the play to keep his name pure, but he already tarnished it before the play even started by sleeping with Abigail. From then on, he is stuck in a hole he couldn’t get out of. John Proctor is a man who is cowardly, misleading, and conniving to his friends. John Proctor shows his cowardly side throughout the play. He especially shows it when he sneaks around Salem to find Abigail .
The times back then were terrible. The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 about The Salem Witch Trials of 1692.McCarthyism was the “witch hunt” for the communist in 1953.the parallels between The Crucible and McCarthyism are naming names,lack of proof ,and reststance. The first reason they are parallel is because of naming names. Hollywood director Elia Kazan went in front of the HUAC twice. The first time he did not confess and names.
The story starts off with the affair between Abigail and John, which leads to suspicions towards his current wife Elizabeth Proctor. Arthur Miller states, “He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but of his own version of his decent conduct” (Miller 20 ). This quote is stated in the book because it demonstrates the fact that Proctor didn’t know all the commandments, nor followed them. When the trails begin, all John can think about is if he confesses to adultery, then it would stop Abigail in the town. In doing so, an admission would ruin his good name and a proud man who views highly on his reputation, just to lose it in trial.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is based on the true events of the Salem witch trials. Set in the 17th century The Crucible told the story of a town that ensued a hunt for witches, caused by the accusations of Salem 's young girls and their ring leader Abigail Williams. Arthur Miller wrote this play to symbolize 1950’s McCarthyism. Most readers are unfamiliar with McCarthyism. So for a brief explanation, McCarthyism was carried out under senator Joseph McCarthy during 1950-1954 against alleged communist in the US government and in other institutions.
People in the Crucible thought he was an honorable man and that no honorable man will ever sin. So when John and Abigail meet each other, Abigail flirts with John, and John say, “No, no, Abby. That’s done with.” So we know he has committed adultery against his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, with Abigail Williams and that gives us a bad image of John sinning and commiting adultery with Abigail and doesn’t really respect his wife.
Mass hysteria was present in both The Crucible and McCarthyism. Mass hysteria is when people went crazy because people were accused of being communists and or witches. Mass hysteria was however started by specific people in both scenarios. In Mccarthyism Joseph Mccarthy a United States Senator and in The Crucible Abigail Williams who was accused of having an affair with John Proctor her employer were the specific ones who accused people of being communists and witches. Even though the Salem witch trials happened in the late 1690s and McCarthyism in the 1950s they paralleled each other.
John confessed to adultery, ripped up his confession, and resisted the temptation of Abigail. Because John willingly did these things, he proved that he regained his moral excellence. John’s confession to adultery was one way he showed his goodness. John Proctor and Abigail had an affair prior to the play’s beginning, and the only individual who knew of this was John’s wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth was extremely sick and John found comfort through his young servant and secret lover Abigail.
Period4 The Crucible Essay Communism and Witchcraft have the same effect on humans, that effect is fear, when you hear fear you think of your worst nightmare or someone hiding in your closet, during the McCarthyism era and the salem witchcraft people had fear about whether their life is on the line or not. It all depended on one person in their community whether or not they choose to save their life. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an allegory for the Red Scare in the McCarthy era because the girls feared Abigail just like everyone feared J.McCarthy, Elizabeth being accused is similar to McCarthy accusing the US Army, they are innocent just like Elizabeth.
In the play, The Crucible, Salem, Massachusetts, along with the United States during McCarthyism, is engulfed with paranoia. Although both situations include different causes, their effects are strikingly similar. For instance, throughout The Crucible, Abigail Williams is being shown repeatedly accusing innocent people of witchcraft. Her actions begin sending the small town into a panic as they throw people into jail and hang them in an effort to try and cleanse the town from any aspect of evil. Similarly, throughout 1950-1954, Joseph McCarthy falsely accused people within the United States Government of being a member of the Communist party.
Arthur Miller constructs his play upon the famous Salem witch trails. Miller's Crucible was written in the early 1950s. Miller wrote his drama during the brief reign of the American senator Joseph McCarthy whose bitter criticized anti- communism sparkled the need for the United States to be a dramatic anti- communist society during the early tense years of the cold war. By orders from McCarthy himself, committees of the Congress commenced highly controversial investigations against communists in the U.S similar to the alleged Salem witches situation. Convict communists were ordered to confess their crime and name others to avoid the retribution.