Mccarthyism In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

John Proctor did not sign the testimony because he wanted to protect his name. In my opinion he was excessively prideful and foolish. If it would have been me, I would have signed the testimony so that I could 've lived. He should have admitted that he was consorting with the devil instead of hanging, he would still be able to be with his family if he would have been smarter about his decisions. John Proctor was being selfish as well when he chose to die instead of sign the testimony.

Senator Joseph McCarthy was a far right politcian that thought any american, rich, poor, democrat, rebublican, conservative, liberal and hollywood elites that didn’t agree with his views were communists. Joseph McCarthy let everyone know that there was communism in a local newspaper that the state department was infested with communists. McCarthy rhethoric it repeats to a massive audience in the coming months as he grew the power in fame as a Senator, people believed him just as the very same of The Crucibles they all beleved the one girl and accuse half the town for being witches. Joseph McCarthy was a witch hunter because he believed they are a communist if a person was on a payphone he would accuse for being a communist and they you are

John Proctor realizes if he signed a letter of confession, he would be writing off the wrongful of deaths of those before and those to come. He even states, “I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” John sees from the beginning of the story that this witch hunt is all a massive ruse, comprised of false accusations and mass hysteria. As the hunt advances and the punishments worsen, innocent people start to die with no chance of fighting their case. If John doesn’t take a stand and refuses to lie, more will continue to die and no one will stop to take a second thought.

This would promise him to live life in jail and a condemned soul. However, after he signed the confession document, he then took it and ripped it up. Some may claim that since Proctor signed the paper at first it shows weakness, yet Proctor only signed the paper because he believed that his “honesty is broke... I am no good man.” (IV.188-200) He would not let his family’s name be dishonored by his lies.

I have given you my soul; leave me my name" (Miller 143)! This was the part were Proctor was trying to figure out whether or not he was going to confess to witchcraft. John Proctor knows he will be hung if he doesn't confess to witchcraft. When it comes time to confess he finds out that he would have to tell the judges and Hale in public with other people around. Reputation is very important to John and he will not let this ruin his reputation.

142-143). This outburst gives readers a brief look into how proctor views himself as a man to be held above some of the others accused of witch-craft by him voicing his desire of not being used for the judges own gain yet this statement also shows johns own cowardice in wanting to

Introduction: In Miller play “The Crucible, “ many characters are obligated to decide whether they should confess to witch craft and ruin their name or to be hanged for dealing with something that doesn’t exists. Our main character which is John Proctor was admitted to doing witch craft and chose to keep his name instead of sacrificing him self over a tarnished name Argument: John proctor last act in the play was an act of excessive pride. His actions throughout the play were foolish REASON1, AND EVIDENCE 1: John Procter figured a display of his signature would take away his pride. Proctor says “I have three children – how may I teach them to walk like men in the ...”

In order for his statement to be trusted by the court, Elizabeth Proctor is brought in to testify with her husband, and prove his truthfulness. Seeing as that Elizabeth has never lied during their marriage, John believes that she will support his confession, by stating the truth. After signing the witchcraft confession statement, and after being notified that it will be nailed to the church for the town of Salem to see, John Proctor begins to beg and cry not to hang his confession on the church, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot

When people are placed under an intense feeling of fear, they begin to commit actions they never thought they were capable over. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a young group of girls commit witchcraft which eventually leads to the arrest of over 100 women. This is similar to a time in the 1950s when Joseph McCarthy accuses government officials of communism and that ultimately leads to hundreds of citizens losing their jobs. The Crucible reveals the similarities between The Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s and McCarthyism of the 1950s because it demonstrates how a society can be tremendously impacted by the feeling the fear.

Proctor has a little issue with verbally saying that he is a witch because a verbal statement is between him and his God. But when Judge Danforth wants to post it on the church door, Proctor refuses to sign the document. The difference between verbally saying something as to putting it in writing is huge. By stating he is a witch, John Proctor feels that saying this lie verbally, he will view himself

Proctor says “ You are the high court, your word is good enough! tell them i confessed myself; say proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman, but my name cannot!”. In the quote John Proctor does not want written proof that he was a witch because he wants to protect his friends and not throw them under the bus. This means he cares for his friends and is truly a good man. Proctor says; “ let them that near dead now take their souls, it is pretence to me.”

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.

John Proctor is being accused of doing witchcraft and is being meant to sign a document saying he is guilty and concurs with the ruling of the court. This said

Proctor refused to let the paper he signed be hung on the wall, shouting, “I have confessed myself!... God does not need my name nailed upon the church!... God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" He implied that by falsely confessing to witchcraft he would be dishonorable to his friends and family, and it would encumber him for the rest of his life.

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.