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The Crucible and McCarthyism can be compared to other modern forms of rumor, persecution, suspicion, and hysteria such as: Now that you've read the article, you can try your hand at answering some of these discussion questions. Everybody was afraid to speak up, tell their opinions in public, they all were afraid of being suspected to be against the truth which was the idea what leaders believed at the time. Giles's wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually held in contempt of court and pressed to death with large stones. He worked behind the scenes to discredit McCarthy. Abigail Williams was a real person involved in the Salem Witch Hunt but her character in the play was altered a small bit for dramatic effect. As a result of this, Arthur Miller created the character in his play, "The Crucible" who is a McCarthy-like character named Judge Thomas Danforth, who spread the fear of witchcraft among many people while encouraging his own power in 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Log in here. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller alludes to this period of time by using Abigail Williams to represent Joseph McCarthy and by using the General Court of Salem to represent the Division of Security. To avoid death, Tituba accused others in the town causing each of the accused to place blame on others. For example, John Proctor hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he fears repercussions from the court, and Parris is eager to turn on others to preserve his reputation. The hysteria was ignited by a group of young girls who were powerless individually, yet as a group, had the power to control the court. The church, the legal system, and the togetherness of the community died so that the girls and their families social status might be protected. The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 is a political allegory, based on the Salem witch trials. Yet, one life lost in the result of millions after that seems like a sensible thought., The McCarthy Era and The Crucible can relate in many ways, in both of these times people were accused for wrong doings. The Crucible was set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts. ~ Working on the Sabbath Court is backwards, Conflicts are "resolved" and they may be a win or loss with the antagonist Miller was a political advocate against the inequalities of race in America. In another relevant quote, Miller writes, "The Soviet plot was the hub of a great wheel of causation; the plot justified the crushing of all nuance, all the shadings that a realistic judgment of reality requires." Also, in the government systems, the everybody is doing it mentality was spread. In this article, I'll provide historical background on McCarthyism, tell you about Arthur Miller's personal involvement with the investigations of alleged communists in the 1950s, and explain how and why interpretations of The Crucible are so closely tied to the political attitudes and events of that decade. What are the major themes in The Crucible? Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Though the modern-day witch hunt philosophy carries his namesake, Joseph McCarthy was far from the only driving force behind the investigation of suspected communists during the Cold War. Characters like John Proctor, Abigail William and Hathorne represent Arthur Miller, Joseph McCarthy, and J.Edgar Hoover. During its time, it was used to inform people about the horrid nature of the accusations which took place during the Red Scare. Thomas Putnam's wife. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. -The purging of the emotions of or relieving emotional tension How did he influence politics in the fifties? I've included a few different types of questions on this topic that you might encounter in your English class: Check out our full book summary of The Crucible so you can see for yourself how the play fits into its historical context. As a socially conscious writer, Miller intended this play as a comment on McCarthyism. This was a time of much hypocrisy in the people of the town of Salem. Here we may find an umbilical link to Miller's own context, particularly in considering Senator Joseph McCarthy's own persecution of Communist sympathisers to deflect from America's grander issues. The crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953. Miller was fascinated by what happened in Salem because of the parallels he could draw to the events of his life amidst the Red Scare. In The Crucible, innocent people were in danger of being accused of witchcraft and during the reign of McCarthyism innocent people were being accused of communism. "God is dead", External (person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. society) His concern for the common man and his "indictment" of McCarthy were presented through his play, The Crucible, written in 1952. These questions are evidence of the hysteria that swept through Salem, Massachusetts during the winter of 1692 and again during the peak of the anti-communist revolution in the 1950s. The Crucible is a play by the American playwright Arthur Miller, it is a dramatized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in 1692. While the Salem witch trials occurred in the late 1600s, a similar unfortunate situation occurred in the 1950s with McCarthyism. We too have been known to prefer plot over truth; to dent the evidence before us in favor of the ideas behind us; to do insane things in the name of reason; to take that satisfying step from the righteous to the self-righteous; to drown our private guilt in a public well; to indulge in a little delusion. (Schiff 9). HUAC was a congressional committee originally established in 1938 with the primary goal of investigating communist and fascist organizations that had become active during the Great Depression. Danforth claims that there is "a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!" At the same time, the communist. ~John Proctor chooses death rather than lose the last shred of goodness he believes he has, Something that represents something else Danforth also insists that "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between" (pg. In order to persuade him to make a plea, officials of the court stack concrete stones on him and eventually crush him. In The Crucible, Abigail's character is similar to Senator Joseph McCarthy, the biggest practitioner of political McCarthyism. YOU WON'T TRICK ME WITH YOUR SHARING WAYS! She is a strong, well-known rep for being honest. These connections are important because they demonstrate that The Crucible is not merely a (highly adapted) retelling of historical events but also an allegorical reference to the timelessness of certain central human flaws. Senator, made unsubstantiated claims that more than 200 card carrying members of the Communist party had infiltrated the United States government. Reverend Parris's ten-year-old daughter. Miller saw these sorts of irrational thought processes (weeding out officials associated with China in the US government with the goal of diminishing Chinas power overall) as corollaries to the supernatural beliefs of his characters. McCarthyism: Those who were accused were assumed guilty, put on trial, and expected to divulge the names of other Communist sympathizers. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. The forest, therefore symbolizes the evil present in all humans. One of the most important themes in The Crucible involves similarities between McCarthyism. Abigail Williams (born c. 1681) was an 11 or 12-year-old girl who, along with nine-year-old Betty Parris, was among the first of the children to accuse their neighbors of witchcraft in 1692; these accusations eventually led to the Salem witch trials. Reverend Parris's black slave from Barbados. "Oh Abigail, what proper payment for my charity". Originally, all Abigail wants is a man, John Proctor. In the area (country), a fear was released to the public. Arthur miller wrote the Crucible as a parody of the manifesto of Huac and Communism which he compared it to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. McCarthy finally lost power in 1954 soon after proposing an investigation of the military to root out communists. While a servant in John Proctor 's household, Abigail briefly became John's lover before Elizabeth found out and fired read analysis of Abigail Williams. It has been proven that Arthur changed the story on purpose to use it as an allegory for the anti-communist Red Scare to get across to the government of what they were actually doing. Learn who Aleister Crowley was and what influence he had on counter-culture with this article. With the help of media and his power as chair of a Senate subcommittee, McCarthy proclaimed that different parts of the United States government, such as the army and parts of Congress, were pervaded with Communist traitors. -Reverend Hale begs people to lie, The audience knows something the characters do not -- results in suspense McCarthyism: The media were not willing to stand up to Senator McCarthy for fear of being accused of being a Communist. All rights reserved. The Crucible is a metaphor for the accusations made in the 1950s during the Red Scare era. Proving a point was a necessity for Arthur Miller during the 1950s, and he proves his point through The Crucible, a play about the Salem Witch Trials. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, but often cold. The insanity that came about was an indication of the fear of individual freedom (Miller 6). -Examples: Poppet = voodoo doll. Being isolated from any other, Throughout Arthur Millers The Crucible, there are a series of prevailing questions: Who was conspiring against you? He had become fascinated with the environment of paranoia and how it affected society as a whole. The Crucible: The girls unsubstantiated claims ruin lives and lead to increased hostility in Salem. After World War II, as Cold War tensions mounted, HUAC became even more intent on investigating communist activities. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Reading this article, you can quickly see many similarities between the play and the paranoia and fear surrounding the Communist threat in the 1950s. McCarthy, the creator of the idea McCarthyism, was a strong fighter against communism during the Red Scare. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. McCarthyism is a term referring to Senator Joseph McCarthy and is common saying for reckless and unsubstantiated accusations and public attacks. The stones symbolize the weight of Salems sins that are crushing the good in its society. At first glance Senator McCarthy and Abigail Williams, the antagonists during McCarthyism and throughout The Crucible respectfully, seem very different, however, their actions and mannerisms are mirrored in many aspects. In what steps of the manufacturing process is mass production used? Miller expresses important messages specifically about injustice, hysteria, and reputation. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, local teenage girls accuse women in the town of witchcraft. Specifically, three of the townspeople showed their sins the most; Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Thomas Putnam. As communist hysteria built, Miller was even more convinced that he wanted to write a play based on this form of collective insanity. Parris's niece. "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small", Language that appeals to the any of the 5 senses The Crucible a play in which Arthur Miller changes some events of the Salem witch trials of 1692 to the problems that were happening in his own society. Miller's Daughter With Daniel Day-Lewis Arthur Miller's daughter, Rebecca, with her husband Daniel Day-Lewis. The Soviet Union was growing in power and the threat of a nuclear holocaust was on the forefront of American minds. McCarthy gathered 57 cases of individuals who would appear to be either card-carrying members or certainly loyal to the communist party (McCarthy), which relates to Reverend Hale from The Crucible demonstrating his power by flaunting the deaths warrants he McCarthy represents reverend Hale on many levels as well, considering he set off the idea of communism as Hale had set off the idea of a town full of devil workers. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. (A) any person who buys a manufactured product The list that was compiled grew as more people accused others for personal revenge. Distinguishing Between Action Verbs and Linking Verbs. How did his own experiences shape his writing? In Arthur Millers play The Crucible, there is evidence of parallels between the Salem of 1692 and America of the 1950's, the American Government of the 1950's and its misuse of power, and the high court depicted in the play, using its power to impose a misguided ju! The Forest: Puritans believed that the forest was the devils dominion. The anti communist paranoia known as McCarthyism; influenced by a Sen. Joseph McCarthy, created chaos in the 1950s. He had no proof. What are the parallels between the incidents Miller dramatizes and the acts of Senator McCarthy in the 1950s? In Millers play, Abigail and all the other girls used the mass hysteria to their advantage. Abigail Williams. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: John Proctor, Critical Context (Masterplots II: Juvenile & Young Adult Literature Series), Critical Context (Comprehensive Guide to Drama), http://www.17thc.us/docs/fact-fiction.shtml. Delusional girls make unsubstantiated claims about the existence of witches in Salem. They would probably be executed if someone had doubted the ruler or questioned them. He asked everyone in Congress if he could borrow a pen. The Crucible, directed Alex Segal. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Images Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe Arthur Miller with Marilyn Monroe (scroll three-quarters down the page). Because he worked mainly in theater, he didn't have to worry as much about the effects Hollywood's unforgiving blacklist policy would have on his career. The Salem witch trials shared many common characteristics. Both The . In 1946 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and in 1950 he publicly charged that 205 communists had infiltrated . In his memoir, Timebends, Miller sees a connection between the Salem witch trials and McCarthys campaign. She accuses John Proctors wife of witchcraft in order to have him all to herself. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. The Crucible vs. McCarthyism. McCarthy's unsubstantiated claims ruined lives and . Mary Warren's poppet that was found inside the Proctor house with a needle inside it. 87). See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. "Who represents whom in The Crucible, and why?" The fact that Salem was a Puritan community did not help matters either. Judge Danforth a character in The Crucible was a puritan leader who was against witches. Lastly, Thomas Putnam is a greedy man with gluttony for land and shows it in his attitude towards some townspeople. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Hale is a committed Christian and hater of witchcraft. It was written as an allegory for something that reminded the Salem witch trials more than 200 years later. During the 1950's Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many American leaders of being communists. The main themes in The Crucible include the destructive power of lies, the importance of reputation, and hysteria and corruption. ", The McCarthy era, which took place during the 1950s in the United States was a time people was afraid of communism. Parallels of McCarthyism and The Crucible led people to introspect on the McCarthy hearings . An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning- literal and symbolic. In his play, he used the Salem witch trials to represent the McCarthy Era because he saw that the nation was facing the same events that Salem went through back in the late 1600's. A Comprehensive Guide. The Crucible: Delusional girls make unsubstantiated claims about the existence of witches in Salem. Ask below and we'll reply! No matter how farfetched the accusations were, the copious amount of lies told within the small town made it nearly impossible for anyone to know what really happened. The Second Red Scare happened between 1947-1954 and Sen. Joseph McCarthy feared that Soviet, Korean and Chinese communist spies occupied the federal government which later turned out to be false. The destructive power of lies: Abigail and her friends tell a series of lies to avoid being punished for breaking the rules. McCarthy was a Republican from Wisconsin who rose through the political ranks in the 1940s and was elected to the Senate in 1946. The Historical Context of 1984 Essay. The Red Scare was a witch hunt where the US government was searching for "dangerous communists." The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in the spring of 1692 in a village shrouded with chaos. Salem was surrounded by forest. Latest answer posted November 22, 2020 at 10:36:50 AM. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. NOBODY WINS! Describe the political climate of the 1950s. Many people were brought before the government and questioned about being a communist. Reverend John Hale A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. One of the similarities of these 2 eras is the scare factor. -Abigail blames Tituba; Tituba blames the devil, Sarah Good, and Mrs. Osborn; the girls blame many others, Two unlike things that are compared using "like or as" The Doll: The doll found on Elizabeth Proctors shelf is a traditional symbol of voodoo and witchcraft. Corey represents courage perfectly in The Crucible. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means. ~Elizabeth and John experienced external conflict in Act 2 when they were arguing over their estranged relationship The accusations would not have lead to any consequences without a leader to oversee the proceedings., McCarthyism in The Crucible In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the madness of the Salem witch trials is explored in great detail. The start of chaos and the implant of fear in the peoples mind was started by , which character in the crucible represents joseph mccarthy. In the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy brash and ill mannered but to many authentic and true (Article page 1), was very convincing in his supremacy. The puritans were a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th century. Deputy governor of Massachusetts and presiding judge of the Witch Trials, thinks he's honest and scrupu-lous and is convinced that he is doing right by convicting witchcraft even though there is no strong evidence suggesting that it even exist. McCarthyism, named for Wisconsin senator. The minister of Salem's church. This type of harmful attitude remains an issue in the US to this day. How is delegation useful for meeting family clothing responsibilities? Abigail has Mary Warren fooled. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods at night. Senator, made unsubstantiated claims that more than 200 "card carrying" members of the Communist party had infiltrated the United States government. Was protective of his land, manipulates his daughter by making her say that people are witches so that her father could buy his neighbors' land, wealthy influential, holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing his brother in law from being elected to the office of minister, He sits aside Danforth over witch trials and thinks that the trials are going to far. McCarthyism: Those who were accused were assumed guilty, put on trial, and expected to divulge the names of other Communist sympathizers. This lead to many accusations that people were communists. (pours, pour). The Crucible by Arthur Miller was an analogy of the Salem Witch Trials of New England and (A) the events of the Holocaust (B) racism in the southern states (C) the acts of Joseph McCarthys Senate committee (D) the rise of Hitler in Nazi Germany (E) the infi ltration of communism in the United States (McCarthy). Need some quotes to fill out your essay for English class? Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953. Latest answer posted April 17, 2020 at 1:25:04 AM. In The Crucible, Miller translates this concept into the Satanic plot that the officials believe is at work in Salem. Why did Senator McCarthy become a powerful figure? In 1956 Miller was subpoenaed to appear before HUAC. Discuss how Millers point of view influences the reading of the play. (C) an operator of machinery Draw a line under the subject. Wise, sensible, upright and is loved by most of Salem. After all, communists are real, and witches arent. Early in the essay, he relates the US State Departments fear of China after the communist takeover to the fear of black magic in The Crucible. McCarthyism: In the 1940s and 1950s Americans feared the encroachment of Communism. Accusing Putnam shows that Corey is brave enough to accuse a powerful . (pg. The Crucible: The girls unsubstantiated claims ruin lives and lead to increased hostility in Salem. Many people would agree that they no longer exist today; however Arthur Miller, author of the play, "The Crucible", points out that society has not come very far from the days of the Salem witch trials. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar. The dishonesty, brainwashing and manipulation exhibited by Abigail Williams, Mary Warren and the court is ultimately what allowed the witch trials to occur and to continue., The main difference between McCarthyism and the Crucible is that McCarthyism was a real political period in the United States when Senator McCarthy tried to scare people that communism was leaking into our government but as for the crucible it was a group of people that was just accusing other people of witchcraft.