In the early 1950s, civil rights movements took America by full force. Whether it be the end of Harry S. Truman’s eight years in the Oval Office, or the beginning of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s two-terms, the political pendulum in the United States violently swung back towards conservatism. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, and in Inherit The Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, fear is the driving force of prejudice. Respected political philosopher Thomas Paine made the claim, “Belief in a cruel God, makes a cruel man.” Contemporary debates that criticised the shortcomings of American society influenced Miller’s work, The Crucible. Acting as an allegory for America’s movement against Communists during the 1950s, The Crucible presents
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Proctor relentlessly tries to convince others of the major flaw in the justice system. Opening Reverend Hale’s eyes to the corruption Proctor insists, “And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?” (Miller I.ii.68-69). With his play, Miller tries to show his audience, american citizens, how detrimental the hysteria of blind persecution could be to a community. Hale finally realizes the accusations Abigail and the other girls made are not valid. The accused are just confessing to avoid a worse punishment. But to confess, you must also accuse others. This continues the theme of being motivated by fear. The townspeople did not want to die, and the only way to avoid death is to throw the blame on someone else. Danforth scares Marry Warren into accusing John Proctor of witchcraft when he yells, “You will confess yourself or you will hang! Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!” (Miller II). Proctor’s accusation was ungrounded, and so was the accusation of Miller being a suspected communist. Once John’s name is tarnished, he clings to his reputation of being loyal to the townspeople, he does not accuse anyone else. Miller also does not expose anyone to try to save himself. Proctor is sentenced to hang, while Miller is held in a contempt of court. The fear of Communism in America is
Proctor relentlessly tries to convince others of the major flaw in the justice system. Opening Reverend Hale’s eyes to the corruption Proctor insists, “And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?” (Miller I.ii.68-69). With his play, Miller tries to show his audience, american citizens, how detrimental the hysteria of blind persecution could be to a community. Hale finally realizes the accusations Abigail and the other girls made are not valid. The accused are just confessing to avoid a worse punishment. But to confess, you must also accuse others. This continues the theme of being motivated by fear. The townspeople did not want to die, and the only way to avoid death is to throw the blame on someone else. Danforth scares Marry Warren into accusing John Proctor of witchcraft when he yells, “You will confess yourself or you will hang! Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!” (Miller II). Proctor’s accusation was ungrounded, and so was the accusation of Miller being a suspected communist. Once John’s name is tarnished, he clings to his reputation of being loyal to the townspeople, he does not accuse anyone else. Miller also does not expose anyone to try to save himself. Proctor is sentenced to hang, while Miller is held in a contempt of court. The fear of Communism in America is