The Crucible as an Allegory for the McCarthy Trials
Wild accusations. Mass hysteria. Systemic abuse of power. Legal procedures of dubious repute. All hallmarks of the two major witch hunts in the American past, the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy Trials. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a piece on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, is plainly stated to be an allegory for the days of McCarthyism, the witch hunts of communists in government and celebrity positions from 1950-1956.
The world of Salem was a radically different one from our own. Puritanical values suppressed everyone, labeling behavior we think of as perfectly normal to be scandalous and punishable by beatings, time in the stockades, or worse. No punishment was too great for what …show more content…
Started by Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, they were accusations of Communism in the American government and entertainment sectors, despite freedom of belief so vehemently expressed in the constitution. In reality, the witch hunts were not for communists, but for homosexuals. Even today, the world is not friendly to the LGBT+ community, and back then, even more so. Joseph McCarthy was a ruthless, power-hungry homophobe. His motives ranged from his dislike of the gay community to wanting improved standing in the government. He maintained the Trials did the job they were supposed to, but history suggests …show more content…
His distaste for the Trials, which many of the time would call unpatriotic, inspired him to write of one of the most famous witch hunts in history. The deception wasn 't hard to see, the easy lie of it all. Abigail Williams even began the Salem Trials with a lie, urging the girls to make a cover story:
"Abigail: Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam 's dead sisters. And that is all."
In reality, Abigail attempted to magick the death of a local woman because she was married to her ex-lover with whom she had a torrid affair that left an elephant in the room. John Proctor 's weakness, in reality, was the start of it all. He was an adulterer, and his biblical knowledge reflects this, when he forgets one of the Ten Commandments.
"Do you know your commandments, Mr. Proctor?
John Proctor: Aye.
Rev. John Hale: Would you recite them please?
John Proctor: The
Wild accusations. Mass hysteria. Systemic abuse of power. Legal procedures of dubious repute. All hallmarks of the two major witch hunts in the American past, the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy Trials. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a piece on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, is plainly stated to be an allegory for the days of McCarthyism, the witch hunts of communists in government and celebrity positions from 1950-1956.
The world of Salem was a radically different one from our own. Puritanical values suppressed everyone, labeling behavior we think of as perfectly normal to be scandalous and punishable by beatings, time in the stockades, or worse. No punishment was too great for what …show more content…
Started by Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, they were accusations of Communism in the American government and entertainment sectors, despite freedom of belief so vehemently expressed in the constitution. In reality, the witch hunts were not for communists, but for homosexuals. Even today, the world is not friendly to the LGBT+ community, and back then, even more so. Joseph McCarthy was a ruthless, power-hungry homophobe. His motives ranged from his dislike of the gay community to wanting improved standing in the government. He maintained the Trials did the job they were supposed to, but history suggests …show more content…
His distaste for the Trials, which many of the time would call unpatriotic, inspired him to write of one of the most famous witch hunts in history. The deception wasn 't hard to see, the easy lie of it all. Abigail Williams even began the Salem Trials with a lie, urging the girls to make a cover story:
"Abigail: Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam 's dead sisters. And that is all."
In reality, Abigail attempted to magick the death of a local woman because she was married to her ex-lover with whom she had a torrid affair that left an elephant in the room. John Proctor 's weakness, in reality, was the start of it all. He was an adulterer, and his biblical knowledge reflects this, when he forgets one of the Ten Commandments.
"Do you know your commandments, Mr. Proctor?
John Proctor: Aye.
Rev. John Hale: Would you recite them please?
John Proctor: The