Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory of McCarthyism. The Crucible is centered around people lying. The town of Salem is Puritan, and it is believed by the Puritans that all lies are bad. However, The Crucible shows harmless lies being told for the protection of others or oneself, contrasted by lies that are taking others’ lives. A principal theme in The Crucible is that not all lies are malicious. John Proctor is generally honest and full of good intentions. Most of the lies he tells are not intended to harm others. He tells Elizabeth that her rabbit stew is good, as not to hurt her feelings. She is never harmed by John’s lie, and is happier because of it. Proctor is reluctant to go to the court and acts as though he did not speak
