Running Head: WITCHES IN SALEM
The Occurrences of Witches in Salem
Amber James
Kankakee Valley High School
The Occurrences of Witches in Salem
Amber James
Kankakee Valley High School
Introduction
In 1692, the witch trials swept through Salem, Massachusetts, Europe, and New England. Later on in 1953, Arthur Miller wrote his play “The Crucible.” Miller historically based his play off of the Salem witch trials. Most of the content used in this play was accurate to what actually happened during these trials while other parts were fictionalized. These trials, while fascinating, are also a significant part of our nation’s history. They were foretelling how our society reacts when faced with a potential threat. …show more content…
This in turn caused great upset throughout Salem. The people went into a panic, resulting in the killing of their neighbors and friends. The idea that the Devil was amongst Salem held true in both the play and trials. Miller did a near perfect job at depicting the true horror and hysteria of these events into his play.
Although this play was based off of, and mostly accurate to the original trials, there were parts that were fictionalized. In the play, it is said that Abigail is seventeen years old, and is involved in an affair with John Proctor. However, there never was an actual relationship of any kind between the two. Miller had added this part as a way of explaining the reasoning behind all of the pandemonium going on in the …show more content…
Troubles regarding communism had taken hold in America, resulting in anyone suspected to being tied to the Communist Party being blacklisted. The time between these two events in American history along with the timing of the play’s publication help to make this subtheme even clearer. “Miller’s play of the Salem witch trials, occurring the same time as the Red Scare and “witch hunt” for communists in American government and society was an early, and particularly influential allegory for the hysteria that can afflict entire populations if the conditions are right and the wrong leaders rise to the top” (The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692, 2011). The witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts are now a metaphor for American society when it is at it’s most paranoid and self-destructive point. The significance of the actions that took place in 1692 still remain as important today as they were when Arthur Miller illustrated the historical similarities of 1692 Salem and early 1950s Washington
The Occurrences of Witches in Salem
Amber James
Kankakee Valley High School
The Occurrences of Witches in Salem
Amber James
Kankakee Valley High School
Introduction
In 1692, the witch trials swept through Salem, Massachusetts, Europe, and New England. Later on in 1953, Arthur Miller wrote his play “The Crucible.” Miller historically based his play off of the Salem witch trials. Most of the content used in this play was accurate to what actually happened during these trials while other parts were fictionalized. These trials, while fascinating, are also a significant part of our nation’s history. They were foretelling how our society reacts when faced with a potential threat. …show more content…
This in turn caused great upset throughout Salem. The people went into a panic, resulting in the killing of their neighbors and friends. The idea that the Devil was amongst Salem held true in both the play and trials. Miller did a near perfect job at depicting the true horror and hysteria of these events into his play.
Although this play was based off of, and mostly accurate to the original trials, there were parts that were fictionalized. In the play, it is said that Abigail is seventeen years old, and is involved in an affair with John Proctor. However, there never was an actual relationship of any kind between the two. Miller had added this part as a way of explaining the reasoning behind all of the pandemonium going on in the …show more content…
Troubles regarding communism had taken hold in America, resulting in anyone suspected to being tied to the Communist Party being blacklisted. The time between these two events in American history along with the timing of the play’s publication help to make this subtheme even clearer. “Miller’s play of the Salem witch trials, occurring the same time as the Red Scare and “witch hunt” for communists in American government and society was an early, and particularly influential allegory for the hysteria that can afflict entire populations if the conditions are right and the wrong leaders rise to the top” (The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692, 2011). The witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts are now a metaphor for American society when it is at it’s most paranoid and self-destructive point. The significance of the actions that took place in 1692 still remain as important today as they were when Arthur Miller illustrated the historical similarities of 1692 Salem and early 1950s Washington