Salem Meets McCarthyism Imagine being killed for talking to the devil or being a communist. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, men and women were accused for talking to the devil. Joseph R. McCarthy was a politician in the 1950’s that accused men and women of being communist. Bringing the subjects together in comparison is easy considering both included unsubstantiated claims, lack of courage, and the ruining of lives. In The Crucible, all genders and ages were accused of being witches which lead to unsubstantiated claims. In the play Abby is jealous because she “loves” John Proctor, but he is married to Elizabeth. John cheated on Elizabeth with Abby in the beginning, ( this is a huge work of the devil) and now Abby wants Elizabeth gone; which is easy because all she has to do is cry witch. Once Elizabeth is accused by Abby she speaks to John saying ,”’it is her dearest hope, John, I know it. There be a thousand names; why does she call mine?” ( Miller, pg. 61). From this point in the play Elizabeth has to deal with being accused of witchcraft. This relates to
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During McCarthyism many people were afraid to do anything out of the normal, such as eating the wrong color of food. “All of these factors combined to create an atmosphere of fear” (Joseph R. McCarthy). Joseph gave a speech that said he had found 205 communists. He claimed that on the piece of paper in his hand every name of a communists was on it. In The Crucible, many people are afraid to stand up and have courage because they could potentially be accused of witchcraft. Abby says to her Uncle, “Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think” ( Miller, pg. 9). Once the rumor was started again it spread like wildfire through the town. This meant also not doing anything out of the normal, if even to get sick you could be a witch. The Crucible and McCarthyism were connected by accusing unsubstantial claims toward people and lack of
During McCarthyism many people were afraid to do anything out of the normal, such as eating the wrong color of food. “All of these factors combined to create an atmosphere of fear” (Joseph R. McCarthy). Joseph gave a speech that said he had found 205 communists. He claimed that on the piece of paper in his hand every name of a communists was on it. In The Crucible, many people are afraid to stand up and have courage because they could potentially be accused of witchcraft. Abby says to her Uncle, “Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think” ( Miller, pg. 9). Once the rumor was started again it spread like wildfire through the town. This meant also not doing anything out of the normal, if even to get sick you could be a witch. The Crucible and McCarthyism were connected by accusing unsubstantial claims toward people and lack of