The American Nightmare In The Crucible

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible took place in the 1960’s during the witch trials in colonial Salem Massachusetts. The lives of many fell to the wrath of conspiracy and the punishment of sins by the church affiliated court. Those who were lucky to be spared witnessed their American Nightmare before them. In a time of mistrust and uncertainty, the events of Elizabeth Proctor’s life in The Crucible showed what the American Nightmare was like during the witch trials. Both her husband, John, and Abigail, his malicious paramour, were the clouds that continually darkened her horizon in this play. Arthur Miller gives an in depth look to life during the Red Scare through Elizabeth’s American Nightmare that happened over three hundred years ago. For Elizabeth Proctor, the American Nightmare began to unfold when the feeling of betrayal had swept her from the dream that she may have thought she was living. Elizabeth was confessed to by her seemingly great husband, John about his …show more content…
These time periods were similar in history due to the high pressure and the high stake situations that wrecked lives, and produced a fearfully clear visual of the American Nightmare. Miller related his play to the Red Scare, when the nation’s had a similar American Nightmares. The peak of the fear and mistrust that was instilled in the hearts of many Americans during the Red Scare was just as it was in the 1690’s. Miller used characters like Elizabeth, Danforth and Proctor to relate to the HUAC and those accused of communism. Reverend Danforth, as part of the court, was used to relate to the conduct of the House Un-American Activities Committee and how they were acting towards suspected communists. The HUAC, like the trials of the 1690’s, refused to recognize the accused 's’ claims of innocence. Instead, they assumed everyone falsely accused was guilty, and wrongly