Arthur Miller 's The Crucible , set in Salem 1692, portrays Salem society as having an illogical and religious dominated system of order to make a controversial statement regarding political and social attitudes towards Communism in 1950s America (1). Published in 1953, at a time of rising tensions in the Cold War era, the play is an allegory for McCarthyism. McCarthyism refers to Senator Joseph McCarthy who began an anti-communist crusade affecting all levels of US society. Miller focuses on the domestic, and specifically social attitudes which developed as a result of a suspicion and fear that communism had infiltrated US society, which is synonymous with the fear which the characters of The Crucible held regarding the infiltration of witch
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Abigail exclaims 'I saw Goody Sibber with the Devil! It is rising to a great glee ' (P48). The diction of 'saw ' is used by Abigail to give her claims validity, when in actuality her claims hold no truth. Providing the information that her voice is 'rising to a great glee ', tells the reader that Abigail is enjoying the power she has found herself possessing. This shows power to be in the wrong hands and Abigail as using the fear of the Devil and witchcraft to achieve her own ends, with the hopes of taking Elizabeth 's place as John 's wife. This directly relates to 1950s America, as the country was in a state of near hysteria due to the Cold War tensions, allowing for figures such Joseph McCarthy to gain authority. McCarthy used the anti-communist attitude the US held, and the fear of the enemy within to claim that he was aware of "105 known communists working in the State Department" (2). McCarthy was longing for a more successful term and believed he could successfully carry out a communist purge to achieve this (3). Abigail 's actions of incorrectly accusing innocent people of witchcraft holds parallels with McCarthy 's actions. The Crucible is therefore saying that 1950s America was a period where questionable people held authority and abused their …show more content…
Elizabeth relates that Giles, who was innocent of witchcraft charges, was killed as 'if he denied the charge they 'd hang him surely, and auction out his property. So he stand mute, and died Christian under the law ' (135). The absolution and finality that this line holds illustrates that there is no avoidance of the system, no matter how incorrect the outcome is. The wording 'if he denied the charge the 'd hang him surely ' is how this idea is portrayed. The witch-hunt of people under the pretence of having relations with the devil shows how those with power in Salem society took unbalanced views in considering evidence and believed farfetched statements. Abigail fuels false accusations with her lies, accusing Mary of witchcraft and exclaiming in front of Danforth 'but God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary ' (115). Abigail 's uncanny ability to manipulate and act in this scene from the play illustrates a vindictive and thought through scheme to target those whom she has qualms with. False accusations are presented in The Crucible when Giles claims 'this man is killing neighbours for their land! ' (96). This shows how the townspeople start to identify ways to use the witch-hunt in Salem to achieve their own ends, ironically showing a lack of moral code in a tightly knit Christian society. This
Abigail exclaims 'I saw Goody Sibber with the Devil! It is rising to a great glee ' (P48). The diction of 'saw ' is used by Abigail to give her claims validity, when in actuality her claims hold no truth. Providing the information that her voice is 'rising to a great glee ', tells the reader that Abigail is enjoying the power she has found herself possessing. This shows power to be in the wrong hands and Abigail as using the fear of the Devil and witchcraft to achieve her own ends, with the hopes of taking Elizabeth 's place as John 's wife. This directly relates to 1950s America, as the country was in a state of near hysteria due to the Cold War tensions, allowing for figures such Joseph McCarthy to gain authority. McCarthy used the anti-communist attitude the US held, and the fear of the enemy within to claim that he was aware of "105 known communists working in the State Department" (2). McCarthy was longing for a more successful term and believed he could successfully carry out a communist purge to achieve this (3). Abigail 's actions of incorrectly accusing innocent people of witchcraft holds parallels with McCarthy 's actions. The Crucible is therefore saying that 1950s America was a period where questionable people held authority and abused their …show more content…
Elizabeth relates that Giles, who was innocent of witchcraft charges, was killed as 'if he denied the charge they 'd hang him surely, and auction out his property. So he stand mute, and died Christian under the law ' (135). The absolution and finality that this line holds illustrates that there is no avoidance of the system, no matter how incorrect the outcome is. The wording 'if he denied the charge the 'd hang him surely ' is how this idea is portrayed. The witch-hunt of people under the pretence of having relations with the devil shows how those with power in Salem society took unbalanced views in considering evidence and believed farfetched statements. Abigail fuels false accusations with her lies, accusing Mary of witchcraft and exclaiming in front of Danforth 'but God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary ' (115). Abigail 's uncanny ability to manipulate and act in this scene from the play illustrates a vindictive and thought through scheme to target those whom she has qualms with. False accusations are presented in The Crucible when Giles claims 'this man is killing neighbours for their land! ' (96). This shows how the townspeople start to identify ways to use the witch-hunt in Salem to achieve their own ends, ironically showing a lack of moral code in a tightly knit Christian society. This