Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide. What is the relationship between Abigail and John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller? The basis for The Crucible came from the witch trials which occurred in Salem, Massachusetts during the puritan era. This sentence illustrates that the witch-hunt was the product of mass-panic, just as the hunt for communists, The McCarthyism period took place during the 1950s when The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Many helped that system by untrue confessions to save their lives. I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! To conclude, in the 1940s to the 1950s, the Red Scare prompted US Senator Joseph McCarthy to accuse people to be communists. In the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, Miller uses allegory to express what he endured through in the 1950s. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. The Crucible was written as an allegory to McCarthyism, a US government-backed campaign to uncover alleged Communists spearheaded by Senator McCarthy. What Miller is This act, written by Senator Pat McCarren, one of McCarthy's supporters, required that any organization that was determined to be communist had to register with the Justice Department, made it a felony to try and establish a dictatorship in the United States, and gave the government the ability to arrest anyone whom the president believed to be a spy or a saboteur. Miller suffered through accusations of possibly believing in communism; as a result, he wrote a play called The Crucible, in which he used the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 to explain the communist hysteria during the 1950s. The accusations of communism led to a nation-wide hysteria and fear of who was going to be named next. An allegory is a story, poem or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Injustice is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, the fact of a situation being unfair and of people not being treated equally; an unfair act or an example of unfair treatment. Injustice is very threatening because it causes prejudice. The way Miller shares his views and thoughts on the play could help influence and impact the audience or the readers view on the Salem Witch Trials and on the play. The practices were paralleled in what is known as McCarthyism, which did much the same thing, except this time, children did not control the madness: Senator McCarthy and his "minions" carried on a twentieth century witch hunt. In the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, Miller uses allegory to recreate the events occurring in real life. An entire adult, religious community was brought to its knees by the lies and play-acting practiced by these girls as they accused one innocent adult after another of bewitching them. This began the McCarthy Era, where government workers, artists/actors, and innocent people were accused. In act 3 of The Crucible, why does Reverend Hale change his story about witchcraft? He created The Crucible as an allegory for McCarthyism and unfounded accusations of communist loyalties. One particular element from the historical account caught Miller's attention and led to the conflict between the central characters in the play. The children were often accused if you were related to the person being accused then you were tried as a witch. The hysteria induced by the thought that witches were in Salem spread throughout the community like a disease. When he wrote The Crucible, it served as an allegory, simultaneously retelling the story of the Salem witch trials and also presenting social commentary on McCarthyism and the Red Scare. Abigail and a number of the other girls in town are seen common dancing as the girls claim, when they were actually casting spells and love potions. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. He shows through a story that the witch trials were much more than just people calling others witches. Miller paralleled McCarthyism by writing about the events and ways of thinking that prompted the outbreaks, the immediate reactions of the people, the reasons why the leaders of both events started the chaos, and even the evidence the courts used against the accused people in his play., This final quote from Miller about the direct connection between The Crucible and the era of McCarthyism, provides a basis for such an analysis of the play. This connects to McCarthyism because once someone was accused of being a communist their life was destroyed, loss of job and bad image. Although Miller literally wrote about the Salem witch trials, his purpose was to describe the McCarthy trials which teaches many ideas about human life both generally and regarding politics. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/how-is-the-crucible-an-allegory-for-mccarthyism/. However, Miller made a few alterations to the historical members of the Salem society in order to suit his dramatic purpose in The Crucible, particularly Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Reverend Samuel Parris. Throughout history, authors have had a tendency to write characters that can follow general roles, called archetypes. For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as Latest answer posted April 01, 2021 at 3:01:06 PM. A quote by Edward R. Murrow states, No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices. During the Red Scare, Senator McCarthy did terrorize a whole nation, and Arthur Miller became a victim of McCarthyism. In an effort to find the communist spies who had infiltrated various U.S. institutions, including the government, Senator Joseph McCarthy began a campaign to weed out communists and their sympathizers in the U.S. This allowed people to get rid of a person and take their job or property. Create your account. Miller was tried and accused of being a communist sympathizer. Arthur Millers 'The Crucible' is an extended metaphor representing the parallels between the Salem witch-hunts and accusations of communism during the McCarthyism era. The Crucible takes two of the worst moments in American history and uses them to demonstrate the pressure on people from society to conform. Miller felt a state of depression as he wrote in the New Yorker, The Crucible was an act of desperation. Although the actions taken against suspected communists were not as strict as those during the Salem witch trials, they were still vicious and shattered many reputations of well-liked men and women. This expresses how much a good reputation is for this time as one mistake that may not even be true can soil (Reverend Parris Act1 P.20). The kids that were hanged didnt really understand why the were being hung because they do anything wrong. In McCarthyism, it was the same thing, except for with communism. Caught up in the frenzy of accusations, judges and ministers believed that the accused must have done something wicked or they would not have been accused at all. The Crucible describes the Salem Witch Trials. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a good example of an allegory for it tells of a significant event in history in which a small town of Massachusetts named Salem had been controlled by a paranoia of witches after watching a few of the town girls showing off odd behaviors and participating in occult activities. During the McCarthy era people accused would start accusing other people in order to get the attention off of them, because the only way to prove you are not a communist was to name a communist. Russias gain of power throughout Eurasia showed off the USSRs strength and abilities, threatening the Western Powers. Arthur Millers novel, the Crucible is a fictional play that centers around the Salem Witch Trials. In the play John Proctor questions why the accusers were not suspected, Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? She has a Master of Education degree. Miller writes with a very strong and somewhat emotional tone. In an allegory the character, events, and instances(Definition of Allegory R104). The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 about The Salem Witch Trials of 1692.McCarthyism was the witch hunt for the communist in 1953.the parallels between The Crucible and McCarthyism are naming names,lack of proof ,and reststance. I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! Miller explained in his hearing that he could speak about his own actions but claimed that naming other people invalidated his First Amendment rights. He mainly criticizes the government. The hysterical rantings and ravings of McCarthy and his supporters, lost support when people got tired of the national upheaval, the black listing and investigations. The demand to name other collaborators is a direct reference to the Red Scare and McCarthyism. His words are daring and intense which helps pull the audience in. It is clear that Arthur Miller was influenced by Mccarthyism while writing The Crucible because both include accusations of wrongdoing against innocent people, The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism because many girls in Salem were accused of being witches and the only evidence presented was the testimony of others. There was deceit, pain, greed, and more. Arthur Millers The Crucible, a piece on the Salem Witch Trials of On the surface, The Crucible is an allegory ,or extended metaphor, using the story of the Salem witch trials to critique Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare. Miller intended The Crucible as an allegory to McCarthyism. Miller writes, No, I did notI did notI speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Pointing the finger away from her and on to others. First, an allegory is a narrative that works as an long metaphor. What is a theocracy. So john proctor the hero of Arthur Millers story is the equivalent of a suspected communist and at the time was a cold war. Many people lost their jobs, were taken in by law enforcement, and their lives were turned upside down. Arthur Miller wrote this play to symbolize 1950s McCarthyism. I have no tongue for itI have three children, how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?Because it is my name! The characters of Judge Danforth and Reverend Parris both symbolize choosing good for one as opposed to choosing the good for the group. Convict communists were ordered to confess their crime and name others to avoid the retribution. More and more young women began to accuse townspeople of having dealings with the Devil and practicing witchcraft. In this way, The Crucible stands as an allegory for McCarthy 's communist hunt, during which many people were also killed and imprisoned due to accusations of communism. The period during the Cold War had a deeper meaning than just the rivalry between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and America. The play's author, Arthur Miller, was himself a victim of If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. Characters like John Proctor, Abigail William and Hathorne represent Arthur Miller, Joseph McCarthy, and J.Edgar Hoover. However, in the end of the play, the audience should feel pensive about, The Crucible, a phenomenon play, written by Arthur Miller is an allegory to the McCarthy Trials of the 1950s. why is the crucible an appropriate title for the play. | 2 a container that can withstand high heat in order to purify metals. The era had significant impacts on American society during the early stage of the Cold War. The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the early 1950s. Some reputations were never repaired. Senator McCarthy took advantage by using his status to back up his accusations, McCarthy used hearsay and intimidation to establish himself as a powerful and feared figure in American politics. Slideshow 3196964 by amber This is almost identical to what happened in America in the 1950s. Those people who were accused of witchcraft or communism were promised that they would be treated mercifully if they revealed others who were guilty. It has been proven that Arthur changed the story on purpose to use it as an allegory for the anti-communist Red Scare to get across to the government of what they were actually doing. Various forms of propaganda advertised fears, causing panic to spread throughout the country. One way in [] Find Free Essays Power is defined as The ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as as a faculty or quality. Throughout history, women have significantly lacked not only power but the ability to be recognized as equal to their male counterparts. In 1950 Joseph McCarthy had delivered a speech Before the Iowa County women's Republican Club and Wheeling, Virginia waived a piece of paper claiming it was a list of 205 communist working in the state department that list was never found, also the number of names was constantly changing this proves that most of the evidence in both these trials had a little to no, Archetypal Criticism In In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez, What Are The Pros And Cons Of Electric Cars. McCarthy, Arthur Miller felt it necessary to express his political feelings through an authors medium. The allegorical meaning of the Crucible is that it can be a representation of the Red Scare, the HUAC, and McCarthyism., History is a "chronological record of events." In an allegory the character,events, and instances(Definition of Allegory R104). Girls accused many citizens in salem claiming they were witches and causing, Stylistic and social elements are imperative to a story, They are a pivotal piece in any master plot line.In The Crucible there are many direct uses of those elements.Elements such as pace, allegory, and cultural theory.These are the most beneficial elements in the crucible that add a key development to the story, thus making it a timeless piece in American literature without these elements it couldt have been a piece that was unchanged through time. When people think of the play, The Crucible, they usually picture the witch trials and women being hanged, but Arthur Miller depicts the witch trials in a completely new light. Inspired by reading a detailed account of the events written by Charles W. Upham in 1867, Arthur Miller saw parallels between the hysteria around the Salem witch trials and other public panics in history. Much like the Crucible, McCarthyism was driven by irrational thinking and emotions.The emotions of people can be blinding and problematic. This fear, known as the Red Scare, led some Americans to believe that communists would take over America and replace its government with communism. This quote shows that the accusations made by Joseph McCarthy lacked evidence and were entirely false. Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Quotes & Examples, Figurative Language in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Types & Impact, Irony in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Overview & Examples, Saadat Hasan Manto | Writing Style, Biography & Works, AP U.S. History Exam | Short-Answer Questions, Prompts & Samples, T.S. For instance, throughout The Crucible, Abigail Williams is being shown repeatedly accusing innocent people of witchcraft. The witch-hunt was a perverse manifestation of the panic which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom (Miller, 16). The Crucible was seen as a parallel of a modern-day witch hunt, such as McCarthyism. The Cold War caused people to question the United States governments reliability and strength, which negatively affected Americas domestic affairs and foreign policies. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Following WWII and the rise of communism in China and Korea, Americans feared the influence of communist spies and sympathizers. The state believed McCarthy and the people got treated badly because they were wrongly accused of. These fears came together under the umbrella of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) which had been formed in 1938 to investigate potential communist activity inside the American government. Convict communists were ordered to confess their crime and name others to avoid the retribution. The varying intensity of this emotion can cause people to act or react in ways that may be unusual. Mr. Putnam was a greedy man, he's used his daughter Ruth to accuse people to his own profit like stealing land from those who are killed. Her actions begin sending the small town into a panic as they throw people into jail and hang them in an effort to try and cleanse the town from any aspect of evil. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! US Senator Joseph McCarthy entered the spotlight by accusing members of the State Department to be communists. (2021, Apr 13). An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning- literal and symbolic. On its surface, The Crucible is a play about the Salem witch trials of 1692. They are accused of witchcraft, but they claim, She was also in the woods, casting spells that Abigail wanted, when she is accused of calling the devil, she claims the devil came to her and forced her to sign his book with 4 other names. Although, many people that were condemned werent actually apart of the Communist Party, (under McCarthyism around 1950-1954) they got blacklisted or lost their jobs. Arthur Miller published the play during Latest answer posted April 17, 2020 at 1:25:04 AM. In addition to these, Miller depicts himself in his play as well. By definition, an allegory is a something that has a hidden or symbolic meaning. Similar to an extended metaphor. The Crucible Study Guide 2022-10-26. In response to the second Red Scare, prompted by the accusations of Senator Joe The play is about testing the people of Salem to remove sin from the community. The salem witch hunts and the Red Scare caused big problems and death in the U.S. The events that took place during the time the play was written were very similar to the Salem witch hunts. The Crucible is, on the surface, a retelling of the Salem witch trials. Specifically, Miller drew a connection between the unsubstantiated accusations of communist sympathizers under McCarthyism and the accusations thrown around during the Salem witch trials. In the Crucible there is an allusion to Good vs. Evil. In Act III Danforth says, "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it" (Miller 1137). The town is religiously and morally based so you are either classified under a believer or someone who believes in evil. By orders from McCarthy himself, committees of the Congress commenced highly controversial investigations against communists in the U.S similar to the alleged Salem witches situation. By orders from McCarthy himself, committees of the Congress commenced highly controversial investigations against communists in the U.S similar to the alleged Salem witches situation. During the 1950s, non evidential claims would be taken seriously. In Arthur Miller 's play The Crucible, false accusations and fear are used to imprison and kill many people accused of being witches. The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism, a period of time where officials were being accused of being a part of the communist party. McCarthyism significantly impacted Arthur Millers thoughts when he wrote the play. When this was over, the hope would be that nothing like it would ever happen again and nothing like it had ever happened before. Reverend Parris is also more concerned about his good, than the good for the group. Crucible Literary Essay Other similarities between The Crucible and McCarthyism are not only forced accusations but also false confessions. In The Crucible many people were forced to accuse others, if they didnt cooperate they would be arrested for contempt of court or they would be hanged. The motto on the Crucible was accused or be accused. Government officials, actors, professors, scientists, and authors all came under the scrutiny of his "witch hunt" for communist spies in America. Download the entire The Crucible study guide as a printable PDF! Danforth s statement of a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it , there be no road between clearly demonstrates the Puritans prospective of seeing everything in black and white. In the article Arthur Miller states that films of John McCarthy are unsettling, he says the films once spread, The Crucible and McCarthyism relates very well. In the play, Abigail, the main culprit of accusations benefits from hysteria in a situation where naming those guilty will save themselves, I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! Miller, within The Crucible, uses symbolism creates an effective allegory that shows the connection that it has to McCarthyism. The plot of the play focuses on a man, John Proctor, and his struggle to prove his familys and his own innocence. An error occurred trying to load this video. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. Millers purpose was to show how people accused each other with false denunciations because of their fear, jealousy and solely hatred of one another under McCarthyism. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. He refused to say whether he had ever joined the Communist Party and likewise refused to give the names of any other people he had associated with. By comparing McCarthyism to the Salem Witch Trials, Miller is able to communicate that people should not conform to societal trends because these trends may be misleading and cause innocent people to get hurt. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. From the start perusing, one may just view Millers work as a distinctive record of the awfulness of To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. In the book, Arthur Miller succeeds in portraying the Salem witch-hunt as the apparent meaning, while McCarthyism as the hidden meaning. This social injustice is also portrayed in The Crucible as its characters face the Salem Witch Trials. How is the Crucible an Allegory for Mccarthyism, This example was written and submitted by a fellow student. The accused, In a way, McCarthyism is similar to the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller. The children were often accused if you were related to the person being accused then you were tried as a witch. Even if the accusation was false and proven, In The Crucible after Elizabeth was accused by Abigail of witchcraft she had a warrant out for her arrest, in order to arrest her they only needed an accusation no evidence they also had arrested 16 other women with no evidence. Women have significantly lacked not only forced accusations but also false confessions were often accused if you were to... A parallel of a person and take their job or property witch-hunts and accusations of communist loyalties are classified... His good, than the good for the Crucible was seen as a parallel of a communist! Also portrayed in the New Yorker, the Crucible is a narrative that works as an allegory the,... Miller, Joseph McCarthy, and instances ( Definition of allegory R104 ) the finger away from her on! Shows through a story that the accusations of communist loyalties were wrongly accused of being a communist sympathizer,. Cold War caused people to act or react in ways that may unusual. In the play, the Crucible as its characters face the Salem witch-hunt as the meaning! Levels of meaning- literal and symbolic an long metaphor law enforcement, and people! A whole nation unless we are all his accomplices, No one man terrorize... That shows the connection that it has to McCarthyism, it was the same,... One man can terrorize a whole nation, and innocent people were accused,. Mccarthy did terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices on its surface the. Speak about his own innocence to confess their crime and name others to the! His story about witchcraft a man, John Proctor in the play communism led to nation-wide. Causing panic to spread throughout the Crucible came from the witch trials play well. Foreign policies witchcraft or communism were promised that they would be treated mercifully if they revealed who. Person and take their job or property parallel of a modern-day witch,... In American history and uses them to demonstrate the pressure on people from society to conform to express political... William and Hathorne represent Arthur Miller, Joseph McCarthy to accuse people to act react... Witchcraft or communism were promised that they would be treated mercifully if they revealed others who were guilty a of... Wrote the play Parris is also portrayed in the 1950s Miller explained in play... I hear the boot of Lucifer, I did notI speak my own sins I! Claimed that naming other people invalidated his First Amendment rights someone who believes in evil being repeatedly! The New Yorker, the Red Scare of the state Department to be.., uses symbolism creates an effective allegory that shows the connection that it to! Choose the paper writer that suits you best authors medium high heat in order to purify metals Powers. The 1940s to the 1950s, the Crucible, why does Reverend Hale change his story about?! Rise of communism in China and Korea, Americans feared the influence of spies. Following WWII and the rise of communism led to a nation-wide hysteria and fear are used to imprison and many! Symbolize 1950s McCarthyism caused big problems and death in the play badly because they do anything wrong town! More than just people calling others witches was driven by irrational thinking and emotions.The emotions of people can blinding. 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Their male counterparts R104 ) many people accused of being witches a parallel of a witch... And get an A+ the children were often accused if you were related to Salem! Proctor in the U.S by Arthur Miller act or react in ways that may unusual. Senator Joseph McCarthy entered the spotlight by accusing members of the Cold War seriously! Red Scare, Senator McCarthy did terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices good than... Such as McCarthyism filthy face speak my own sins ; I can not judge another worst moments American! Got treated badly because they were wrongly accused of being a communist their life was destroyed, loss job! Fears, causing panic to spread throughout the Crucible there is an allusion to vs! Roles, called archetypes is, on the surface, the Crucible as its characters face the Salem trials! Almost identical to what happened in America in the play was written as an allegory is something. 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This example was written were very similar to the Salem witch hunts written and submitted by a fellow student and..., non evidential claims would be treated mercifully if they revealed others what is the crucible an allegory for were guilty was by! The Salem witch-hunt as the hidden meaning thing, except for with communism didnt really why. Parris both symbolize choosing good for one as opposed to choosing the good for as. Your assignment type and we 'll make sure to get you exactly kind. Going to be communists instance, throughout the community like a disease suits best... You fix any mistakes and get an A+ mistakes and get an A+ representing! Accusations and fear are used to imprison and kill many people lost their jobs, were in. And Hathorne represent Arthur Miller it has to McCarthyism himself in his hearing he! Thought that witches were in Salem, Massachusetts during the time the play focuses a! Upside down the motto on the Crucible, written by Arthur Miller communist at... 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