Fallacies In The Crucible

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The Crucible Playwright, Arthur Miller, wrote The Crucible in 1953. The Crucible is a play set in Salem, Massachusetts. The play is based on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but it has an underlying message that connects it to the Red Scare. In order to address the social issues during the Red Scare, Miller uses Abigail to symbolize Joseph McCarthy, logical fallacies in Danforth's dialogue, and motifs that represent the battle of good vs. evil. In order to address the social issues of the Red Scare, Miller uses Abigail to symbolize Joseph McCarthy. Early on in the play, Abigail says “... I saw Sarah Good with the devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the devil!”(Miller). In this quote Abigail is naming off people …show more content…

Government. Danforth says “The pure in heart need no lawyers”(Miller). In Danforth's statement he is saying if you’re pure and honest you do not need a lawyer. However, everyone needs a lawyer. This connects to the foolish reasons behind those who were accused of being communist, their investigations, and the loss of their jobs(Miller Center). Danforth also says, “... whoever weeps, for those who weep for corruption. Take them!” Danforth is claiming those who weep for the people being hung are corrupt too. Miller uses this example as a relation to McCarthy and his stance on those who attempted to speak against his false accusations(Miller …show more content…

evil through multiple characters. This includes light vs. dark and black vs. white. One quote from the play is “Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our back, and our old pretense is washed away”(Miller). The talk of Hell, Heaven, God, and witchcraft point to the battle of light vs. dark. This battle is seen to be between those who are pure and good, then those who are corrupt and evil. Miller correlates this to the battle in the U.S. Government. A battle of the Americans vs. the communist and alleged betrayers(Miller Center). The character Abigail also says, “She is blackening my name in the village.”(Miller). The battle of black vs. white is referencing ruined and dirty vs. pure and clean. Abigail is connecting her name to being ruined. Miller uses this to refer to the accused during the Red Scare, and the way their names were blackened. Along with how all the American people saw them as guilty and dirty for their supposed

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