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How Did The Salem Witch Trials Affect Society

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American playwright Arthur Miller’s 1953 play, The Crucible, is a dramatized story of the Salem witch trials in the 1690s. Miller wrote this play with the intent to criticize the American anti communist witch hunt of the McCarthy era. Miller’s timeless classic demonstrates the impact the witch trials had on the community, the government, and the economy The ruling force of the time were extreme religious beliefs. The witch trials brought doubt into the people’s beliefs and everything they thought they knew. Not only does it affect their beliefs but also brings out the town’s real way of thinking. “Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and—” (Proctor, 1072). Proctor voices what everyone else is thinking; how could accusations be made against these women who have lived so righteously with long-standing and noble reputations? At the beginning of the trials everyone seemed to support the idea of hanging for …show more content…

Integrity in the government may already been an issue before the trials, but during the trials, integrity was nonexistent. “You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just” (Judge Danforth, 1094). Danforth says he cannot pardon them because he is trying to uphold the integrity of the court, but, really he is just trying to protect himself. If he pardoned them after already hanging numerous people, the town would start to question him and his ability to do his job. Even when the court expressed their serious doubt in the validity of the charges, he fraudulently tried to get someone to dishonestly confess so he could justify killing innocent people. Miller is undoubtedly comparing Danforth to Senator McCarthy, as they are both the main contributors to the tyranny of consensus. They both lied to better their support and

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