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The Crucible Vs Mccarthyism Essay

790 Words4 Pages

Hysteria, paranoia, and delusion was what drove the Salem Witch trials in 1692. Many people were executed by decision of the court because it believed in absurd false allegations. Justice in the court was perverted by fear and delusion (Johnson 9). In the 1940s and 1950s, many people in the United States were living in fear of communism; similar to those who feared “witches” in Salem. In the 1953, Arthur Miller came out with a play: The Crucible based on the Salem Witch Trials tackling McCarthyism; accusing others of being communists trying to overthrow democracy in the United States (9-10). Arthur Miller was a playwright and a political activist speaking up addressing societal issues. One of his most well-known works being The Crucible, addressed McCarthyism and its absurd purpose. Miller, creator of The Crucible was blacklisted, and accused of being a communist along with many other entertainers (“Arthur Miller”). Through all this ignorance and delusional fear, Arthur Miller was inspired to explore the similarities and parallels of the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism. Undoubtedly, both The Crucible and McCarthyism were driven by fear. The people feared that witchcraft could be affecting the town’s girls and harming others because the character Abigail Williams would point fingers blaming anyone. Comparable to Senator Joseph McCarthy, on …show more content…

Miller was subpoenaed to testify before HUAC (The House of Un-American Activities Committee) (Johnson 32-33). Miller refused to give up the names affiliated with the Communist party, consequently he was convicted of contempt of Congress (“Arthur Miller and…”). Miller was sentenced to prison, but an upper court changed the decision. His act of bravery and defiance seemed similar to his character’s behavior from The Crucible. From there on out, Miller was a vocal political activist on many issues (Johnson

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