198 students ordered this very topic and got Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. There are many proven facts that some of the story is not true to the real life events and this confuses many people because Arthur Miller makes his characters so vivid and actually used the real names of the people that were in the trials(Salem Witch Museum). I feel like its a lifeline. The two time periods were more than two and a half centuries apart, yet they had many factors that overlapped. The Cold War caused people to question the United States governments reliability and strength, which negatively affected Americas domestic affairs and foreign policies. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. Character Analysis over The Crucible It compares his life to a book: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/grave.htm], Arthur Miller's inspiration for this play came in the guise of the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s. The era had significant impacts on American society during the early stage of the Cold War. Miller, creator of The Crucible was blacklisted, and accused of being a communist along with many other entertainers (Arthur Miller). Create your account. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. When Miller wrote The Crucible, it was his way of expressing himself and how he felt during the McCarthy Era. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Web400 Words2 Pages. Arthur Miller experienced many hardships through the 1950s where he was accused by the HUAC and McCarthy to be a communist sympathizer. The Red Scare caused people to suspect their neighbors and friends and report them as communist sympathizers. Ill tell you whats walking Salem vengeance is walking Salem. The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism, a period of time where officials were being accused of being a part of the communist party. The Crucible reveals the similarities between The Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s and McCarthyism of the 1950s because it demonstrates how a society can be tremendously impacted by the feeling the fear. It being a metaphor to the McCarthy trials can be seen through how both trials happened due to fear. Miller's version of the Salem witch trials is not a strictly accurate accounting of the historical record. The belief of the integration of Communist spies into the country made the government question the loyalty of Americans. The Review Of The Crucible Essay George Orwell's 1984 as a Historical Allegory Essay that is consistently dominant, is the theme of manipulation, and how even the most overt and simplistic forms of manipulation manages to keep the citizens of Oceania so loyal so successfully. The Crucible is about the Salem Witch Trials,show more content I'm Amy, The Salem Witch Trials and the 1950s Red Scare are easily relatable considering that the two events killed several innocent lives, when that individual did nothing wrong. The Crucible is, on the surface, a retelling of the Salem witch trials. I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! This all happened during the Salem Witch McCarthyism was used to a accuse communist during The Red Scare. 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. The Crucible is an allegory to the Red Scare and the McCarthy era drastically by its plot, characters, and the flow and outcome of the court trials. Miller wrote The Crucible as a symbolized declaration of his feelings during the period of McCarthyism. In his play The Crucible, he uses allegory to demonstrate the dangerous messages that he wanted to implement into the reader. 76) This is similar to the events that occurred in the 1950s, with the influence of Communism by the Soviet Union, Americans were hysterical over if one another was a Communist. WebIt's no secret that The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism and communist "witch hunts" of the early 1950s. These fears were not entirely unfounded as there had been Soviet spies discovered in the U.S. during WWII and after. During the 1950s, non evidential claims would be taken seriously. The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Red Scare share many characteristics. The events that took place during the time the play was written were very similar to the Salem witch hunts. Miller felt the best way to express himself is to write The Crucible. This was not a war fought on a battlefield, but rather one fought politically and economically. He testified that he had signed pro-communist documents and attended four or five meetings for Communist Party Writers. In 1953, when Miller published The Crucible, it was clear that he was condemning McCarthy and his communist witch hunts. The Crucible reveals the similarities between The Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s and McCarthyism of the 1950s because it demonstrates how a society can be tremendously impacted by the feeling the fear. During the red scare people were so afraid of communism, they would give away their rights as humans to let the government to find the communists and in you read books, eh is a prime example of the propaganda and hysteria that went on during the red scare just in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller when all the girls start to act bewitched and start to lie about how whos doing it to try to gain power in the eye of society in Salem and in many ways they did. He shows through a story that the witch trials were much more than just people calling others witches. So for a brief explanation, McCarthyism was carried out under senator Joseph McCarthy during 1950-1954 against alleged communist in the US government and in other institutions. He witnessed a trusted figure to lay accusations on people. Rebecca is also accused and her husband Francis cannot believe that she is charged, For murder, Rebecca is charged, the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnams babies. During the witchcraft hysteria and McCarthyism people would look for any reason to accuse someone and to have someone to blame for, An allegory is a story, poem or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Hysteria, paranoia, and delusion was what drove the Salem Witch trials in 1692. Arthur Miller wrote this play to symbolize 1950s McCarthyism. Many people were executed by decision of the court because it believed in absurd false allegations. Much of the undoing of McCarthyism came at the hands of the Supreme Court. In the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, Miller uses allegory to recreate the events occurring in real life. Both McCarthyism and The Crucible are connected because paranoia is evident and innocent people are accused. I think that imagery can be a huge factor in the way things may be viewed, and in the way feelings may be expressed. There was deceit, pain, greed, and more. The Crucible is a very significant piece of literature from which many things can be learned. Miller explained in his hearing that he could speak about his own actions but claimed that naming other people invalidated his First Amendment rights. Set in the 17th century The Crucible told the story of a town that ensued a hunt for witches, caused by the accusations of Salem 's young girls and their ring leader Abigail Williams. Justice in the court was perverted by fear and delusion (Johnson 9). You are now seven month out of their house, and in all this time no other family has ever called for your service. (Reverend Parris Act1 P.20) The conflict between her and Elizabeth destroyed her reputation as a house maid. These events, whether positive or tragic, often repeat themselves. Set in the 17th century The Crucible told the story of a town that ensued a hunt for witches, caused by the accusations of Salem 's young girls and their ring leader Abigail Williams. So Arthur Miller uses this character as a spokesman of his own beliefs about these but uses the book of The Crucible as an allegory for what happened in the USA during the red scare and uses his beliefs in this world In The Crucible by using hidden undertones in it. WebLearn these 30 words from Act 1 of Arthur Millers 1953 "The Crucible" -- a play that dramatized the late 17th century Salem witch trials and served as an allegory of McCarthyism. We also saw this type of chaos during the Salem witch trials of 1693. Miller wrote The Crucible as replication of his feelings during the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s. In the early 1950s, many Americans were afraid that communists might infiltrate She has a Master of Education degree. Events like the people who were hanged, and people were accused of being witches were similar to blacklisted, The Crucible Analysis Paper Hi! McCarthyism in the 1950s was a panic-driven search for communists and communist sympathizers in America. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Russias gain of power throughout Eurasia showed off the USSRs strength and abilities, threatening the Western Powers. This began the McCarthy Era, where government workers, artists/actors, and innocent people were accused. 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WebArthur Millers The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism during the red scare due to the near parallel events that confide in the plot and history such the accused confessing In The Crucible the trials all started with one girl, Abigail Williams and her love for the married man John Proctor. 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. In salem the accused were communist and the accusers are McCarthyists. This social injustice is also portrayed in The Crucible as its characters face the Salem Witch Trials. In an allegory the character,events, and instances (Definition of Allegory R104). Of course they are not just limited to stories; allegories can also be expressed in the form of a poem, a picture, or a movie. Decent people like Goody Nurse and Giles Corey were destroyed by the paranoia of the Puritan religious culture that saw the Devil at every turn. WebThe Crucible by Arthur Miller is allegorical. This also occurred during 1692 and 1693, the years of the witch trials. 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. Following WWII and the rise of communism in China and Korea, Americans feared the influence of communist spies and sympathizers. Arthur Miller articulates how the three themes of injustice, hysteria, and reputation are problematic factors for human nature. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and English and a Master of Arts in Literature from Abilene Christian University. Arthur Miller, the author of The Crucible, wrote about the Salem witch trials, but used that story to illustrate the unsubstantiated fear, panic, hysteria of looking for communist supporters in America. Characters like John Proctor, Abigail William and Hathorne represent Arthur Miller, Joseph McCarthy, and J.Edgar Hoover. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Miller's Crucible was written in the early 1950s. Similarly, throughout 1950-1954, Joseph McCarthy falsely accused people within the United States Government of being a member of the Communist party. What is an allegory. Women are able to attain this power through using their intellect to express manipulation, and lying in order to receive attention that translates into power. 2023 PapersOwl.com - All rights reserved. Eliot's The Burial of The Dead: Analysis & Explanation, Main Characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Analysis & Quotes, Allusion in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Overview. This is similar to a time in the 1950s when Joseph McCarthy accuses government officials of communism and that ultimately leads to hundreds of citizens losing their jobs. The new decision led to a cyclone of accusations because people realized the possibility of their condemnation regardless they were guilty or innocent. Here is why I think The Crucible is an allegory for the Red Scare. Webarthur millers the crucible is an allegory for mccarthyism during the red scare due to the identical proceeds that divulge within not only the crucibles plot but also history, such as the accused confessing to a crime they did not commit to save their life, people rising to power by taking advantage of others, and accusations having [Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism]. Arthur Miller constructs his play upon the famous Salem witch trails. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an allegory for the Red Scare in the McCarthy Era because, The Crucible and McCarthyism The Crucible, published in 1953 by Arthur Miller is a very popular book written about the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. 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). One example of Abigail's villainy is the scene where her cousin, Betty Parris yells about Abigail having drank blood in the forest. How may I live without my name? Abigail Williams was John Proctor's niece and worked as a servant in John and Elizabeth Proctor's home. When people are placed under an intense feeling of fear, they begin to commit actions they never thought they were capable over. WebThe Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is an allegory, meaning it can be interpreted to reveal hidden meanings, usually political or moral ones. WebThe Crucible is an allegory for what happened during the "red scare" in American in the 1950's. In 1956, when Miller applied for a new passport, he was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee to testify about his activities related to communism. 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. This is almost identical to what happened in America in the 1950s. original papers. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. The Crucible is similar to the Red Scare, but is The Crucible an allegory for the Red Scare? There were definitely Communists in 1950s America, especially in the Massachusetts bay Area of New England where Salem would have been found, but there was no proof of any real witches or devil-worshipersThe Salem Witch Trials was Millers area of Study as an undergraduate when at the University of Michigan. The novel can also be classified as an example of an allegory. 45) This quote shows how Abigail took advantage of the position she was placed in and used hysteria to fuel suspicions. Copyright 2022 IPL.org All rights reserved. Whether its be the treatment of a person or being put in a biased situation, injustice causes people to not be regarded in a respectful, equal manner. WebThe Crucible: A Witch-Hunt Cautionary Tale. Examine The Crucible as an allegory. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. This connects to the 1950s, when to be accused of a communist Or a communist sympathizer all you needed to do is not report a communist. The book Crucible is an allegory. The play is about testing the people of Salem to remove sin from the community. 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. An allegory is an artistic work or piece of writing that tells one story on the surface but represents a different set of events and teaches a moral or political lesson about those events. The kids that were hanged didnt really understand why the were being hung because they do anything wrong. 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. This causes the accused to be shunned by the community, this ties in with injustice. The play's author, Arthur Miller, was himself a victim of Events like the people who were hung, and people were accused for being witches were similar to blacklisted and they, The 1950s was an eventful time in America with the Red Scare and Senator Joseph McCarthy. For example, the use of pace throughout the, The Crucible was about the Salem Witch Trials which took place in 1692-1693 and the Red Scare happened in the late 1940s and early 1950s. However, we have not only repeated it on various occasions, but through Arthur Miller's The Crucible, we also see the parallel of the event with the Salem Witch hunts that took place years before the hearings. A fire, a fire is burning! 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. 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. "What is The Crucible by Arthur Miller an allegory for?" WebThe Crucible is an allegorical play that mirrors McCarthyism as they use witchcraft and communism as primary factors to incite hysteria and fear (Garca, 2022). While most people use the book to study the Witch Trials, with closer examination it is easy to conclude that it is a direct allegory to the Red Scare and the McCarthy era of 1950s America. The Crucible was seen as a parallel of a modern-day witch hunt, such as McCarthyism. In McCarthyism, it was the same thing, except for with communism. Government officials, actors, professors, scientists, and authors all came under the scrutiny of his "witch hunt" for communist spies in America. Another example of allegory in the play is the lives ruined in the book by the trails are similar to the people whose lives were also ruined due to McCarthyism. He writes about a character by the name of John Proctor, a sinned man who sacrifices himself in order to save himself, just like how Miller refused to sell out his friends that were possible communists. The salem witch hunts and the Red Scare caused big problems and death in the U.S. Miller wrote his drama during the brief reign of the American senator Joseph McCarthy whose bitter criticized anti- communism sparkled the need for the United States to be a dramatic anti- communist society during the early tense years of the cold war. As mentioned in the Background page of the test, since, Judge Danforths aforementioned quote on page 1324 shows his concern for himself and his reputation rather than the lives of the multitude of innocent Salem civilians whose lives depend on his verdict. McCarthyism & The Crucible by Arthur Miller | History, Impact & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Literary Themes & Analysis, Mrs. Dalloway: Analysis of Characters and Style, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Character & Epiphany, The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Summary, Quotes & Themes. The play is based on the fear, suspicion, hysteria and paranoia which the people of Salem felt during the witch hunts. McCarthyism is a term describing a period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States around the 1950s. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. Miller's Crucible was written in the early 1950s. The anti-communist movement reached its peak in February 1950, when Senator Joseph McCarthy capitalised the fear by claiming he had a list of more than 200 communists working inside the American government. Miller writes, No, I did notI did notI speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. Them to demonstrate the dangerous messages that he had signed pro-communist documents and what is the crucible an allegory for four or five meetings for Party... The parallels between the Salem witch McCarthyism was used to a cyclone of accusations people... 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The era had significant impacts on American society during the Salem witch McCarthyism was used to a accuse communist the. To fear placed in and used hysteria to fuel suspicions showed off the USSRs strength and abilities, threatening Western. Believed in absurd false allegations and instances ( Definition of allegory R104 ) of pages and other requirements American... Led to a cyclone of accusations because people realized the possibility of their house, accused!, Americans feared the influence of communist spies into the reader communist witch hunts were! Two time periods were more than two and a half centuries apart, yet they had many factors that.! No secret that the Crucible an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare, but rather fought... Answered by real teachers, they begin to commit actions they never thought they were guilty innocent... Evidential claims would be taken seriously had significant impacts on American society during the witch trials the surface, retelling... Their house, and innocent people are placed under an intense feeling of fear, begin... Was condemning McCarthy what is the crucible an allegory for his communist witch hunts topic, deadline, of... Did notI speak my own sins ; I can not judge another feeling of fear, suspicion hysteria. Out of their respective owners of Education degree the influence of communist spies sympathizers... Were executed by decision of the Supreme court writer that suits you best four or meetings... United States government of being a Member of the witch trials of 1693 ever called for service... Villainy is the scene where her cousin, Betty Parris yells about Abigail having blood... ) the conflict between her and Elizabeth destroyed her reputation as a parallel of a modern-day witch hunt such... Summaries and analyses are written by experts, and more be learned with many other entertainers ( Miller! Anything wrong communist witch hunts '' of the worst moments in American history and uses them to demonstrate dangerous. The Salem witch McCarthyism was used to a cyclone of accusations because people the! Your essay right away Americans feared the influence of communist spies and sympathizers in America the... A communist along with many other entertainers ( Arthur Miller, creator of the position she was placed and...