The Witch Hunt in The Crucible and During the Time of McCarthyism

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The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller during an era known as McCarthyism. McCarthyism was a search, or “witch hunt”, led by Senator Joe McCarthy, for Communists in the United States Government during the nineteen-fifties. This “witch hunt” indirectly shed light upon “...one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history”: The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a drama of the true story which took place during the seventeenth century.

In The Crucible, the events flow naturally from one event to the next. Everything occurs naturally from the mood of the characters. This story is not contrived, but is based on a true story. This story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in the late sixteen-hundreds. The characters of the story were superstitious and gullible, which allowed for the mass hysteria taken place. The incident begins with the girls dancing in the forest, which in turn, generates a witch hunt. The conflict was sufficient enough to keep interest aroused. There were tension and suspense in the story, covering basic human instincts and qualities. The story shows the human necessity for survival, and the lengths which one will go to save his life.

The play opens in a scene of chaos; Betty Parris, daughter of Reverend Parris, has slipped into what is now known as a coma. When Betty does not awaken, the townspeople immediately turn to witchcraft as the concern. Jealousy, caused by theocracy of the times, causes many of the people to accuse others of witchcraft. Debates over property lines occur; neighbors are at each others’ throats. Centering now upon John Proctor, and his wife, Elizabeth, the story takes a turn. Elizabeth is accused by Abigail Williams of witchcraft. When Elizabeth is standing trial, Abigail now accuses John of the same crime; he is now to stand trial, also. At the story’s end, John is hanged, and it becomes apparent to the town of Salem that there is no such thing as witchcraft. As a result of these occurrences, theocracy came to an end in Salem.

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