The Crucible by Arthur Miller

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The Crucible is a play that was written by Arthur Miller and published in the year 1953. Miller wrote this play to attack the anti-communist “witch hunts” in Congress in the 1950’s. He believed that the hysteria surrounding the witchcraft trials paralleled the modern sense of McCarthyism. The witch hunts of the 1950’s brought power to the government and got rid of communists. Witch hunts were held to rule out heresy and rid the world of “undesirables”. In The Crucible, the witch hunts greatly affect the lives of many characters. Two examples are Abigail Williams and John Proctor; two characters that are determined to get what they want. Abigail and John Proctor have many similar characteristics but different goals. Abigail wants to be with John and she wants control; her motives are lust and power. John wants a good name in his community; he is motivated by power. The Crucible shows how fear, greed, power, and lust motivate the characters throughout the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692.

Abigail Williams is the niece of Reverend Parris, the reverend in the town. Even though she is yo...

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