The new decision led to a cyclone of accusations because people realized the possibility of their condemnation regardless they were guilty or innocent. Create your account. More and more young women began to accuse townspeople of having dealings with the Devil and practicing witchcraft. | 2 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. The practices were paralleled in what is known as McCarthyism, which did much the same thing, except this time, children did not control the madness: Senator McCarthy and his "minions" carried on a twentieth century witch hunt. There was deceit, pain, greed, and more. Miller, creator of The Crucible was blacklisted, and accused of being a communist along with many other entertainers (Arthur Miller). 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). One way in [] Find Free Essays This allowed people to get rid of a person and take their job or property. An allegory is an extended metaphor in which the characters or objects in the story represent an outside meaning. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Miller, within The Crucible, uses symbolism creates an effective allegory that shows the connection that it has to McCarthyism. The kids that were hanged didnt really understand why the were being hung because they do anything wrong. Here are the links to the word lists for all four acts of The Crucible: Act 1 , Act 2 , Act 3 , and Act 4 . Arthur Miller articulates how the three themes of injustice, hysteria, and reputation are problematic factors for human nature. 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. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you His words are daring and intense which helps pull the audience in. The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953, is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch During the closing scene and its final lines the tone might be described as suspenseful and melancholy, while Millers purpose relays the events in Salem to the accusations of Communists in 1950s America. Miller's use of the Salem witch trials to highlight the panic of the Red Scare is an allegory. [Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism]. Includes allegory, mccarthyism, biographical info and character lists. The Crucible Study Guide 2022-10-26. Eugene O'Neill Biography, Plays & Influence | Who was Eugene O'Neill? A fire, a fire is burning! Many characters in The Crucible serve as allegories to McCarthy 's communist hunt, specifically Abigail Williams, Giles Corey, and Betty Parris. Both McCarthyism and The Crucible are connected because paranoia is evident and innocent people are accused. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953, when Senator Joseph McCarthy accused dozens of people who worked for the US government of being communist infiltrators, without any evidence. We witness the lives of people she impacts, what happens to them, and how many times she lies to get her way. Perhaps Miller was particularly sensitive to this modern-day "witch hunt" because he had some fleeting associations with the American Communist Party. A crucible is a severe test or trial, which is exactly what happens in the play. Slideshow 3196964 by amber Here is why I think The Crucible is an allegory for the Red Scare. Arthur Miller, disgusted and inspired by these events, wrote The Crucible as an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare. He felt depressed and wrote the play as a means to express himself. Arthur Miller wrote this play to symbolize 1950s McCarthyism. The crucible was a tragedy because almost the whole town was accused of being a witch or having dolls in their homes which made then think they were doing something with the dolls to harm someone else. The community around has always been a place where secrets and grudges are held against someone. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an allegory for the Red Scare in the McCarthy Era because, The Crucible and McCarthyism If you want a unique paper, order it from our professional writers. So john proctor the hero of Arthur Millers story is the equivalent of a suspected communist and at the time was a cold war. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a good example of an allegory for it tells of a significant event in history in which a small town of Massachusetts named Salem had been controlled by a paranoia of witches after watching a few of the town girls showing off odd behaviors and participating in occult activities. Pointing the finger away from her and on to others. The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953, is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in Massachusetts in 1692. He testified that he had signed pro-communist documents and attended four or five meetings for Communist Party Writers. Much of my desperation branched out, I suppose, from a typical Depression-era traumathe blow struck on the mind by the rise of European Fascism and the brutal anti-Semitism it had brought to power. (Miller). Copyright 2022 IPL.org All rights reserved. Justice in the court was perverted by fear and delusion (Johnson 9). He highlights how these particular themes are problematic for human nature. An overwhelming fear of the an insidious influx of communist doctrines, hidden beneath the very fabric of the U.S. society, made people fearful and paranoid: none more than Senator Joseph McCarthy. 198 students ordered this very topic and got 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. Examine The Crucible as an allegory. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, women are somewhat able to successfully gain power from society due to the fact that they use manipulation, deceit and their sexual desire (especially the character of Abigail) to acquire positions of power in their largely patriarchal society. One of his most well-known works being The Crucible, addressed McCarthyism and its absurd purpose. In his exemplary dramatization The Crucible, Arthur Miller accounts the repulsiveness of the Salem witch preliminaries, a humiliating scene of pilgrim Americas set of experiences. The hysteria induced by the thought that witches were in Salem spread throughout the community like a disease. (Make sure to visit:http://www.enotes.com/crucible). The Red Scare quickly spread across the States as American people feared that communism would take over their country one day. This essay was written by a fellow student. Download the entire The Crucible study guide as a printable PDF! During the Salem Witch Trials, according to Arthur Millers play The Crucible and the Red Scare, it focused on how much power a character could have, and that one character also can lead to convincing the community to be with them or against their personal thoughts. In addition to these, Miller depicts himself in his play as well. WebThe Crucible, a phenomenon play, written by Arthur Miller is an allegory to the McCarthy Trials of the 1950s. WebThe Crucible is an allegory for what happened during the "red scare" in American in the 1950's. Her actions begin sending the small town into a panic as they throw people into jail and hang them in an effort to try and cleanse the town from any aspect of evil. The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Red Scare share many characteristics. Miller expresses important messages specifically about injustice, hysteria, and reputation. In 1953, when Miller published The Crucible, it was clear that he was condemning McCarthy and his communist witch hunts. Specify your topic, deadline, number of pages and other requirements. She is certifies to teach English Language Arts and Reading and English as a Second Language in Texas for grades 6-12 . After Abigail and John had an affair, she was dismissed from the household, and Abigail and her friend, Ann Putnam, began showing signs of being afflicted by witchcraft and accusing people of practicing witchcraft. Character Analysis over The Crucible The period in which this anti-communist hysteria occurred was known as the Red Scare. Arthur Miller was a playwright and a political activist speaking up addressing societal issues. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 WebThe 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. An allegory is defined as a story, poem, character in a story, or picture with a hidden connotation. Miller even uses some of the same characters in his dramatized play that were a part of the original witch trials in Salem. 73) This quote elaborates on why the accusers were not suspected, Reverend Parris has a reputation of being a holy man of the church which makes him improbable to witchcraft and Abigail who has kept her reputation clean amidst of all the misdeeds she has done. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and English and a Master of Arts in Literature from Abilene Christian University. 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. Much of the undoing of McCarthyism came at the hands of the Supreme Court. Through the play, we follow the character, Abigail, observe her actions and their consequences. In The Crucible Proctor is accused of doing devil's work, but he made it clear that, He wants his life, and He will have his life. The Crucible and McCarthyism were alike on this situation because if they confessed they would not die but if they didnt they would. 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. By comparing McCarthyism to the, While Corey broke conformity to do what was right, Betty did quite the opposite. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, John Proctor dealt with the corruption of power in his town when Abigail Williams and many other girls accused those, who were innocent, of witchcraft. After The Crucible was published, Arthur Miller himself was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was asked about his activities writing for the American Communist Party. What Miller is trying to say in The Crucible is that he is against condemning others with no legitimate reason. On its surface, The Crucible is a play about the Salem witch trials of 1692. Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert. All rights reserved. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. 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. I think that imagery can be a huge factor in the way things may be viewed, and in the way feelings may be expressed. In addition. In The Crucible, what message is Arthur Miller trying to get across to the reader. Similarly, throughout 1950-1954, Joseph McCarthy falsely accused people within the United States Government of being a member of the Communist party. There are two ways that stick out to me that The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism. They are accused of witchcraft, but they claim, She was also in the woods, casting spells that Abigail wanted, when she is accused of calling the devil, she claims the devil came to her and forced her to sign his book with 4 other names. The hysterical rantings and ravings of McCarthy and his supporters, lost support when people got tired of the national upheaval, the black listing and investigations. The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the early 1950s. Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/how-is-the-crucible-an-allegory-for-mccarthyism/. The plot of the play focuses on a man, John Proctor, and his struggle to prove his familys and his own innocence. He shows through a story that the witch trials were much more than just people calling others witches. your personal assistant! Lesson 3: Graphic Organizer - The Crucible why is the crucible an appropriate title for the play. Find more samples: Related topics 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. Be careful, this sample is accessible to everyone. In the book, Arthur Miller succeeds in portraying the Salem witch-hunt as the apparent meaning, while McCarthyism as the hidden meaning. I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I have no tongue for itI have three children, how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?Because it is my name! In the play, The Crucible, Salem, Massachusetts, along with the United States during McCarthyism, is engulfed with paranoia. These fears were not entirely unfounded as there had been Soviet spies discovered in the U.S. during WWII and after. 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. 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