Influence of McCarthyism and Salem Witch Trials on The Crucible

Influence of McCarthyism and Salem Witch Trials on The Crucible

1. Introduction

The Crucible is a play that was authored by Arthur Millar in 1953. It is a fascinating fact to understand that the imaginary tale, but somewhat dramatized it is centered on a real occurrence. The writer of this specific outstanding piece narrows the argument on the story of McCarthyism. Miller and another communist who were by then vibrant in the United States were called for by the House of Representatives to give more information on the other people whom they were convening meetings with.

Moreover, the government that was in power at the time decided that all members belonging to the team were dangerous to their mission and therefore banned. Each character who is involved in this play, as written, was someone who had taken part in the actual purpose. Indeed, some of the information that has been used in the play tend to mislead to believe that the characters are distinct. In reality, they are not; the writer of the play did this intentionally but documented all the attitudes and events. Some of the intentional errors committed in the play encompass the addition or subtraction of the age of the imaginary characters who are demonstrative of reality.

1. Biographical Information

Arthur Miller is a renowned playwright to acknowledge in the twentieth century. He is of American origin. Moreover, he was well-known to many as a professional author for novels and essays but also had a significant influence on playwriting. The writer was born on 17^th October 1917 and passed on, on 10^th February 2015, with such an abundance of literature. The writer became one of the great icons within the American system, typically in the 1940s through the 1960s. It was during this exact time that he was presented Pulitzer Prize for Drama. That was not the only award that he was presented in his whole life; there are various others that he was given with the newest being in 2013 before his death.

• McCarthyism

After WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union presented two distinct economic philosophies that were geared towards enhancing their supremacy all over the world. The United States was used to regulating the world’s economy. The decision by the Soviet Union to preach communism was perceived as an immediate competition. The anxiety of communism had been circulated during the period of the Red Scare, thus, causing Americans to develop a concern about the penetration of the state by communists. During this period, Joseph McCarthy, a Wisconsin senator by the time, spearheaded a group to expose those who were regarded as an internal communist and their supporters. The Senator applied serious allegations to demonstrate that there were communists with the American administration who were operating from inside to take it down. McCarthyism had a far-reaching impact on America, particularly within the administration.  McCarthyism contributed to high levels of suspicions and anxiety within the administration, elimination of the communist party, and heightened pressure between the United States and the communist associated countries.

1. Historical perception of Witches

McCarthyism contributed to heightened anxiety amongst American administration leadership.  McCarthy had launched an unfounded witch-hunt against government administrators, particularly those who were working in the state government (Schrecker, 19). Any remarks of being a communist member or communist supporter were both a professional and political suicide. This caused panic among members of the government because one could not precisely predict if they were going to be revealed or not

The matter of conviction within this specific society was unavoidable because of the evil or satanic occurrences that were taking place. On the other hand, the terrible acts were closes connected with the progressive development of frontier of economic growth, the conflicts that manifested among the youths as a result of monotony, congregational struggle, and jealousy that was originating as a new element within the society.  However, it is worth noting that there were ways that were used in having the suspect and convicting them of witchcraft before assuming appropriate measures against them.

History becomes the foundation of the process through which most individuals were convicted of witchcraft. Firstly, the whole concept of condemning witchcraft started in 1692 when nineteen men were tried of witchcraft allegations. The men were transferred to Gallon where they were punished to death.  This, however, appeared to cause a lot of rage and anxiety among the members of society. Finally, the society appeared to have decided and adopted the ways of convicting an individual through the court. The prime illustration is depicted in Sarah Osborn, Sarah Good, and Tituba. The three women were taken before the judge John and Jonathan. It from this petition that a disclosure that transformed Salem originated from.  Osborn became open and genuine and recounted all the truth about her witchcraft and how she had struggled to desist from it and how the devil had inhibited her from reforming and getting someone to deliver her (Schrecker 30).  Before being presented to the court, the accused were confined in jails, and it is after the disclosure of this case that they started to admit fearing being taken to the scaffolds for possible execution.

1. Puritanism and Communism

The McCarthy convictions are those that are associated with the witch-hunt that Joe McCarthy practiced on the American communist. The Senator strived so hard to make sure that the communists were banned and that this made it very complicated for those individuals to get any form of employment within the state. The workers feared the names that people had and could endanger them. McCarthy has exuberated the confirmation until it causes a lot of panic and anxiety among Americans.

Moreover, the Senator faulted the American Army for accommodating the communists something which they denied being involved with. But the Senator was transitory through criticism by the Watkins committee in 1954. McCarthyism was neutralized and collapsed; the effect was felt for years.

Gripped by anxiety, the conflict intensified when the government started looking for the culprits. Miller outlines the threats that emerge when a theocracy starts responding to such anxiety with its extreme religious values. Government administrators handled many people with pressure and intimidation to admit the offenses irrespective of inadequate evidence. This social misunderstanding grew into individual conflicts as most of these unfounded allegations led to many innocent souls being imprisoned and punished with the death penalty. Paradoxically, to avoid incarceration, most of the innocent people indebted to the regime’s terms admitted to offenses they had never done. They were then exonerated from the sentence, as it was considered that their acknowledgment demonstrated that they were no longer under the control of the devil and had an understanding of the sins they had done. 

In Salem, people were convicted of being witches, whereas in McCarthy, they were convicted of being communists. Both of the two governments contributed to the loose of status, something that is so critical in operating all government businesses. The land issues inspired the Salem trial, whereas a campaign technique caused the one for McCarthy. The witches were the individuals who were to bear the burden and sentence of the whole community (Schrecker 28). The same was replicated in the case of McCarthy since communist was to go through sufferings for the rest of the people in the state. An individual who presented the accused within the administration of Salem was treated with uttermost respect.  McCarthy, who was the pioneer of McCarthyism, was as well considered with great respect. The allegations that were offered in two distinct times that took place 1692 and 1950s successively, they were all grounded on incorrect claims.

The situation in Salem is blatantly associated with McCarthyism, a phrase that was encouraged by McCarthy during the period of anti-communist intimidation in the twentieth century. His deeds successfully contributed to many Americans to be subjected to examinations and different kinds of punishment, though in various instances, the evidence against these people was less significant. Even those who showed some kind of support towards pro-Communists would be handled as conspirators, just like Salem, an atmosphere characterized by anger and distrust. The play outlines how a society so swiftly absorbed with hysteria can crumble; thus, an everlasting demonstration cautioning us of the weaknesses of any community.

1. Story Analysis

The decision of the Salem Witch Trials to show a representation of McCarthyism does not emerge as a surprise given the circumstance of the time when he authored the play. The text as highlights was authored in 1953, a time that was so difficult in America. It was precisely two years after the arts of Joe McCarthy on the matter of communists in society. The anxiety that contributed to McCarthy’s reaction in the manner in which he did was as a result of the WWII that was just taking effect in 1945. Russia was a significant threat to America, and thus, they had considered that if they did not come up with appropriate measures of containing, it would subject them into a precarious situation. After the study of Russia, they established that society was developed on the ground of communism. America believed that if they did not stop communism in their nation, it would get its way to the foundations, and they would have lost the war.

It is, therefore, apparent why Miller would wish to author a play based on the same story portraying the society (Sapui 28-30). Moreover, the pictorial depiction of the community by Miller was a most appropriate match and in the proper period. The most critical is that the Salem tale is something that had still taken place in the United States in about three centuries before, and it was just a depiction of the ideal society as from initial stages. Miller decided to focus on this specific story because, honestly, it portrays the many evil that one has no power over. It is a narrative that is characteristic of crime not only in the United States but also in the whole world.

Puritanism played a critical part in the result of the Salem Witch Trials due to their values. They considered that those who were branded as witched were not part of society and executed them by hanging them. Though some were spared by presenting the identities of other witches., therefore, the process of identifying witches started. The disreputable Salem Witch Trials, which began during 1692, after a team of teenage girls in Salem community, Massachusetts, alleged to be haunted by the evil spirits and blamed various village women of witchcraft. By September 1692, the panic had started to subside, and public court worked against the prosecutions. In Miller’s The Crucible, the main protagonist Abigail Williams is to be held responsible for the 1692 witch prosecutions in Salem. Abigail is portrayed as a mean and malicious character, who always wants her ideas and decided to stand, irrespective of who she afflicts (Miller 45-48). During this period, various things would have you get persecuted as of being a witch, but one of the senseless is found sleeping in the church was considered as evil. The individuals who suffered were not only individuals persecuted of being a witch, but their households went through the agony as well. Anger stayed in the society, and a throbbing legacy was and is still is, in the contemporary Salem.

• Conclusion

The crucible play is authored in a fascinating manner that would capture the attention of any individual with a sense of research to want to understand more.  The ability and understanding of Miller are certain because of the books that he has managed to develop within the time of his life. The play is a clear manifestation of the occurrences in society. It demonstrates how some community members are sacrificed on baseless allegations for the advantage of people who are often who are always craving massage their ego.  It is worth concluding that the depiction of the comparison of the two circumstances would help leaders to come up with sound policies in the future. Policies that consider all citizens they represent without necessarily having to champion their gain. However, it is interesting to observe that history has a unique way of recurring itself. That is what the story confirms since the selected tale was in the 1600s in contrast to the actual scene that the writer is trying to depict using the tale. The practical background, as the story demonstrates, occurred in the 1950s in the blink of the climax of WWII.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. The crucible. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015.

Sapui, Meghna. “Miller’s The Crucible: The Salem Witch Trials as a Black Swan.” IJAR 1.8 (2015): 28-30.

Schrecker, Ellen, and Phillip Deery. The age of McCarthyism: A brief history with documents. New York: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press, 1994.