Crucible Historical Events

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A Melding of Two Historical Events "Be not deceived with the first appearance for show is not substance" (English Proverb). The main feature of Arthur Miller's The Crucible is obvious mass hysteria and conviction were prevalent during the Salem witch trials. The underlying images, however, that depict Miller's real-life environment is subtle and parallel to that of the witch trials. The social and political troubles of the author's time contribute to the development of characters, as well as their internal struggles and values which leads to their ending roles in the play. The development of Arthur's characters has been created from the time of the Salem witch trials with their values consistent of the characteristics of the Red Scare. The …show more content…
Abigail is painted in first light as an irresponsible and selfish woman, mad with love for a man she cannot have. It is Abigail Williams strong motivation of love and lust towards John Proctor, that creates a monster of fear similar to the Red Scare. It consumes the society around her as she leads the allegations of witchery. Abigail becomes the embodiment of the communist people in the eyes of Arthur Miller. She is his portrayal of the madness corrupting the American society during the Red Scare. Both she and leaders of the communists were able to affect their society because of help from irrational thinkers around them. For example the McCarthyism and the other town girls. Miller himself represents John Proctor. He created his image into that of John because they share a common value: loyalty. Miller based Proctors actions on his own. When Arthur Miller was accused of being a Pro-communist, he refused to give up any other names to the McCarthyist corrupted judges. The same thing occurred with John only in a parallel historical occurrence. The hard experiences would allow Miller to accurately portray the witch trials and strengthen his ending …show more content…
Miller was accused and subsequently refused to condemn others. This is relative to the townspeople who were adamant about standing up to the court after being accused. Both are examples of challenging McCarthyism. After the Red Scare, Miller had the idea to write the play, but thought his own beliefs would degrade his rendering of the witch trials. "'My own rationality was too strong,' I thought, 'to really allow me to capture this wildly irrational outbreak'"(Miller, Timebends 215). On the contrary, his experiences allowed him to know first hand, how hysteria spread and how easily fear could turn from simple to complex. Once realizing this he wrote a piece that taught equally about both times. As Miller refused, he was blacklisted. He wrote The Crucible to a more drastic end for John Proctor because as described "Whereas the Offender against HUAC could not be accused of any such violation, but only of spiritual crime… he was summoned before the committee to be called a bad name, but one that could destroy his career"(Miller, Timebends 215). So in the final act, John exhibits both destructive qualities from each event. John's cause and effect is the refusal to give up his name for that is something he knows will be insufferable because it will destroy any value he has left. This left the powerful ending
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