Homework task 4

Arthur Miller was inspired by the Red Terror caused by the Mccarthyism to write the Crucible. The play was Miller's way of subtly mirroring what was happening in the US at that time. Joseph McCarthy claimed that there were many communists and soviet spies within the government. He spread doubt over the United States and this resulted in many unnecessary executions and punishments. Miller related this situation to his play where the supposed 'witches' in Salem were forced to confess or hang. Both situations arose from hysteria and the blame was shifted by one person as self preservation when something went wrong. The conflict escalated both in the play and in the US, it could have been stopped early on but as time grew those who tried to stop it were most likely executed and this put even more people in danger of being involved in the crossfire and chaos of the communities. People in America who were suspected to be communists had no way to prove their innocence and were condemned with little or no evidence. This is exemplified by Miller's play and the girls screaming names of people who were witches, they had no way to stop them or prove otherwise. The Hollywood ten, those who refused to confess as communists, were much like the accused witches in 'The Crucible' such as Rebecca and John Proctor. Nobody was willing to stand up to McCarthy or Abigail until they took it too far by accusing somebody close to the legality of the community and that was when people had sneaking suspicions. Both instances, in Salem and in the United States, innocents have been falsely accused, families separated and communities thrown into turmoil all due to the starting hysteria and shifting of blame.