Arthur Miller’s Play the Crucible

Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible relates to McCarthyism in numerous ways. Arthur Miller wrote the play during Joseph McCarthy’s reign of terror in the United States government, and incorporated many aspects of it in his play. Joseph McCarthy was a U.S senator who accused hundreds of other politicians, actors, businessman, and normal working-class people of being Communist or having Communist affiliations. He makes such audacious remarks as: “ I have in my hand 57 cases of individuals who would appear to be either card carrying members or certainly loyal to the Communist Party” and “The State Department, which is one of the most important government departments, is thoroughly infested with Communists.” These are very similar to the accusations that Arthur Miller has Abigail make in the Crucible, only 258 years earlier. Joseph McCarthy was a politician, one of many, but what he wanted was power. So he went on stage with an empty folder, and told people that our government was full of conniving Communists. He essentially went fishing. He baited the hook with the threat of Communists, and cast it into a sea of people. When he got a bite, he pulled in the fish and baited the hook once more. Soon, McCarthy had a boatload of fish and millions believed he was their savior. He used his newfound trust to destroy his political and social adversaries, accusing them of having Communist affiliations. Abigail, in The Crucible, on the other hand, wanted to marry John Proctor with whom she had previously had an affair. She was just a young girl so how could she possible tear John’s loyal wife away from him; she needed power. So, like McCarthy she found it by going fishing. She baited her hook with the idea that witches were everywhere around town, and cast this hook into a sea of Puritans. Once she got a bite she reeled it in and baited once more. Soon she had her power. All she had to do was lie on the ground, scream, and say that so and so was strangling her, and they would either be hung or thrown in jail. Like McCarthy’s empty folder, it was all an act. With this power Abigail was able to destroy her enemies. Eventually she would accuse John’s wife so that she would be hung and Abigail could have John all to herself. This is why the resemblance between the witch hunters of 17th century Salem and the witch hunters of 20th century McCarthyism are plentiful.

Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible relates to McCarthyism in numerous ways. Arthur Miller wrote the play during Joseph McCarthy’s reign of terror in the United States government, and incorporated many aspects of it in his play. Joseph McCarthy was a U.S senator who accused hundreds of other politicians, actors, businessman, and normal working-class people of being Communist or having Communist affiliations. He makes such audacious remarks as: “ I have in my