Evil In The Crucible

Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible in the time of the Red Scare, the hysteria over the threat of communist spies in America, provoked by Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy accused numerous people of being communist, which would cost them their jobs and reputation. Joseph McCarthy, because of the power he had, made people bend to his will under the disguise of helping others, just like Abigail Williams did throughout the Crucible. Three girls, Betty Parris, Mary Warren, and Mercy Lewis, were the ones who she had under her control at some point in the play. Betty Parris, Mary Warren, and Mercy Lewis all conspire with Abigail because of threats, fear of punishment, and to protect themselves like Abigail. In the beginning of Act I, Betty Parris, Abigail’s cousin, from the time of her waking shows signs of being fearful of Abigail. When a
She is also quick to follow Abigail’s plans, bullying Mary Warren in Act I when she wanted to tell of their crimes and immediately going along with Abigail in Act III when she pretended Mary Warren was using witchcraft in the meeting house. In her final act of loyalty, it is revealed in Act IV that she and Abigail ran away with all of Reverend Parris’ money. They run away to avoid being charged of perjury in court, but mostly because of rumor of an uprising of the witch trials a few towns over. They were fearful of the same thing happening in Salem, Mercy and Abigail ran away. Mary Warren goes along with Abigail’s plans because she has nothing to lose, and lacks the guilt to confess. The Red Scare caused many people to do wrongful things for their own safety, just like the girls did in the Crucible. When death is a consequence, many would do anything to avoid it, even if it is not true to themselves. Betty, Mary, and Mercy were all motivated to lie out of fear and