Joseph Mccarthyism In The Crucible

Throughout Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, there are a series of prevailing questions: “Who was conspiring against you? Might you be a witch and not know it? Can an innocent person be guilty? Could anyone think themselves safe?” (Schiff 4). These questions are evidence of the hysteria that swept through Salem, Massachusetts during the winter of 1692 and again during the peak of the anti-communist revolution in the 1950’s. In The Crucible, innocent people were in danger of being accused of witchcraft and during the reign of McCarthyism innocent people were being accused of communism. “We too have been known to prefer plot over truth; to dent the evidence before us in favor of the ideas behind us; to do insane things in the name of reason; to take that satisfying step from the righteous to the self-righteous; to drown our private guilt in a public well; to indulge in a little delusion.” (Schiff 9). 1692 and the 50’s was a period of time consumed with fear and panic. The Crucible combined with evidence from the era of McCarthyism demonstrates how a frenzied society can influence authority. The anti communist paranoia known as McCarthyism; influenced by a Sen. Joseph McCarthy, created chaos in the 1950’s. The Cold War that was occurring between the
Hysteria can only thrive when people benefit from it. In Miller’s play, Abigail and all the other girls used the mass hysteria to their advantage. They accused other people of witchcraft and correspondence with the Devil, to protect themselves in the eyes of the court systems and in their communities. During McCarthyism, the HUAC would force the accused people to cite others, so they could be exonerated. Both times, decisions were made without any evidence. Miller’s play ended with 20 people being executed while McCarthyism caused hundreds of people to be socially and politically