Salem Witch Trials In The Crucible
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor proclaims “Because it is my name! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those who hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” This quote shows both the dilemma in the Salem Witch Trials, which Arthur Miller set his story in, and the era of McCarthyism which he kind of writes about; John was going to confess to being a witch but couldn’t because he didn’t want to ruin his name for his family. He was an innocent man but died because he didn’t confess. This is very similar to what was happening during the 50’s when McCarthyism first started. Arthur Miller’s use of the Salem Witch Trials in the Crucible demonstrates
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The accusations that were made had no real basis, but they were made for many different reasons: money, position/power, land, jealousy, etc. In the case of the crucible, Miller gives many great examples of this, one being when John Proctor asks Cheever “On what proof, what proof?” when they take his wife Elizabeth away; people during that time had no proof to back the accusations that were made. Accusations were often made to get the land of those who were going to be hanged for being a witch. During the play, Giles says that Putnam accused Jacobs so that he could get his land, Giles gives Danforth a deposition and says “…There is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land.” Another major target is anyone who seems weak such as women, children, and the homeless. As for McCarthyism, people were being targeted out of jealousy. Hollywood, in particular, was a big target for the trials. During this time a press release went out on behalf of the major studios that announced the firing of some people and stated they would not employ communists. Many actors in Hollywood were blacklisted and out of work, even though directors denied the fact that there was a blacklist. A major factor in this era was guilt by association, meaning that people that were associated with or were close to one who was accused was then also guilty and most likely to become the next
The accusations that were made had no real basis, but they were made for many different reasons: money, position/power, land, jealousy, etc. In the case of the crucible, Miller gives many great examples of this, one being when John Proctor asks Cheever “On what proof, what proof?” when they take his wife Elizabeth away; people during that time had no proof to back the accusations that were made. Accusations were often made to get the land of those who were going to be hanged for being a witch. During the play, Giles says that Putnam accused Jacobs so that he could get his land, Giles gives Danforth a deposition and says “…There is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land.” Another major target is anyone who seems weak such as women, children, and the homeless. As for McCarthyism, people were being targeted out of jealousy. Hollywood, in particular, was a big target for the trials. During this time a press release went out on behalf of the major studios that announced the firing of some people and stated they would not employ communists. Many actors in Hollywood were blacklisted and out of work, even though directors denied the fact that there was a blacklist. A major factor in this era was guilt by association, meaning that people that were associated with or were close to one who was accused was then also guilty and most likely to become the next