Similarities Between The Crucible And Salem Witch Trials

According to historical evidence, about 200 people were accused of witchcraft during the events of the Salem Witch Trials. In relation to that, many thousands of people were accused of being communists during the 1950s. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, was no coincidence to the Second Red Scare that also happened in the same time period. He compares the Salem Witch Trials to the Red Scare for their similar causes including fear and (second point) resulting horrendous consequences that were to be faced by the victims who were accused. First, both the Salem Witch Trials and the Red Scare happened due to people accusing others as a result of fear. According to History.com, “The harsh realities of life in the rural Puritan community of
Salem Village at the time included the after-effects of a British war with France in the American colonies in 1689, a recent smallpox epidemic, fears of attacks from neighboring Native American tribes and a longstanding rivalry with the more affluent community of Salem Town.” (“Salem Witch Trials”).
This quotation illustrates that the Salem Witch Trials happened out of fear because during the Puritan time, there was devastating factors such as the Nine Years Year that affected colonies including Salem. As a result, people worried that their lives may change due to the existence of witchcraft, thus, they would accuse anyone they found to be different from them. Similarly, according to OhioHistoryCentral.org, “The Second Red Scare was perpetuated by a number of high-profile domestic and international events, including the [Rosenberg] trial, the victory of communist forces in the Chinese Civil War, the creation of the “Iron Curtain,” the advent of Soviet nuclear weapons capabilities, and the Korean War.” ("Second Red Scare"). This quote shows that just like the Salem Witch Trials, the Red Scare
happened out of fear. The rising of Communism in the world during the 1950s caused Americans to feel insecure about their freedom because communism goes against that ideology, thereby, people would be accused. While there actual people in America who were communists, not a single person was a witch in the Puritan society. Miller compares these two events to show that people were accused because others feared their would fall into terrible endings if they didn’t do something about what they find dangerous to them, which is witchcraft and communism.
Second,
Last, the Salem Witch Trials and the Red Scare were compared because the outcomes were significantly alike in which people did not lived a happy ending.
Douglas Linder states the effect of the trials in 1692, “By the time the witch hunt ended, nineteen convicted witches were executed, at least four accused witches had died in prison, and one man, Giles Corey, had been pressed to death. About one to two hundred other persons were arrested and imprisoned on witchcraft charges. Two dogs were executed as suspected accomplices of witches” (Linder). This quote claims the results of the accusations reflect poorly on the victims. The power of the court and the accusers not only caused many innocent people to go to prison, but the biggest consequence for some who did not choose to confess was death. If they didn’t confess, they would be executed by hanging, drowning, or for the case of Giles Corey, pressed to death by rocks. In spite of that, Mount Holyoke College concludes the outcomes of McCarthyism, “Many hard-working citizens had lost their jobs because they were labeled as "Communists". While many fired college professors returned to their jobs in universities, public school teachers could not. Those who retained their jobs realized that their career has been destroyed” (“McCarthyism: The Aftermath”). Although some were executed for being actual communists, the impact on the victims of the Red Scare was less harsh than the ones in the Salem Witch Trials. Yet, the after-effects
of that era was devastating for them because their reputation, career, and even relationships were destroyed, only because of the accusations made by people with power, mainly Joseph McCarthy. Overall, Miller compares these two events because both the victims had to face deleterious punishment that impacted their lives whether it is being executed or losing their own job.