Comparing The Crucible and Salem Witch Trials Essay

The purpose of my paper is to compare and contrast Arthur Miller’s The Crucible with the actual witch trials that took place in Salem in the 17th Century. Although many of the characters and events in the play were non-fictional, many details were changed by the playwright to add intrigue to the story. While there isn’t one specific cause or event that led to the Salem witch trials, it was a combination of events and factors that contributed to the birth and growth of the trials. Some of these events included: a small pox outbreak that was happening at the time, the revocation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony charter by Charles II, and the constant fear of Native attacks. These helped in creating anxiety among the early Puritans that†¦show more content†¦A few years later, he was called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. While admitting to his actions, he refused to name any others involved in the communist front activities. â€Å"Miller also observes the tremendous forces that mere accusation had at this time, something that was evident as well in the McCarthy witch-hunts. A man’s career could be ruined if he were merely asked, â€Å"Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?†Ã¢â‚¬  In 1954, Miller was denied a passport by the State department when he had planned to attend the opening of his play in Brussels and this was not the end of Miller’s government troubles over the next few decades. He was called before Representative Francis Walter’s Committee on Un-American Activities where he talked to the members on various subjects. At this encounter, Miller was asked about his attendance at a Communist writers’ meeting in which he admitted to attending but was not willing to name any other attendees. Refusing to answer the questions of the committee, Miller was tried and found guilty on two counts of contempt. Sadly though, Arthur Miller passed away in 2005 at the age of 89. In The Crucible, we are introduced to a group of girls who are in the forest dancing around a fire with a black slave named Tituba. As their dancing around, they are caught by the local minister Reverend Parris and suddenly his daughter falls into a coma-likeShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By Comparing The Salem Witch Trials1431 Words   |  6 Pagesresult, he wrote a play called The Crucible, in which he used the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 to explain the communist hysteria during the 1950s. Arthur Miller develops an allegory in The Crucible by comparing the Salem Witch Trials to McCarthyism by using ringleaders, persecuted couples, and hypocrisy in the government or legal system. 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