what is the crucible an allegory for

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. In one account Arthur Miller read, written by the minister Samuel Parris, who was one of the leaders of the witch hunt in Salem, Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft by gently touching Elizabeth and then screaming that her fingers were burning. The play's author, Arthur Miller, was himself a victim of An overwhelming fear of the an insidious influx of communist doctrines, hidden beneath the very fabric of the U.S. society, made people fearful and paranoid: none more than Senator Joseph McCarthy. Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! In this very public moment, Abigail condemns Elizabeth simply by touching her. McCarthyism significantly impacted Arthur Millers thoughts when he wrote the play. WebThe Crucible by Arthur Miller is allegorical. By definition, an allegory is a something that has a hidden or symbolic meaning. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! The Crucible is an allegory to the Red Scare for many reasons, but one is that they are both run by lies spread by people to put Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory for McCarthyism in the late 1950s when he was falsely accused of being a communist. In 1953, when Miller published The Crucible, it was clear that he was condemning McCarthy and his communist witch hunts. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, women are somewhat able to successfully gain power from society due to the fact that they use manipulation, deceit and their sexual desire (especially the character of Abigail) to acquire positions of power in their largely patriarchal society. After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became embroiled in the Cold War. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. The similarities were greed and self-preservation. A fire, a fire is burning! Intolerance is closely tied to communism and witchcraft, leading to the arrest and sentencing of innocent people. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is allegorical. This push to monitor people accused of communism came to be known as McCarthyism. As mentioned in the Background page of the test, since, Judge Danforths aforementioned quote on page 1324 shows his concern for himself and his reputation rather than the lives of the multitude of innocent Salem civilians whose lives depend on his verdict. Evidence suggests that Miller contributed articles to American Communist Party publications and some of his political beliefs were evident in his plays. Miller suffered through accusations of possibly believing in communism; as a result, 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. An allegory is an extended metaphor in which the characters or objects in the story represent an outside meaning. The plot of the play focuses on a man, John Proctor, and his struggle to prove his familys and his own innocence. This began the McCarthy Era, where government workers, artists/actors, and innocent people were accused. WebThe Crucible As An Allegory Analysis. What was Arthur Miller's purpose in writing The Crucible? The demand to name other collaborators is a direct reference to the Red Scare and McCarthyism. The practices were paralleled in what is known as McCarthyism, which did much the same thing, except this time, children did not control the madness: Senator McCarthy and his "minions" carried on a twentieth century witch hunt. By comparing McCarthyism to the, While Corey broke conformity to do what was right, Betty did quite the opposite. In order to emphasize Reverend Hales credibility, Miller writes, He has much experience in all demonic artsHe has indeed; and found a witch in Beverly last year, and let you remember that. (Act 1, pg. In the Crucible, there is multiple occasions where the events that happen are parallel to McCarthyism because the Crucible is an allegory to McCarthyism. In the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, Miller uses allegory to express what he endured through in the 1950s. Allegories In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, In Arthur Miller 's play The Crucible, false accusations and fear are used to imprison and kill many people accused of being witches. | 2 An allegory is a story with an obvious meaning but if you look deeper into it, there is another meaning. The accusations of communism led to a nation-wide hysteria and fear of who was going to be named next. Did you like this sample? Various forms of propaganda advertised fears, causing panic to spread throughout the country. Explore how Arthur Miller's play ''The Crucible'' is an allegory for McCarthyism and accusations of communist sympathies. Women are able to attain this power through using their intellect to express manipulation, and lying in order to receive attention that translates into power. In The Crucible, people assumed guilty if someone said they were guilty of witchcraft. Miller explains the McCarthy trials through The Crucible by teaching peoples fears, faults, and politics, making the text both a metaphor to the trials and an allegory. During the Salem Witch Trials, according to Arthur Millers play The Crucible and the Red Scare, it focused on how much power a character could have, and that one character also can lead to convincing the community to be with them or against their personal thoughts. McCarthyism & The Crucible by Arthur Miller | History, Impact & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Literary Themes & Analysis, Mrs. Dalloway: Analysis of Characters and Style, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Character & Epiphany, The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Summary, Quotes & Themes. WebIn this way, The Crucible stands as an allegory for McCarthy 's communist hunt, during which many people were also killed and imprisoned due to accusations of communism. WebEssay SampleCheck Writing Quality. They are both human tragedies that are driven by human fear., In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller creates a tragic story of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 which parallel McCarthyism during the 1950s. Power is defined as The ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as as a faculty or quality. Throughout history, women have significantly lacked not only power but the ability to be recognized as equal to their male counterparts. Much of the undoing of McCarthyism came at the hands of the Supreme Court. An entire adult, religious community was brought to its knees by the lies and play-acting practiced by these girls as they accused one innocent adult after another of bewitching them. Arthur Miller is a commonly-known playwright, most famous for his 1953 play, The Crucible. a container that can withstand high heat in order to purify metals. Character Analysis over The Crucible Decent people like Goody Nurse and Giles Corey were destroyed by the paranoia of the Puritan religious culture that saw the Devil at every turn. From the start perusing, one may just view Millers work as a distinctive record of the awfulness of Download the entire The Crucible study guide as a printable PDF! An allegory is an artistic work or piece of writing that tells one story on the surface but represents a different set of events and teaches a moral or political lesson about those events. These fears came together under the umbrella of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) which had been formed in 1938 to investigate potential communist activity inside the American government. This connects to the 1950s, when to be accused of a communist Or a communist sympathizer all you needed to do is not report a communist. An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning- literal and symbolic. In addition to these, Miller depicts himself in his play as well. In the early 1950s, many Americans were afraid that communists might infiltrate Her actions begin sending the small town into a panic as they throw people into jail and hang them in an effort to try and cleanse the town from any aspect of evil. A type of government based on religious believes. Miller expresses important messages specifically about injustice, hysteria, and reputation. Examine The Crucible as an allegory. This sentence illustrates that the witch-hunt was the product of mass-panic, just as the hunt for communists, The McCarthyism period took place during the 1950s when The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller. The period during the Cold War had a deeper meaning than just the rivalry between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and America. How may I live without my name? What is the main purpose of The Crucible? The main purpose of The Crucible is to draw parallels between the events of the Salem witch craze and what was happening in America at the time of the play's writing, during McCarthyism. WebThe Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is an allegory, meaning it can be interpreted to reveal hidden meanings, usually political or moral ones. Miller wrote his drama during the brief reign of the American senator Joseph McCarthy whose bitter criticized anti- communism sparkled the need for the United States to be a dramatic anti- communist society during the early tense years of the cold war. Some reputations were never repaired. The Crucible is an allegory to the Red Scare and the McCarthy era drastically by its plot, characters, and the flow and outcome of the court trials. Miller was soon later accused by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) who led the accusations with McCarthy. Convict communists were ordered to confess their crime and name others to avoid the retribution. I have no tongue for itI have three children, how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?Because it is my name! Danforth s statement of a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it , there be no road between clearly demonstrates the Puritans prospective of seeing everything in black and white. When he wrote The Crucible, it served as an allegory, simultaneously retelling the story of the Salem witch trials and also presenting social commentary on McCarthyism and the Red Scare. Through the play, we follow the character, Abigail, observe her actions and their consequences. People from all walks of life were accused of communist leanings: government workers, teachers, actors, and writers. Miller, among others, refused to surrender to questioning. When people are placed under an intense feeling of fear, they begin to commit actions they never thought they were capable over. The fear he spread among the people from the United States at that time is comparable to the fear for witches that the inhabitants of Salem spread in their own villages. Slideshow 3196964 by amber One of the plays main antagonists, Deputy Governor Danforth, oversees the witch trials and refuses to end them until everyone who he believes is guilty is punished. In the play John Proctor questions why the accusers were not suspected, Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Furthermore, the power that is lead to one's head could destroy the thoughts of other about yourself as an individual. The book Crucible is an allegory. 45) This quote shows how Abigail took advantage of the position she was placed in and used hysteria to fuel suspicions. They accepted that the Devil may be among them (Miller, 27) and would do anything to clean the town of such sins. So for a brief explanation, McCarthyism was carried out under senator Joseph McCarthy during 1950-1954 against alleged communist in the US government and in other institutions. Find more samples: Related topics Miller, in comparison, does a replication of what Proctor does to save his friends, in the face of losing everything. On its surface, The Crucible is a play about the Salem witch trials of 1692. The Crucible, a phenomenal play, written by Arthur Miller is an allegory to the McCarthy Trials of the 1950s. While no one was put to death, but those put on trial were sometimes black listed, making it impossible for them to work. This essay is available online and might have been used by another student. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, John Proctor dealt with the corruption of power in his town when Abigail Williams and many other girls accused those, who were innocent, of witchcraft. Arthur Miller published the play during However, in the end of the play, the audience should feel pensive about, The Crucible, a phenomenon play, written by Arthur Miller is an allegory to the McCarthy Trials of the 1950s. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: John Proctor, Critical Context (Masterplots II: Juvenile & Young Adult Literature Series), Critical Context (Comprehensive Guide to Drama), http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/grave.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism. The events that took place during the time the play was written were very similar to the Salem witch hunts. Miller wrote The Crucible as replication of his feelings during the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s. Joseph R McCarthy made false accusations about certain people in the government being communists. Miller writes with a very strong and somewhat emotional tone. During the McCarthy era people accused would start accusing other people in order to get the attention off of them, because the only way to prove you are not a communist was to name a communist. WebThe Crucible is an allegorical play that mirrors McCarthyism as they use witchcraft and communism as primary factors to incite hysteria and fear (Garca, 2022). I'm Amy, Additional inquiries must be listed separately as individual postings. One particular element from the historical account caught Miller's attention and led to the conflict between the central characters in the play. To conclude, in the 1940s to the 1950s, the Red Scare prompted US Senator Joseph McCarthy to accuse people to be communists. 68 lessons The crucible was a tragedy because almost the whole town was accused of being a witch or having dolls in their homes which made then think they were doing something with the dolls to harm someone else. Throughout the Crucible, it explains the ridiculous trials the people went through to try to prove their innocence. Another example of allegory in the play is the lives ruined in the book by the trails are similar to the people whose lives were also ruined due to McCarthyism. Encountering Conflict. This expresses how much a good reputation is for this time as one mistake that may not even be true can soil (Reverend Parris Act1 P.20). "What is The Crucible by Arthur Miller an allegory for?" 13) This quote emphasizes how later when he asks questions to the suspects, the testimony they give will be backed by him since he is an expert. The Crucible as Allegory. We witness the lives of people she impacts, what happens to them, and how many times she lies to get her way. The Review Of The Crucible Essay George Orwell's 1984 as a Historical Allegory Essay that is consistently dominant, is the theme of manipulation, and how even the most overt and simplistic forms of manipulation manages to keep the citizens of Oceania so loyal so successfully. Both McCarthyism and The Crucible are connected because paranoia is evident and innocent people are accused. The state believed McCarthy and the people got treated badly because they were wrongly accused of. Web400 Words2 Pages. These fears were not entirely unfounded as there had been Soviet spies discovered in the U.S. during WWII and after. One example of Abigail's villainy is the scene where her cousin, Betty Parris yells about Abigail having drank blood in the forest. With its ability to relate to a number of political situations in many countries, even as far as 50 years past its creation, In this classroom you can see a teacher getting her roomed searched by state and local anti-subversive and they are seen searching the room, looking in trash cans, looking at the classrooms maps of russia and even looking at the picture of the us presents. The era had significant impacts on American society during the early stage of the Cold War. Miller depicts this in the play as In 1692 nineteen men and women and two dogs were convicted and hanged for witchcraft (Introduction, pg vii) The quote symbolizes how the accused of both events suffered extreme consequences because of mere accusations that were taken too far. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an allegory for Subversive Activities Control Board, The State Department Loyalty Security Board, and Senator Margaret, The Crucible is a play based on a society ruled by theocracy. The hysteria induced by the thought that witches were in Salem spread throughout the community like a disease. When people are placed under an intense feeling of fear, they begin to commit actions they never thought they were capable over. McCarthy and his committee saw communist plots where there were none. McCarthy, Arthur Miller felt it necessary to express his political feelings through an authors medium. This pitted South Korea against the communist forces in North Korea. Mr. Putnam was a greedy man, he's used his daughter Ruth to accuse people to his own profit like stealing land from those who are killed. Hire a verified expert to write you a 100% Plagiarism-Free paper. For example, the use of pace throughout the, The Crucible was about the Salem Witch Trials which took place in 1692-1693 and the Red Scare happened in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Allegory: a story that is used to represent specific ideas or principles. While most people use the book to study the Witch Trials, with closer examination it is easy to conclude that it is a direct allegory to the Red Scare and the McCarthy era of 1950s America. He created The Crucible as an allegory for McCarthyism and unfounded accusations of communist loyalties. WebLearn these 30 words from Act 1 of Arthur Millers 1953 "The Crucible" -- a play that dramatized the late 17th century Salem witch trials and served as an allegory of McCarthyism. This allowed people to get rid of a person and take their job or property. (2021, Apr 13). The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a good example of an allegory for it tells of a significant event in history in which a small town of Massachusetts named Salem had been controlled by a paranoia of witches after watching a few of the town girls showing off odd behaviors and participating in occult activities. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. In an allegory the character,events, and instances(Definition of Allegory R104). The Salem Witch Trials and the 1950s Red Scare are easily relatable considering that the two events killed several innocent lives, when that individual did nothing wrong. Most readers are unfamiliar with McCarthyism. Miller explained in his hearing that he could speak about his own actions but claimed that naming other people invalidated his First Amendment rights. Eisenhower explained that the constant pressure and anxiety of being called to testify about false accusations of communist associations prevented the efficient functioning of the executive branch of the U.S. Government. In the early 1950s, Americans became fearful that their friends, neighbors, or co-workers might be communists attempting to undermine American democracy and spread communism throughout the world. Amelia Emery has taught high school English Language Arts for 9 years and University level writing courses for 3 years. Arthur Miller experienced many hardships through the 1950s where he was accused by the HUAC and McCarthy to be a communist sympathizer. An allegory refers to the story that possesses an obvious meaning but with other hidden connotations. Similarities are shown between McCarthyism and the Salem witch trials in the way Senator McCarthy gained power and control by inducing fear and hatred of communists in America, comparable to the fear and hatred of witches in the late 1600s. The McCarthy Hearings that took place in the 1950's are a good example of this. Miller felt the best way to express himself is to write The Crucible. First, an allegory is a narrative that works as an long metaphor. Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs. WebThe Crucible is an historical allegory for the McCarthy period; it can be examined more fruitfully as a play about the human condition. To begin with, The Crucible is an allegory because the plot of the book closely resembles the events that occurred during the Red Scare. Of course they are not just limited to stories; allegories can also be expressed in the form of a poem, a picture, or a movie. Arthur Millers purpose of writing The Crucible was due to the close resemblance between the Salem Witch-trails and McCarthyism. Arthur Miller constructs his play upon the famous Salem witch trails. Miller's Crucible was written in the early 1950s. However, Miller made a few alterations to the historical members of the Salem society in order to suit his dramatic purpose in The Crucible, particularly Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Reverend Samuel Parris. The Red Scare quickly spread across the States as American people feared that communism would take over their country one day. The Crucible, published in 1953 by Arthur Miller is a very popular book written about the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Latest answer posted November 22, 2020 at 12:05:25 PM, In The Crucible, explain what Elizabeth means when she says, "He have his goodness now, God forbid I take it from him.". WebArthur Millers The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism during the red scare due to the near parallel events that confide in the plot and history such the accused confessing It being a metaphor to the McCarthy trials can be seen through how both trials happened due to fear. He testified that he had signed pro-communist documents and attended four or five meetings for Communist Party Writers. So john proctor the hero of Arthur Millers story is the equivalent of a suspected communist and at the time was a cold war. Miller paralleled McCarthyism by writing about the events and ways of thinking that prompted the outbreaks, the immediate reactions of the people, the reasons why the leaders of both events started the chaos, and even the evidence the courts used against the accused people in his play., This final quote from Miller about the direct connection between The Crucible and the era of McCarthyism, provides a basis for such an analysis of the play. This act, written by Senator Pat McCarren, one of McCarthy's supporters, required that any organization that was determined to be communist had to register with the Justice Department, made it a felony to try and establish a dictatorship in the United States, and gave the government the ability to arrest anyone whom the president believed to be a spy or a saboteur. Caught up in the frenzy of accusations, judges and ministers believed that the accused must have done something wicked or they would not have been accused at all. Create your account. In 1950 everyone was scared that communism would spread to the united states and McCarthy wanted to get rid of all communist in the united states but instead accused innocent citizens.
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