English Coursework †Crucible Essay

The Crucible’ is a play, based on a true event in American history. Written by Arthur Miller in 1953, The Crucible was set in the small Puritan village called Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. This town can be seen to be extremely oppressive, and a place in which people had no freedom or individuality.  Miller wrote the play during the period in which McCarthy’s anti-Communist campaign was at its height. Miller saw many parallels between this period and the ‘witch hunts’ in Salem, for example unsupported accusations, fear of individual difference, and people being encouraged to inform on their friends. Senator Joe McCarthy organized a twentieth-century version of ‘witch-hunting’. In the early 1950’s he exploited the US fears about Communism and managed to create a national campaign against Communists. As chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, McCarthy interrogated many witnesses and tried to make them inform on their friends. Anyone suspected of communist views was arrested for taking part in ‘Un-American Activities’. Between 1950 and 1954 McCarthy investigated and accused a wide range of famous people such as Walt Disney, John Lennon, and Marilyn Monroe. Even Miller was investigated as many of his plays were seen as an attack on capitalism. This was very similar to what happened in Salem in the 17th century. Salem can be seen as a corrupted society in which people were trapped by the strict rules of Puritanism. The accusations of witchcraft and dealing with the Devil in Salem were all started off by a group of girls who were caught chanting, dancing and conjuring spirits in the woods. Dancing and partying was forbidden at this time, due to the strict puritan rules. The forest was thought to be where the Devil ‘carried out his work’, which led people to believe that the girls were witches. This was a prime example of when people’s longing for individuality and or spiritual freedom was undermined by the rules within society. This can be compared to the anti-communists during the McCarthy years, in which people’s political freedom was undermined. Also in both situations the allegations lead to hysteria.  However, many people may argue that Salem is like any other society, even today, full of good and bad people, the exploited and the exploiters. The plot in the Crucible starts after the girls were found dancing and conjuring spirits in the woods, and there were already suspicions of witchcraft. After being accused of witchcraft the girls begin to accuse other people in the town in order to deflect the attention away from themselves. The court believes these accusations made by the girls, and many are named as witches, and are sentenced to death. This then leads to many hangings of innocent individuals, who would rather die than commit the sin of lying and having their names tarnished. John Proctor and Abigail Williams are two central characters in the play. Their secretive affair results in Abigail conjuring spirits, as she was obsessed with rekindling their relationship. However John rejected her, which led to her becoming even more desperate to be with him. Her desperate act led to a catalogue of events, resulting in the death of many innocent people. John is one of those suspected of witchcraft. When given the opportunity to confess, he does so. However after signing the confession, John suddenly changes his mind. He takes back his confessions as he realises that he could not live with a name associated with witchcraft, and would therefore rather die. This can be linked to the themes of integrity and courage. Both of these themes are explored throughout the play through many different characters. Another central theme within the play is envy, which is mainly shown through the character of Abigail Williams. Tyranny, purification, justice and bigotry are also key themes in the Crucible as they all contribute to the oppressive society in which the play is set. They also show how people at the time felt a deep religious need to cleanse the town of any association with the devil. This was due to fear and intolerance of any cultural or religious difference or spiritual freedom. All of the themes explored are linked to the individual as well as the society.