Arthur Miller, one of the most important sociocritical dramatists of the 20th century, treats in his famous play The Crucible the witch hunts of Salem in 1692. Considering this drama, the biography of Miller and the political situation in the date of origin of The Crucible, I would like to clarify the coherences between the drama and the highhanded persecution of inculpable humans in the American 1950s, at the time of McCarthyism.
The first part of my work deals with Arthur Miller, his life and his play The Crucible. In this part I would like to elucidate Miller’s personal connection to the anti-communist campaign. Furthermore, I would like to show the destructiveness of rumours with regard to the executions happened in the late 17th century and accurate reflected in The Crucible. Moreover, I will enlarge upon the effects of the religion, in this case Puritanism, on the behaviour of the bourgeois and the justice.
The second part of my work deals with Joseph McCarthy, his life, the commencements of McCarthyism, the course of the trials and decline of McCarthyism. In this part I would like to show the arbitrariness of Joseph McCarthy with which he accused innocent people. Furthermore, I will enlarge on the cruelly effects of such persecutions, which destroy the person’s futures and, as to The Crucible, the whole life.
Part three of my work will consist of conclusions about the impact of McCarthyism and Arthur Miller’s drama The Crucible.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
2.1 Biography
2.2 Summary
2.3 Character Constellation
2.3.1. Relationship John Proctor – Abigail Williams
2.3.2 Relationship John Proctor – Elizabeth Proctor
2.4 The Role of Religion
2.4.1 The Meaning of Puritanism
2.4.2 Consequences of Puritanism in The Crucible
3. Joseph McCarthy
3.1 Biography
3.2 McCarthyism – Political Situation of the American 1950s
3.3 Accusations and victims
3.4 The decline of McCarthyism
4. Relation between The Crucible and McCarthyism
5. Conclusion
Objectives & Research Focus
This thesis aims to analyze the inherent connections between Arthur Miller’s drama "The Crucible" and the historical reality of McCarthyism in the United States during the 1950s. By examining the biographical parallels of the author, the mechanism of groundless accusations, and the socio-political climate of the era, the work explores how Miller used the Salem Witch Trials as an allegorical framework to critique the anti-communist hysteria of his own time.
- Biographical influence of Arthur Miller’s experience with the Un-American Activities Committee.
- The structural parallels between the Salem witch hunts and the anti-communist campaign.
- The sociological and religious impact of Puritanism on justice and societal behavior.
- The role of mass hysteria and fear in suppressing individual conscience.
Excerpt from the Book
Relation between The Crucible and McCarthyism
The first relation between the drama The Crucible and the Era of McCarthyism is based on the biography of Arthur Miller. Miller himself was accused of belonging to the communist party and of knowing other communists. Furthermore, Miller was demanded to mention names of communist. He refused to mention random names; therefore he was imprisoned till the end of the Era of McCarthyism.
This situation Arthur Miller was in occurs in the play, when Reverend Hale asks Abigail Williams for names of girls who conjured evil spirits and communicated with the devil. In contrary to Arthur Miller, Abigail and Betty name arbitrary names of girls, later Abigail mentions even more people.
The second parallel is the accusation without any evidence. Joseph McCarthy’s blacklist and the Red Channels were baseless. The mention of names sufficed to bring these people to court. The last accusation of Joseph McCarthy during the hearings was an excellent example of the disposal used to find assumed communists. When the people were charged, they were already guilty.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the thesis, connecting Arthur Miller’s 20th-century drama to the historical context of the Salem witch hunts and the McCarthy era.
2. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible: Provides a biographical background of the author, a plot summary of the play, an analysis of the character constellation, and the influence of Puritanism.
3. Joseph McCarthy: Details the life of Senator McCarthy, the political climate of the Cold War, the nature of anti-communist persecutions, and the eventual decline of his influence.
4. Relation between The Crucible and McCarthyism: Synthesizes the arguments by drawing parallels between the historical events, the playwright’s personal experiences, and the themes of accusation and injustice in the play.
5. Conclusion: Reflects on the findings, confirming that the drama serves as an enduring warning against the dangers of political manipulation and systemic fear.
Keywords
Arthur Miller, The Crucible, McCarthyism, Salem Witch Trials, Anti-Communism, Cold War, Puritanism, John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Joseph McCarthy, Un-American Activities Committee, Injustice, Allegory, Persecution, Political Hysteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis examines the thematic and structural parallels between Arthur Miller’s play "The Crucible" and the political anti-communist campaign known as McCarthyism in the 1950s.
What are the primary fields of research covered in the paper?
The research focuses on the biography of Arthur Miller, the socio-political context of the 1950s, the history of the Salem Witch Trials, and the manifestation of mass hysteria in literature and politics.
What is the central research question?
The work aims to clarify how the historical events depicted in "The Crucible" serve as a critique and reflection of the high-handed persecution of individuals during the American McCarthy era.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author employs a comparative literary and historical analysis to identify coherences between the dramatic content of the play and the real-world political climate of the 1950s.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the biography of Arthur Miller, the dynamics of his character constellations, the influence of Puritan beliefs, the rise and fall of Joseph McCarthy, and the comparative analysis of their historical contexts.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Arthur Miller, The Crucible, McCarthyism, Salem Witch Trials, anti-communism, political hysteria, and historical allegory.
How does the author connect the biography of Arthur Miller to the play?
The author highlights that Miller himself was subpoenaed by the Un-American Activities Committee and refused to name other alleged communists, mirroring the themes of integrity and victimhood found in his protagonist, John Proctor.
Why does the thesis compare Judge Danforth to McCarthy?
The comparison is drawn because both figures represent a rigid, authority-based system that demands binary allegiance and ignores evidence in favor of maintaining power through fear.
- Quote paper
- Isabelle Pipahl (Author), 2008, Arthur Miller’s "The Crucible" and its relation to McCarthyism of the American 1950s, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/289170
